The right to suicide

[Scuba]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=405950&mesg_id=405950


This post was prompted by the above post regarding gun restrictions effect on suicide rates.

While that is an interesting topic, the posts seemed to suggest that most are against the concept of suicide.


I for one, want to preserve my right to end my life when I determine it appropriate to do so. I consider this a basic right.

This allows me to protect my family from bankruptcy. This allows me to protect myself from a long and painful suffering at the hands of some disease or exposure or ....


Thoughts?

[madinmaryland]

1. Question for you. What are the percentage of people who have life threatening health issues vs.

those who have mental problems that have not been treated.

And what situations do you believe should be a person's right to commit suicide?

Just curious.

[Cal33]

12. If we get to become old enough, we'll all be facing life-threatening

issues sometime. I don't relish the idea of lingering in constant pain
when pain medications no longer help -- as in certain forms of cancer.
Could that be one of the reasonable times? I have no idea whethr or
not I would do it, though.

[HereSince1628]

2. I think this is should be as much a right as a D.N.R. order n/t

[frebrd]

3. K&R! Some people just seem to think it's..........

their business to mind other people's business.

:shrug:

[Lasher]

4. I agree with you. It is the final privelege.

I am not compelled to elaborate.

[secondwind]

5. I believe in death with dignity. Get the document and sign up. I think most states have one.

It is also called a "DNR", or Do Not Resuscitate. You have complete control over when and why a feeding tube should be inserted, if at all. Conditions can be set to help your doctor/nurses know your wishes, if you cannot speak.

For example, a coma for longer than "X" months may lead you to want to end your life, and pull the plug. Or if you can no longer eat on your own. Do you want a feeding tube inserted? Once it is in, it is very difficult to remove, unless there is a court order.

[BOG PERSON]

6. i do not think suicide should be enshrined as a "right"

if you're going to take your own life, that's fine. but asking for society to endorse it is a little perverse imo.

[LoZoccolo]

7. There are a few reasons why I think it should remain illegal.

1. If it is a right, the state will lose at least some of its power to intervene immediately to cases of acute mental illness.
2. How long do you think it would be before health insurance companies start pressuring people to kill themselves, or fund propaganda encouraging people to do so?
3. Or even recommend that treatment be stopped because that's always an option?
4. Likewise with other people who don't like you or see you as a burden: they could then have some leeway to try to get you to end your life.

In practical terms, you can likely get away with it if you really wanted to; codifying a prohibition against it can prevent other problems like these.

[ZombieHorde]

8. I am for legalizing suicide. nt

[madinmaryland]

9. What the fuck? When was the last time someone was prosecuted and convicted of committing suicide???

:wtf:

[ZombieHorde]

10. Dr. Kevorkian was arrested and served jail time for helping people kill themselves painlessly. nt

[Cal33]

13. The suicide's dependents may suffer the consequences though --

for example, from insurance companies.

[Annata4Peace]

11. A person who cannot control how and when they die...

is not truly free.

[defendandprotect]

14. I believe in the right to suicide -- it will always be an option for humans....

only question is, how difficult will they make it --