Assisted Suicide Poll?

[grizzaholic]

Well, what do you bitches think?

[Grizalltheway]

Is the pole sharp or blunt?

[AZGrizFan]

Is the pole sharp or blunt?

And where are they putting it?

[GannonFan]

Definitely murky. How to handle all the unintended consequences and nuance would be the hardest part.

[Ibanez]

I'm for it. We put down animals so why can't we decide to do our families and ourselves a favor, avoid pain and suffering and die with some dignity. Terry Schiavo, for example, should have been euthanized. Instead, her family paraded her in the media for what purpose? She was never coming back. The body was there, but the person was not. If it's between death after "treatment" and a suffering existence OR death before all of that, give me death with mercy.

It's the least we can do. That way, they don't suffer, they don't go into debt trying to treat something that is just going to kill them anyway (because we selfishly want one more Christmas with mom), it free's up resources (human and financial) that can best served/used in other ways. Another bonus, your family won't have to say, " Dad was really bad at the end." Your family gets peace that you did not suffer.

[ASUG8]

More reason to be sure you have a living will.

[AZGrizFan]

True story: My mother died in 1993, at the age of 61. She went into St. Patricks Hospital in Missoula for a 2nd surgery after complications from a mitrovalve replacement surgery, and never came "out" of the anethstesia. Everything went fine during the surgery, but for some reason while in recovery her body started shutting down. She started suffering multiple "mini" strokes (as the doctors called them) and as such within hours of her surgery had minimal to no brain activity and no prospects for recovery.

The consensus among all the doctors there was that, on a ventilator and with medical assistance, she could survive in that state for YEARS--after all, her heart (after the surgery) was very strong. Despite a relatively clean bill of health, she had made it very clear prior to the surgery that a) she didn't expect to come out of it a b) she had NO desire to be alive in a vegetative state--and that's what the doctors' prognosis was...she'd be a vegetable for the rest of her life.

Unfortnately, in Montana there is no "assisted suicide" or compassionate suicide capability. The ONLY thing we could do (and we made the decision as a family) was to remove her from the various support systems (ventilator, liver treatment, etc.) and wait for her to die "naturally". We were told it would happen in a matter of hours. So, that's what we did--we elected to essentially "pull the plug" and let her die....unfortunately, it took FOUR DAYS, and in that time, because we removed her from the external filtering system that was functioning as her liver, she bloated up and her skin turned yellowy jaundiced (and ultimately THIS is what killed her). And to top it all off, death finally came at about 5:30 in the morning, when very few of the family were around the hospital, while the rest of us raced there from the various places we were staying to try and get there in time.

Needless to say, since 1993 I've been a fan of Assisted Suicide.

[CAA Flagship]

I'm for it. We put down animals so why can't we decide to do our families and ourselves a favor, avoid pain and suffering and die with some dignity. Terry Schiavo, for example, should have been euthanized. Instead, her family paraded her in the media for what purpose? She was never coming back. The body was there, but the person was not. If it's between death after "treatment" and a suffering existence OR death before all of that, give me death with mercy.

It's the least we can do. That way, they don't suffer, they don't go into debt trying to treat something that is just going to kill them anyway (because we selfishly want one more Christmas with mom), it free's up resources (human and financial) that can best served/used in other ways. Another bonus, your family won't have to say, " Dad was really bad at the end." Your family gets peace that you did not suffer.

Just like we don't know what is on the other side of death, we don't know if the person is there or not.

[VictorG]

Can I sign others up for it? I'll assist them!!!

[Wedgebuster]

"We treat our dogs better than our people"

That is a direct quote from my mother when she was 76, she died in my care with assistance from Hospice four years later.

[AZGrizFan]

Can I sign others up for it? I'll assist them!!!

[Vidav]

I'm for it. We put down animals so why can't we decide to do our families and ourselves a favor, avoid pain and suffering and die with some dignity. Terry Schiavo, for example, should have been euthanized. Instead, her family paraded her in the media for what purpose? She was never coming back. The body was there, but the person was not. If it's between death after "treatment" and a suffering existence OR death before all of that, give me death with mercy.

It's the least we can do. That way, they don't suffer, they don't go into debt trying to treat something that is just going to kill them anyway (because we selfishly want one more Christmas with mom), it free's up resources (human and financial) that can best served/used in other ways. Another bonus, your family won't have to say, " Dad was really bad at the end." Your family gets peace that you did not suffer.

Just like we don't know what is on the other side of death, we don't know if the person is there or not.

We know what is on the other side, silly. Nothing. Duh.

[CAA Flagship]

Just like we don't know what is on the other side of death, we don't know if the person is there or not.

We know what is on the other side, silly. Nothing. Duh.

You sure?

[JohnStOnge]

I don't know if I'm "all for it" but suicide should be allowed whether it's assisted or not. It's your life. If you want to end it it's nobody else's business.

[93henfan]

I don't know if I'm "all for it" but suicide should be allowed whether it's assisted or not. It's your life. If you want to end it it's nobody else's business.

I agree with this to an extent. If you are going to be a burden on your family while you are kept alive, I believe you are doing them all a favor by getting it over with.

