Euthanasia

[Luv4Pac4Ever]

How do you all feel about it? Personally I think its wrong.
I don't know if any of y'all have heard of Terri Schindler-Schiavo but it's a case that has been ongoing since her collapse in 1990. Now a judge has ordered that her feeding tube be removed. She is not on any kind of life support other than the gastric feeding tube that is providing her nutrition to keep her alive. Removing it will eventually kill her. Her husband is doing this. A husband that has since her collapse got a fiancee and if I'm not mistaken, two children. Her parents have and are still trying everything available to them to keep her alive but her husband is guardian over her and wants to let her die. This woman is not in a vegative state, she responds when she sees her parents, she smiles when they come in the room. She knows they're there but her husband still wants to let her die. She has not been given any kind of therapy because her husband refuses to let her have it. Therapists have said that if given therapy, she could talk again, but again, her husband refused. Now I ask you, what is her husband hiding? Why does he want to let her die? Is he afraid that if she is able to talk again that she will tell what really happened to her? That's what I think.
There are also links on her webpage that you can use to contact your Senator or Representative and tell them that you favor the Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act that could save Terri's life and the lives of others like her.

http://www.terrisfight.org/


Peace

 

[Silleone]

If the person out of there own free will says they want to die becuz they are going through so much pain and cant go through it anymore, then yes, but then again isnt the person that is going to "pull the plug" a murderer in some way.

but in the case u just mentioned, the husband is definatly hiding something, it seems a little to fucking wierd how he wouldnt want to see his own wife atleast talk.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

I believe in euthanasia but only when one of two - or both - factors are in play.

1. The person in question has requested that they be killed/allowed to die.
2. The person is in no state to perform number 1 & the family - who must clearly have the person's best wishes at heart - feel it would be best to let them go for sincere reasons such as, the person is considered to be in severe pain.

For either of these two to be illegal distressed me. I can see the concrete logic behind this kind of 'mercy killing' being illegal, but - as ironic as it may seem - it morally disturbs me to see people prevented from performing euthanasia.

 

[Amara]

How do you all feel about it? Personally I think its wrong.
I don't know if any of y'all have heard of Terri Schindler-Schiavo but it's a case that has been ongoing since her collapse in 1990. Now a judge has ordered that her feeding tube be removed. She is not on any kind of life support other than the gastric feeding tube that is providing her nutrition to keep her alive. Removing it will eventually kill her. Her husband is doing this. A husband that has since her collapse got a fiancee and if I'm not mistaken, two children. Her parents have and are still trying everything available to them to keep her alive but her husband is guardian over her and wants to let her die. This woman is not in a vegative state, she responds when she sees her parents, she smiles when they come in the room. She knows they're there but her husband still wants to let her die. She has not been given any kind of therapy because her husband refuses to let her have it. Therapists have said that if given therapy, she could talk again, but again, her husband refused. Now I ask you, what is her husband hiding? Why does he want to let her die? Is he afraid that if she is able to talk again that she will tell what really happened to her? That's what I think.
There are also links on her webpage that you can use to contact your Senator or Representative and tell them that you favor the Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act that could save Terri's life and the lives of others like her.

http://www.terrisfight.org/


Peace

That's an interesting situation and I guess one thing that comes to my mind is that the question seems to hinge on the wishes of other people, without regard for what is in her best interests. I wonder what she would wish or what could be accomplished through therapy. Without seeking to judge too much (as there is always more to stories such as this), I wonder that the decision is being based on easing the personal burden on the husband rather than to put an end to the woman's suffering.

In regards to the issue in general, I see some benefits, as I have had terminally ill family members and friends. Under controlled and regulated environments, it could be a useful thing - to ease the pain and delay the inevitable. I think it has to come down to the wishes of the patient. Yet, the problems of accountablility of doctors are the real issues.

