Euthanasia?

Metaverseguy: I've not really considered this topic very much, but I saw an episode of one of my favorite shows, House, that dealt with it.

The Republican stance is against legalization of euthanasia.

The Democratic and independent stance is legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

(All three parties are pretty split on the topic and there isn't a giant majority in favor or against it.)

In the show Dr. House would only perform euthanasia on patients that were terminally ill. If they had a disease that was treatable he wouldn't help a patient end their life. One of the main arguments toward allowing it is it removes all the pain associated with what could be a sometimes horrible and miserable death.

One of the arguments against it is that it leaves vulnerable people without proper legal protection and makes the lives of the sick and disabled appear less valuable.

Do you have a stance and what is it?

wayne elliott: Yes Fortran, I definitely have a stance on it as I'm sure most people do, and despite the fact I am not American. I nursed the elderly some of whom had terminal diseases, but many who did not. I was surprised how many asked me to "please kill me" because they were sick of illnesses and the declination of their lives.

While I would strenuously agree that saving a human (we do it for animals) the indignity and pain of dying slowly of an incurable disease is a very sensible foundation for euthaniasia, I found myself moved by the "hopelessness" "helplessness" and "irrelevance" (their words) the elderly expressed. They knew they were not going to bounce out of bed tomorrow and go home. They knew only way out was in a box.

I often wonder when I am at that stage of life and not suffering a terminal illness, whether I would think the ritual of the day was pointless and long for release, old and tired with no purpose in life. Just waiting.

It's interesting to note that more elderly suicide than we realise - walk out into traffic, overdose on medications, or, as my grandmother did, just cease taking medications altogether.

wayne elliott: Thank you for this thread - I hope it gets people debating a topic many are scared to approach...

Metaverseguy: Sounds like a pretty miserable environment. I would probably rather shovel cow shit all day and come home to a wife I didn't love in a home with no roof than have to go through people begging for death each day. Although people sometimes wish to die even if they are healthy. I've seen articles where young and beautiful girls throw themselves in front of trains because they are teased and bullied. So kindly telling a depressed elderly person that they aren't allowed to end it would get repetitive, but it seems more logical that a person would rather want to just end it quickly if there is no other option.

wayne elliott: They feel they have done their bit. Their future is in the same bed or chair day after day. The end is inevitable and they are tired of living.