But here's another scenario. What if you are a younger, healthier person with kids, but you suffer with severe depression? Perhaps you would like to end it all, but you have people who count on you and your prime earning years? In that case, it is other peoples' business. In that case it's a pretty selfish suicide. You're putting your immediate relief (no more depression) ahead of the needs of others (money, adult role model, parent, etc).

[Vidav]

We know what is on the other side, silly. Nothing. Duh.

You sure?

Yes.

[Pwns]

Not unconditionally. I'm not in favor of killing physically healthy people with depression for example.

[SDHornet]

I don't know if I'm "all for it" but suicide should be allowed whether it's assisted or not. It's your life. If you want to end it it's nobody else's business.

I agree with this to an extent. If you are going to be a burden on your family while you are kept alive, I believe you are doing them all a favor by getting it over with.

But here's another scenario. What if you are a younger, healthier person with kids, but you suffer with severe depression? Perhaps you would like to end it all, but you have people who count on you and your prime earning years? In that case, it is other peoples' business. In that case it's a pretty selfish suicide. You're putting your immediate relief (no more depression) ahead of the needs of others (money, adult role model, parent, etc).

The wifey in this scenario should have married a stronger willed person...did I get that right?

[SDHornet]

True story: My mother died in 1993, at the age of 61. She went into St. Patricks Hospital in Missoula for a 2nd surgery after complications from a mitrovalve replacement surgery, and never came "out" of the anethstesia. Everything went fine during the surgery, but for some reason while in recovery her body started shutting down. She started suffering multiple "mini" strokes (as the doctors called them) and as such within hours of her surgery had minimal to no brain activity and no prospects for recovery.

The consensus among all the doctors there was that, on a ventilator and with medical assistance, she could survive in that state for YEARS--after all, her heart (after the surgery) was very strong. Despite a relatively clean bill of health, she had made it very clear prior to the surgery that a) she didn't expect to come out of it a b) she had NO desire to be alive in a vegetative state--and that's what the doctors' prognosis was...she'd be a vegetable for the rest of her life.

Unfortnately, in Montana there is no "assisted suicide" or compassionate suicide capability. The ONLY thing we could do (and we made the decision as a family) was to remove her from the various support systems (ventilator, liver treatment, etc.) and wait for her to die "naturally". We were told it would happen in a matter of hours. So, that's what we did--we elected to essentially "pull the plug" and let her die....unfortunately, it took FOUR DAYS, and in that time, because we removed her from the external filtering system that was functioning as her liver, she bloated up and her skin turned yellowy jaundiced (and ultimately THIS is what killed her). And to top it all off, death finally came at about 5:30 in the morning, when very few of the family were around the hospital, while the rest of us raced there from the various places we were staying to try and get there in time.

Needless to say, since 1993 I've been a fan of Assisted Suicide.

Rough story, thanks for sharing. Perfect example of where this whole issue comes into play.

[ASUG8]

I found out last night that my parent's neighbor, who I've known for most of my life, has been diagnosed with ALS at 78. I can't imagine a much more cruel disease for someone to have to endure, and in my mind one that would be top of the list for reasons to look toward assisted suicide as the disease progresses.

[AZGrizFan]

I found out last night that my parent's neighbor, who I've known for most of my life, has been diagnosed with ALS at 78. I can't imagine a much more cruel disease for someone to have to endure, and in my mind one that would be top of the list for reasons to look toward assisted suicide as the disease progresses.

At 78, they may not make it to the point where it progresses enough to be debilitating.

[ASUG8]

I found out last night that my parent's neighbor, who I've known for most of my life, has been diagnosed with ALS at 78. I can't imagine a much more cruel disease for someone to have to endure, and in my mind one that would be top of the list for reasons to look toward assisted suicide as the disease progresses.

At 78, they may not make it to the point where it progresses enough to be debilitating.

She has some stroke-like symptoms now - hopefully something else will get her first so she won't have to endure ALS to its conclusion.

[Chizzang]

I don't know if I'm "all for it" but suicide should be allowed whether it's assisted or not. It's your life. If you want to end it it's nobody else's business.

I agree with this to an extent. If you are going to be a burden on your family while you are kept alive, I believe you are doing them all a favor by getting it over with.

But here's another scenario. What if you are a younger, healthier person with kids, but you suffer with severe depression? Perhaps you would like to end it all, but you have people who count on you and your prime earning years? In that case, it is other peoples' business. In that case it's a pretty selfish suicide. You're putting your immediate relief (no more depression) ahead of the needs of others (money, adult role model, parent, etc).

Existentially Speaking:
There is only selfish action - all action is selfish action...

Selflessness is simply a socially acceptable disguised selfish act

[Ibanez]

I agree with this to an extent. If you are going to be a burden on your family while you are kept alive, I believe you are doing them all a favor by getting it over with.

But here's another scenario. What if you are a younger, healthier person with kids, but you suffer with severe depression? Perhaps you would like to end it all, but you have people who count on you and your prime earning years? In that case, it is other peoples' business. In that case it's a pretty selfish suicide. You're putting your immediate relief (no more depression) ahead of the needs of others (money, adult role model, parent, etc).

Existentially Speaking:
There is only selfish action - all action is selfish action...

Selflessness is simply a socially acceptable disguised selfish act

Confucius says man you stands on toilet is high on pot.