 

[Luv4Pac4Ever]

I saw a program about her and it was said that they told her that all she had to do was say "I want to live" and she managed to get out "I want" and that was it. Her parents think that she was going to tell them that she wants to live but her husband or his people, can't remember which, said "Well what if she was going to say 'I want to die'?" I just can't see where she'd say that considering how much joy you can see on her face when she sees her parents.
He's hiding something. I don't know whether he beat her and caused her to collapse or he gave her something that had this effect on her or whatever the case may be. It's just unbelievable to me how someone can say they love someone and then would rather see them die than get them any help whether it does any good or not.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

^
Yea, but that's a specific case & each case will have it's own merits or drawbacks pending on circumstance.

Btw, Silleone, delete some Pms.

 

[Illuminattile]

You cannot use the case of Schindler-Shiavo to say "Euthanasia is wrong". I don't know much about the case, but from the way you've presented it there it's clear that she should not be killed.

I was about to post an alternate look at the case, until I realised it had been posted on a White Supremacist website and made repeated references to the fact that Terri's parents were Jewish.

 

[Glockmatic]

From an interview i watched last night, a doctor explained she was in a vegetative state, so her basic instincts such as blinking, reflex movements (like if you make a noise to the right she would look to the right), and sleep cycles are the only things she can do. Recovering from a vegetative state after a year is very rare, and its been like 10 years since shes been this way?

 

[Luv4Pac4Ever]

Oh, I'm not using her case to say that euthanasia is wrong. I've always thought it was wrong anyway. Of course there are extenuating circumstances where it is the logical choice but in a whole, I think its wrong, always have.
I don't believe she's been as bad off as she is now the entire time. She is deteriorating because she is refused therapy by her husband. Maybe she never would have walked again or even used any of her limbs again but if she's functioning brain-wise, shouldn't that be reason enough to keep her alive? There are plenty of people that become parapalegic and lead long lives so why shouldn't she be given the chance? It all comes down to her husband, he's the reason she is the way she is now. Had she been treated properly, who knows what kind of progress she would have made by now.

 

[tupacmansion]

Thats a sad situation, but this women definetly deserves to live. The fact that she smiles(when se sees her parents) makes her life worth living. The husband sounds as if he wants rid of her, but I don't think he should have any authority over her life, surely her parents must be able to prevent this injustice.

Anyway my view On Euthanasia

I believe that all life is precious, everyone deserves the rite to live, no matter what situation they are in. Obviously its sad to allow people to live such a painful exsistence, but its all part of life.

As regards to the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case, this woman obviously deserves to live, she even has a chance of speaking again. If she dies through euthanasia then someones commited murder, whether it be her husband or the person responsible for stopping her food supplies. This is a very in-humane way to treat someone, kill them by starving them of vital nutrients, how sad.

 

[kman_69]

in that case its wrong....becuase its clearly not the persons choice to die...

but if someone with cancer...who's going to die a really painfull death wants to die painlessly....that is fine by me!

 

[Illuminattile]

First of all, just to clarify, allowing someone to die by removing a feeding tube or something like that is not technically euthanasia. Euthanasia is killing someone, not allowing someone to die (passive euthanasia). Euthanasia usually involves inducing a coma and then administering a muscle relaxant to stop breathing. There's also assisted suicide, which is again different. This usually involves the patient ingesting a large dose of a barbiturate.

Anyway, for those who support euthanasia (or passive euthanasia, or assisted suicide): should it only be legal if the patient is in physical pain? If someone is in emotional or psychological pain (e.g. is suicidal) should they be allowed to legal end their life? If not, why not?

 

[Luv4Pac4Ever]

Anyway, for those who support euthanasia (or passive euthanasia, or assisted suicide): should it only be legal if the patient is in physical pain? If someone is in emotional or psychological pain (e.g. is suicidal) should they be allowed to legal end their life? If not, why not?

Good question.
In my opinion, if the person is in agony and there is no way to relieve the pain and they're going to die anyway, then yes, I think they should be able to decide whether or not they want to die and if they can't decide on their own, then someone should be able to decide for them. That someone though, should only be someone that has their best interest at heart.
Someone that is suicidal, that is a little bit trickier. I don't believe they should be allowed to end their own life because emotional and psychological pain can usually be overcome. Maybe they don't think so at the time, but it is usually the case. I'd just hate to see someone end their life because they think its the end of the world and things will never get better because they usually can get better.
I guess basically it depends on the situation as to whether or not someone should be allowed to end their life.

