Health & Lifestyle Should a person who is suffering from a terminal illness be able to end their life?

[Jay™]

This topic has been debated many many times, what are you're thoughts on the subject?

 

[prake]

No, I honestly believe that is going to be abused more than it is going to help anyone. Let us not take the right to end a life in our own hands.

 

[Jay™]

I really do get what you are saying for sure however what about a person that is terminal with let's say cancer, this person is in real pain every day of their lives and there is nothing medical science can do about it.
What then?

 

[prake]

I do not know. But killing an innocent man has no excuse. And it should not have the backing of the law.

 

[jaminhealth]

I joined Compassion and Choices, which was found when Hemlock Society folded. I don't want propped up with drugs and if I want to go I want to go.

I get sick of hearing about this subject and and yet our military goes all over the world killing innocent people. A little ot but this always comes to my mind.

 

[Jane]

Yes they should. I remember a story in the news some years ago. A previously healthy man had a brain stem stroke..effectively locked in syndrome. He wanted to die…state wouldnt allow it. he refused to eat and drink. He died a week later. Poor man. It was cruel not to let him…

 

[Shortie]

I am a firm believer that for anyone who is terminally ill and there is no way of helping them through the pain and the suffering they are going through on a daily basis and it's just a matter of when rather than if, they should be allowed to make the decision on if they would like to end their suffering. I know if I was someone who was terminally ill, in pain daily and there was no way any kind of medication could cure me or help me, I would want to go and be out of the pain and suffering I was in.

 

[ZandraJoi]

It is a sad question & one where there's no easy answer.
It should be a choice. Those people who are terminal, if they could get out of bed & do it themselves, would more than likely commit suicide.
It's inhumane & selfish to let any creature suffer.

 

[Uncrowned]

I've watched too many people forced to be alive while they sit in chronic pain and have no chance of surviving or regaining any quality of life in their foreseeable future to not support it. It should not be an option that hospitals, hospice, etc are allowed to push, but it should be an option.

However there are still massive hurdles for a system that allows this. Like who gets to choose? Medical power of attorneys can select treatments, but should they be able to select death? Can doctors choose this option when no family is available? Sadly, many individuals that would want this outcome are not sound of mind and even worse, many find themselves alone and in the care of skilled nursing facilities and hospitals with no family interaction.

 

[ZandraJoi]

I've watched too many people forced to be alive while they sit in chronic pain and have no chance of surviving or regaining any quality of life in their foreseeable future to not support it. It should not be an option that hospitals, hospice, etc are allowed to push, but it should be an option.

However there are still massive hurdles for a system that allows this. Like who gets to choose? Medical power of attorneys can select treatments, but should they be able to select death? Can doctors choose this option when no family is available? Sadly, many individuals that would want this outcome are not sound of mind and even worse, many find themselves alone and in the care of skilled nursing facilities and hospitals with no family interaction.

My husband & I have talked about what we want. Yes, it's a morbid conversation but one that really should be discussed with your loved ones. We made a Living Trust last year. That discussion is what would help bridge this gap for the hurdles we would experience. But unfortunately, people don't want to "worry about" that kind of stuff. Then they have their families make the sad decision to keep going or "pull the plug".