Does anyone have the right to dictate that you must go on living if you do not w

1. 38

   Borsiaposted 13 years ago

   Does anyone have the right to dictate that you must go on living if you do not want to?
   
   The question is, obviously, assisted suicide; and should it be legal.
   For the sake of the question you may assume that the person in question is suffering, or at least has no quality of life, and is of sound mind to make the decision for themselves.

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2. 86

   Denise Handlonposted 13 years ago

   I actually wrote a hub about that regarding Jack Kervorkian who was a physician in Michigan who began physician assisted suicides.

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3. 34

   Johnathan L Groomposted 13 years ago

   It would go the person(s) themselves, per say, sound mind or otherwise.
   -johnathan-

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4. 73

   Twilight Lawnsposted 13 years ago

   This is a problem that is virtually insurmountable.  Many people don't want to continue living if their quality of life becomes intolerable, but neglect making a "living will" until they are past the stage of being able to do so.
   Then an "assessment" by a third person could take place, and if so, would they have the knowledge or the compassion to consider the first person's wishes?  Or, and there is this danger, is it possible that this becomes a "policy" in an "overcrowded" environment?

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   onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

   I would not  hold any loved one against their will.............I would not.
   
   
   They must also know..................that their going will effect me and others who love them.............yes, we are worthy of input.
   
   I have no " right " to hold them, but I do have a " right" to tell them what their passing will cost!
   
   Until they know that cost, it can not be an informed decision.

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6. 0

   lambservantposted 13 years ago

   I have seen people suffer, and it is so hard and heartbreaking, but I cannot support assisted suicide. It is God who should decide when and how. Why he allows the suffering I don't know. But suffering happens to everyone in some way and some time in their lives. No one gets out of this life without suffering. Some of course suffer more than others. I absolutely hate to see someone in angonizing suffering.
   
   My mom was in the hospital screaming nearly 24/7 from the pain of bladder cancer. My heart was torn like it's never been before. She did not ask for death. But she did end up dying as she was already fighting a very serious pneumonia, which a few days later she had to go on life support. The doctor said there was no hope of survival as the infection had gone septic (throughout her bloodstream). The family gathered around, said goodbye, and they pulled the plug. She lived another 6 hours then passes away. Before I left the hospital I asked the nurse to give her as much morphine as allowable. I just didn't want her to be in pain. They said she was comfortable as far as pain went.
   
   I do not consider our decision to pull the plug assisted suicide as she had no hope of recovery. But had that not been the case, I know i could not have supported assisted suicide. Such a horrible situation eh?

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      LoisRyan13903posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We had the same when my step daughter's husband was brain dead after getting meningitis  Wouldn't consider assisted suicide.  Sorry for your loss

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   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   no one has this right. if a person is dying from a terminal disease or is so old that they can't function normally, then they should have the right to die.

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8. 61

   HERBCYCLOPEDIAposted 13 years ago

   Obviously not, but the point is not whether to let people end their lives at their best convenience but to make sure that is not a decision they have taken under "abnormal circumstances".
   
   I mean, there is people that under the influence of certain circumstances and especially after dramatic events (death of a child, serious illness...etc.) they may think that's the only solution, but for some of them, the ones that managed with help to overcome that situation, in many cases the situation changes drastically and they discover the beauty of life again.
   
   I'm pro live and pro help, let's help those in difficult situations to recover and overcome them instead of letting them just go.

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   tyler_richmondposted 13 years ago

   I mean it is your life and your decision but unless you are dieing from something already and risk being a vegetable than there is no good reason to take your life. Assisted suicide though i would never want to put someone through that for the rest of their life.

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10. 71

    LoisRyan13903posted 11 years ago

    As a Christian suicide is murder so i would not put anybody on that spot and I could not support somebody if they decide this for themselves.  It is different if a family member is brain dead and we have to make the decision to remove him from life support

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       Borsiaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       This s a typical stance where one wants to push their beliefs into the lives of others who don't share those beliefs. You are a Xian but you want to prevent other non Xians from exercising their own free will. This is why the religious get flack.

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    2. 71

       LoisRyan13903posted 11 years agoin reply to this

       How am I pushing my beliefs?  Yes I am a Generation X but your reply does not make sense.  No I would not help somebody commit suicide.

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