Do You Support Physician Assisted Suicide; Woman Moves To Portland For Physician Assisted Suicide (crime, government)

[charolastra00]

I support it and have plans in place to move to a state with death with dignity laws if my cancer turns south, though my state is further than most in passing its own laws here. I've had these plans in place since I was 23 years old. Luckily, I have 2 or 3 different types of treatment I could undergo if my cancer was to relapse and then relapse again - but at some point, I would have to question what my quality of life would be if I survived and how much pain and expense I wanted to put myself through in hopes of being in the minority who survive.

The Hippocratic Oath says do no harm. Allowing a person who does not want to spend months in severe, nonstop pain while slowly losing control of their own body, including losing the ability to speak or move, until their organs shut down is causing harm. That's the death Brittany would otherwise be looking forward to.

[middle-aged mom]

Assisted suicide has been around and debated for thousands of years.
The Hippocratic Oath has been revised many times and most doctors in modern times do not take that oath. There is no requirement to do so nor consequence for violation within the confines of law.

Assisted suicide is legal in several countries, including Switzerland where Suicide Clinics are operated and are open to foreigners. The Swiss recently voted their affirmation to continue operating clinics and acceptance of non Swiss citizens.

In the late 90's SCOTUS concluded the constitution does not give a right to doctor assisted suicide and leaves it to the state.

I support assisted suicide and believe as the baby boom ages , demand will increase and this will become a huge issue in most states.

[LauraC]

I don't support it. If you want to kill yourself do it without sucking other people into it.

[2e1m5a]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider275452

She is terminal, and she should be able to choose the way she dies.

Agreed. Oregon, Washington and Vermont all have assisted suicide laws in place.

[texan2yankee]

As many have already said, we are allowed to let our pets die without pain and suffering by euthanasia. Why do we force humans to live on when that person's quality of life is no longer good?

I find the insistence by some to make a terminally ill person die painfully, without assistance, the height of cruelty and arrogance. It is arrogance after all to think we should be able to decide for them.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by LauraC

I don't support it. If you want to kill yourself do it without sucking other people into it.

That is why it needs to be legal.....so others are not "suckered into it".

It needs to be one choice in the care of a person who has no hope of getting better and is suffering.

[InformedConsent]

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

As many have already said, we are allowed to let our pets die without pain and suffering by euthanasia. Why do we force humans to live on when that person's quality of life is no longer good? I find the insistence by some to make a terminally ill person die painfully, without assistance, the height of cruelty.

I agree. It is exceptionally cruel. Watching a loved one suffer in pain day in and day out is not a pleasant thing.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by Kibby

She is not just terminal .... her death by cancer will be extremely painful.

You got that right. My brother's sister-in-law is presently dying from brain cancer a day at a time, and she's in her middle 30s. She's in constant agony when she's not knocked out from painkillers. She's on a morphine drip right now, and even that isn't helping much. She has to be unconscious to be pain free.

The last time my brother saw saw her, a couple of weeks ago, she was almost incoherent, as the cancer is destroying her speech now, and she's nearly blind as well. All she could say was "Hug", then hold her arms out, and then break into tears.

She won't commit suicide. She has 2 small children, and so she fights on, like mothers do.

But I honestly hope the kids will, in time, forget the horror they're going through. In her case, I believe if she would have taken a quiet overdose and passed away peacefully a little earlier, it would have been the best for all of them including her husband, who is the only full witness and caregiver she has. His scarring will be the deepest of all, and though he's very religious, prayer gives him no relief any more.

Could I find fault with a doctor who would order the legal painkillers for her? Nope. Not in a million years.
I see no slippery slope here at all. While suicide was never this lady's choice, I'm sure she would never deny anyone else their own choice when it comes to any terminal disease. Mercy is never a bad thing.

Our time is coming for all of us. How and when we want to die when it's our time should be left to us. If I decide to leave a little early, and can no longer do it all by myself, I will appreciate a bit of kind help, I'm sure, as long as the help doesn't mess with anyone's conscience and they are willing.

[RecentlyMoved]

This story is heart breaking.

Yes, I do support it. Let her die on her own terms, with dignity.

[no1brownsfan]

Given her circumstances I'm going to have to say yes.