Comments on: Controversy over Euthanasia in the News Again

By: chairman meow

chairman meow — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:17:41 +0000

re: emmy
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that religion was “bashed” anywhere in that post above. If there is evidence against the idea that every major religion is staunchly against assisted suicide, I’ll gladly stand corrected.

For example, as explained by the catholic church: Human life is a gift from God to be cherished and respected because every human being is created in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26). Our Church teaches that we are stewards of life and in heeding God’s command, “Thou shall not kill” (Ex 20:13), we recognize that we cannot dispose of life as we please…

Why shouldn’t assisted suicide be legalized? To sanction the taking of innocent human life is to contradict a primary purpose of law in an ordered society. A law or court decision allowing assisted suicide would demean the lives of vulnerable patients and expose them to exploitation by those who feel they are better off dead. Such a policy would corrupt the medical profession, whose ethical code calls on physicians to serve life and never to kill. The voiceless or marginalized in our society—the poor, the frail elderly, racial minorities, millions of people who lack health insurance—would be the first to feel pressure to die.

“What about competent, terminally ill people who say they really want assisted suicide? Suicidal wishes among the terminally ill are no less due to treatable depression than the same wishes among the able-bodied. When their pain, depression and other problems are addressed, there is generally no more talk of suicide. Courtesy of U.S. Catholic Conference (#257) – http://www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/ac0897.asp

I think it’s great that you have your own opinion on the matter, and I wish that organized religion encouraged debate on that or other subjects. I’m just referring to the official position that is taken by the church when i say “religious”…

By: emmy

emmy — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:48:26 +0000

I think adding the element of bashing the religous cheapens the debate and restricts honest oppinion. Many people of faith object, but so do many people who consider themselves non-religous. I am a woman of faith, but I don’t feel the need to prolong my life at all.

By: chairman meow

chairman meow — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:13:34 +0000

Although this is a terribly sad story, and of even greater interest because it is a couple, it is a good story to contrast the Terry Schiavo case from years ago.

For various reasons religion has advocated that individuals don’t have the power of choice in matters like this, instead teaching that we must hang on to “life” at any cost, to prolong life (ironically, with the assistance of modern medicine/technology) until god decides that life should end.

Recent technology has allowed us to prolong life, but to also prolong suffering. In the natural world, years of prolonged suffering are unnatural, as animals who aren’t fit to survive usually don’t. Although this is a sad story, the ability to end one’s own suffering is empowering, and probably more of an act of “faith” than fearfully clinging to life at any cost.

By: WWWebb

WWWebb — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:44:08 +0000

I see you left a comment at the page about Dr. Stone that I cited, and that you have read his writings.

I’m glad that you have context to understand how much of a compliment my comparing your writing to his was.

Been peeking at your older writings with assistance from Mr. Peabody in between helping my wife with some forensic accounting (which makes me want to rip my eyeballs out as I’m a senior-level computer geek, not an accountant!)

Best regards,

WWWebb

By: WWWebb

WWWebb — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:07:25 +0000

We could take a look at events in Holland, where some believe a "right to die" is slowly leading to a "duty to die". To off oneself when terminal is one thing-- someone else, another thing entirely.

By: emmy

emmy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:42:35 +0000

It seems that it’s pretty simple when you are only talking about very old people with tragic deseases and disabilities who are in pain and want assistance with ending their lives. It seems a bit more complicated when you start throwing in the rest of humanity…What about the dying person’s loved one who just does not want to go on without them or the kid who doesn’t want to die ugly…what about the profoundly developmentally delayed who are then diagnosed with a painful and life limiting disease? It’s issues like these that make most Americans want to back away from the debate. Unfortunately the debate has trickled down to the pet area. I took my 14 year old arthritic, incontinent bassett hound to the vet and the man refused to put him down because he felt that the conditions could be tolerated and believes all life is to be appreciated. Sometimes insanity reigns supreme. I think that when we stop focusing on the request person by person we lose begin to deal with a world of oppinions. Like Chrysalis, I would like to have the choice to end my life when it becomes obvious that the river is flowing there. What I fear will happen is that my doctor will be so concerned about not causing my death that he will with hold adequate comfort measures. It probably doesn’t happen often, but I have seen it and recently.

By: Greg P

Greg P — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:13:05 +0000

Some time ago there was a story about someone who was young, attractive, active, diagnosed with some eventually terminal disease that would have resulted in loss of that beautiful appearance, so he decided to kill himself, and did so that he would make an attractive corpse.

Humans are strange.

By: Danimal

Danimal — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:05:44 +0000

I think physician-assisted suicide is even more clear cut than abortion. With abortion it’s arguably a separate person whose life is ended. Suicide? Not so much.

It seems a terrible affront to the dignity of a person if he needs governmental permission to end his life — ditto for getting help from a physician. That’s should be a personal decision, government be damned.

However, I feel quite differently about euthanasia, though I’m not sure if it’s intellectually honest. It just feels “wrong” for someone else to kill someone, despite the patient’s request. Maybe it’s because I fear a slippery slope?

Awfully thought-provoking post, Doc — thanks.

By: Chrysalis

Chrysalis — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:02:38 +0000

I know this is a very hot topic. I can only say that when my dog began suffering terribly from cancer, I promised him he would not suffer like that one more night, not one more it was so bad. I’ll never forget his pleading eyes begging me to help him. All I could do was give him benadryl to try to sedate him some, and get him through the night. (The vet on call wouldn’t see him until morning.) When I saw what a peaceful passing he had in my arms, as our vet assisted him, I told Fireguy that I wish they could do that for me when it’s my time.