Assisted Suicide

[Expounder]

Although suicide in Britain is legal, the assisting of suicide carries a maximim jail sentence of 14 years. Mrs purdy who suffers from multiple sclerosis is fighting in the High Court to clarify the law on assisted suicide to help people who are likely to be assisters from being procecuted for carrying out the last wishes of those who wish to end their life.


This is a most moving and emotive subject which needs to be addressed
by the law, and not left in limbo, I think she is correct in her actions in trying to get a ruling, the following link gives some guidance and an opinion on the subject.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/05/health.law (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/05/health.law)

[My Winter Storm]

Sad case, this one.

I support assisted suicide if the patient has consented, and I also support involuntary euthanasia if the patient doesn't consent. If there is no chance of recovery, and family members agree, that patient can be allowed to die.

I hope Mrs. Purdy wins her case and gets the clarification she needs. The law doesn't seem to be clear on this one.

[Citizen Smith]

Yeah, I think that after careful monitoring and looking at the problems the person faces, it should be legal as the other way is simply withdrawing treatment, which can be painful, drawn out and distressing.
It is a very sad topic though.

[Tantal]

MY Christian beliefs tell me that suicide is the one sin that cannot be forgiven; however, the libertarian in me tells me that it's none of the government's business.

[cajunsnake]

Storm..." involuntary euthanasia if the patient doesn't consent", I'm curious how you would justify someone who doesn't want to die.

But for assisted suicide...my faith tells no, but my heart tells me I hope I never have to face this.

SNAKE

[My Winter Storm]

Storm..." involuntary euthanasia if the patient doesn't consent", I'm curious how you would justify someone who doesn't want to die.

Take Terri Schivio for example. She had lain in a vegetative state for 15 years, and had no chance of recovery. Her feeding tube was removed when she never consented to have it removed. The decision was right, however, as her medical history indicated that her brain damage was irreversible.
Cases like this one should be assessed carefully before any decision were made. Basically I support involuntary euthanasia if the patient has no chance of making a recovery.

[cajunsnake]

Take Terri Schivio for example. She had lain in a vegetative state for 15 years, and had no chance of recovery. Her feeding tube was removed when she never consented to have it removed. The decision was right, however, as her medical history indicated that her brain damage was irreversible.
Cases like this one should be assessed carefully before any decision were made. Basically I support involuntary euthanasia if the patient has no chance of making a recovery.

I followed that one, always thought it was a circus...thanks to her family. But it did prove a point though, making sure that plans are made ahead time, what you're wishes are. Something my wife have done, and leaves no doubt in anyone's mind what our wishs are.


SNAKE

[My Winter Storm]

I followed that one, always thought it was a circus...thanks to her family. But it did prove a point though, making sure that plans are made ahead time, what you're wishes are. Something my wife have done, and leaves no doubt in anyone's mind what our wishs are.


Creating a living will would help prevent this sort of thing. If Schivio had had a living will, stipulating her wishes, it is highly likely the case would not have been dragged through the courts for so long. Now that people realise that this could happen to them, it should encourage them to make a will, so there is no doubt as to their wishes.

[Marxist Nutter]

In theory I think there is nothing wrong with assisted suicide; the problem is with the practice.

The public policy researcher in me wants to resist a policy to legalise this as it would just be such a nightmare, even if morally it is the right thing to do.

Consider a person with no quality of life, who is terminally ill but cannot communicate. This person has made it clear that in these circumstances they wish to helped to die. However this would need to be authroised by a next of kin who stands to inherit their estate. This is a nightmare of a conflict of interest for everybody.

1st For the person who has to make this decision and risk standing to be accused of murdering their relative for money
2nd The doctors who have to agree to do it
3rd The state and the courts who have to decide if the right thing was done.

Just seems like it will open up a messy painful and complicated new area of law...

[cajunsnake]

In theory I think there is nothing wrong with assisted suicide; the problem is with the practice.

The public policy researcher in me wants to resist a policy to legalise this as it would just be such a nightmare, even if morally it is the right thing to do.

Consider a person with no quality of life, who is terminally ill but cannot communicate. This person has made it clear that in these circumstances they wish to helped to die. However this would need to be authroised by a next of kin who stands to inherit their estate. This is a nightmare of a conflict of interest for everybody.

