Thread: Euthanasia

Originally Posted by s2cuts

Dude, stop throwing a tantrum like a 7 year old every time I challenge you. Seriously, you're the most insecure person I've ever met. This is a section of the forum for DEBATING! Now answer the question, or don't bother posting in Brain Stew any more.

The way you ask always involves an attack on the individual and then you expect an answer? Lol, it doesn't work that way. As many others know, I'm open to debate and have been in debates with a lot of members in various threads without insulting anyone. And you avoid the point by yet again trying to insult me, which doesn't change the fact of the matter that it is you acting like a child. Mature up a bit and then maybe people will be more open to debate or be in a mature discussion with you. Also a quick tip, refrain from insults in every single one of your posts, shows an ugly side of you that no one wants to see.

Originally Posted by SilverStreak

The way you ask always involves an attack on the individual and then you expect an answer? Lol, it doesn't work that way. As many others know, I'm open to debate and have been in debates with a lot of members in various threads without insulting anyone. And you avoid the point by yet again trying to insult me, which doesn't change the fact of the matter that it is you acting like a child. Mature up a bit and then maybe people will be more open to debate or be in a mature discussion with you. Also a quick tip, refrain from insults in every single one of your posts, shows an ugly side of you that no one wants to see.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?!?!?!?!

Where have I "insulted" you? I'm just confused now.

I just saw a documentary on assisted death via Terry Pratchett's documentary on it tonight. For those of you who dont know he is the author of the Discworld series of books, he has Alzheimers, he can no longer write himself and has to dictate things. When i saw a documentary he did about living with Alzheimers a year ago he could still type, he is still functional but going downhill quickly. He is contemplating euthanasia so decided to look into it... the program follows him and a few other people with terminal illnesses talking about their lives and their decisions (be it to live or to die). They then go to Switzerland where some of the people you have got to know choose to die, one of whom let Terry Pratchett join them, so they see him drink the poison whilst his wife is sat next to him.

It was a very good program and something that you cant help feel emotional over, even someone who isn't that emotional like myself. It presented the information without bias and pretty much promoted that there isn't a right decision to whether someone should live or die. It really should be your choice, after all if it isn't your life, who's is it?

I fully recommend if you are interested by the sound of this post you go check it out, it is called: Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die

OK lets be clear, euthanasia in this context is about ending the suffering of someone who is terminal, at their request.

It is about helping terminally ill people to die when there quality of life has been destroyed by disease, without hope of release except through death.

Having said that we do need to be very careful, that it is actually what that individual wants, and that they have not made that decision with undue pressure from other people. There need to be safeguards, and laws in place to protect people.

I think in the UK the balance is about right. Assisting suicide is against the law, but the Crown always decline to prosecute 'legitimate' cases where the individual is terminally ill, wanted to die, and the person assisting, acted purely out of compassion.

We have legal euthanasia now, it's just the wrong people that get to decide.

I have heard from a couple of people in the medical profession (whom I know very well) that they often make the decision that a patient is ready to die, and begin increasing pain medications until death occurs. Morphine dosages are increased to ease the "pain", appetite disappears and before long the patient's respiratory systems can't keep up.

suicide - it's only a crime if you don't succeed.