 

[JarG]

....for me its good...cause if some old man is soo sick cant help him ...and THAT PERSON want an euthanasia..so IMO he could have it.

 

[Bina]

First of all, just to clarify, allowing someone to die by removing a feeding tube or something like that is not technically euthanasia. Euthanasia is killing someone, not allowing someone to die (passive euthanasia). Euthanasia usually involves inducing a coma and then administering a muscle relaxant to stop breathing. There's also assisted suicide, which is again different. This usually involves the patient ingesting a large dose of a barbiturate.

Anyway, for those who support euthanasia (or passive euthanasia, or assisted suicide): should it only be legal if the patient is in physical pain? If someone is in emotional or psychological pain (e.g. is suicidal) should they be allowed to legal end their life? If not, why not?

exactly. If the person wishes to die but cannot do it themselves, then i might agree with it- depending on the situation, for example, someone depending on another person on a day-to-day basis, like being in a vegetation state or serious psychological pain, and knowing their life will not improve. Why let someone suffer like that??

However, in the case given below, if she can blink, respond to parents, say one word, can she not say wehther she wants therapy herself, i.e. by nodding or blinking to say yes????

 

[MX Red]

Personally I think its wrong.

I think this is were u went wrong, its not really your choice. If you think its wrong - thats fine. But i dont see that its anyone elses decision other than the persons (or if they cant make that decision it should be down to the family). If people think its wrong than i believe whole heartedly that they should not agree to be killed, but a person doesnt want to live in suffereing - i believe it is THEIR choice - and no one should be allowed to stop them.

(not saying your trying to stop anything, just making the point that people are medling in things that has nothing to do with them...their morals shouldnt effect other peoples lives!)
peace
MX!

 

[Luv4Pac4Ever]

I think this is were u went wrong, its not really your choice. If you think its wrong - thats fine. But i dont see that its anyone elses decision other than the persons (or if they cant make that decision it should be down to the family). If people think its wrong than i believe whole heartedly that they should not agree to be killed, but a person doesnt want to live in suffereing - i believe it is THEIR choice - and no one should be allowed to stop them.

(not saying your trying to stop anything, just making the point that people are medling in things that has nothing to do with them...their morals shouldnt effect other peoples lives!)
peace
MX!

Ok, that's your opinion. That's why I made the thread, to see what other people think about it.
In a way, I think you're right. An individual should be able to decide whether or not they want to live in suffering. This is why people should make out a living will. I don't believe that just because someone tells another person they wouldn't want to be kept alive by artificial means, that they should have the plug pulled on them. That's just one person's word. Who's to say that they're not lying? Say for instance a man is in an accident and has to be put on life support. Then someone comes in, maybe a family member or close friend, and says "He told me he didn't want to be kept alive on life support" and the plug gets pulled on him. What if he may have recovered from his injuries after some time? Noone would ever know that. They would have taken the word of someone and let this man die not knowing what this man wanted himself or what may have happened given enough time. Now had this man made out a living will and stated in that will that he didn't want to be kept alive like that, then that would be a different story.
This is just how I feel, maybe you agree with me, maybe you don't. I was just wondering how all of y'all felt about euthanasia.
Peace

 

[feichen]

heres why i think tis wrong:

http://www.jdl.org/position/schiavo.shtml#Anchor-44867

 

[one mc on dj]

I don't think it is wrong...I think it should be allowed but everybody has to fill in a form after their 18th birthday and choose...4 real in my eyes the best time to do that for the american government is now. use that tax money print the questions out...and than if you ever get into a fucked up situation let em end ur life if you answered yes.

 

[Illuminattile]

Just got back from Gran Canaria and CNN would not shut up about Terry Schiavo. My views:

If, as the courts determined, she doesn't want to live with a feeding tube then she should be killed. Not allowed to starve/dehydrate to death; she should be injected with whatever it is they inject people with.