1st For the person who has to make this decision and risk standing to be accused of murdering their relative for money
2nd The doctors who have to agree to do it
3rd The state and the courts who have to decide if the right thing was done.

Just seems like it will open up a messy painful and complicated new area of law...

That's why the living will. In my case, there is no argument, no one has a say so in it, I don't need a doctor to ok, and the state and the courts will either get over it...or not.

I've laid down that if something happens, I'm a veggie and there's nothing that can be done in 72 hrs...my oldest son pulls the plug. He and I have talked about it, he doesn't like it, but he know's the life I've led and know's I would I never accept anything less.

It's a mess, no doubt, but look at the other end of it, which would you rather have?



SNAKE

[My Winter Storm]

I've laid down that if something happens, I'm a veggie and there's nothing that can be done in 72 hrs...my oldest son pulls the plug.

My family have spoken about the same sort of thing. We've verbally agreed that if anything were to happen to us, and we ended up a vegetable, we'd be given a total of three months to show signs of improvement. If there was none, we'd pull the plug. Neither of us wants to endure life as half the person we used to be.

[Marxist Nutter]

That's why the living will. In my case, there is no argument, no one has a say so in it, I don't need a doctor to ok, and the state and the courts will either get over it...or not.

I've laid down that if something happens, I'm a veggie and there's nothing that can be done in 72 hrs...my oldest son pulls the plug. He and I have talked about it, he doesn't like it, but he know's the life I've led and know's I would I never accept anything less.

It's a mess, no doubt, but look at the other end of it, which would you rather have?



SNAKE

Yes Snake but what if it is contested in court by another relative that says you were manipulated to sign it by your son to get your money. This sort of shit happens all the time and your poor son would have to defend himself in court arguing he did it for you and in your interests but all the time a smart ass lawyer is saying 'well you would say that u stand to gain $X from Snake's death'

[Dr The Evidence]

There will never be a clear legal position adopted by the government on this issue whilst the ruling class remain predominantly Christian. In this country we very rarely mix political and religious rhetoric and so issues such as this are usually just ignored or spoke of only in vague terms. Assisted suicide, if properly monitored, could easily be found a place within our legal system if politicians were not so heavily in the pockets of The Church of England. The same goes for euthanasia too.

If we look at the Labour front bench, most if not all are outspoken in their Christian beliefs. No matter what these people say, they will never allow assisted suicide or euthanasia to become legal, because they fundementally disagree with it. Under a Conservative government, well that might be a different story...

[cajunsnake]

Yes Snake but what if it is contested in court by another relative that says you were manipulated to sign it by your son to get your money. This sort of shit happens all the time and your poor son would have to defend himself in court arguing he did it for you and in your interests but all the time a smart ass lawyer is saying 'well you would say that u stand to gain $X from Snake's death'

That's why you have a lawyer draw it up. My dad's is the same way, I learned from him. When it was drawn up, I was in good health, reputable lawyer will not try and draw something up when you are not in your right mind. And like dad, there's a clause that states, if any of us try to contest his will, we lose everything. Mine is the same.

Can it happen the way you say, sure it can. But then, I've been able to spot blood suckers a mile away, and eliminate them from circle.


SNAKE

[Marxist Nutter]

That's why you have a lawyer draw it up. My dad's is the same way, I learned from him. When it was drawn up, I was in good health, reputable lawyer will not try and draw something up when you are not in your right mind. And like dad, there's a clause that states, if any of us try to contest his will, we lose everything. Mine is the same.

Can it happen the way you say, sure it can. But then, I've been able to spot blood suckers a mile away, and eliminate them from circle.


SNAKE


Then also a living will is not assisted suicide. Imagine the court case with a son that gave his dad an overdose, at his request...:confused:

[cajunsnake]

Then also a living will is not assisted suicide. Imagine the court case with a son that gave his dad an overdose, at his request...:confused:

No, in my case, I've eliminated the need for it. If I'm that far gone, the most they have is 72 hrs, to do something. Even at that, it would just be a matter of pulling a plug.

SNAKE