Should voluntary euthanasia be made legal in the UK?

[matt382]

Watching the news today they were discussing a campaing to make voluntary euthanasia (assisted suicide) legal in the UK.

Personally I feel there is no reason not to make it legal; if the person is suffering greatly be it illness or physical damage, and will result in a slow painful death and they choose to do so, they should not be stopped.

 

[ScarletCrystals]

I agree. The main argument against this though, is the assumption that life (any kind of life), is preferable to death, and the possibility of abuse.

Still, I believe this will work if the proper documentations and checks are put into place

(incidentally, did you mean to make the poll so you can vote both yes and no at the same time....?)

 

[matt382]

Woops! Sorry never made a pole on here before, guess I set it up wrong -___-

Anyways its set right now.

 

[Hop2089]

Not all life is preferable to death, people in a vegetative state for example, they should be put out of their misery. Now for people who are depressed or have some other mental illness that drives them to want to die, assisted suicide is not the option.

 

[Veho]

Voted.

Also, no matter what side of the argument you stand on, you should watch this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQgWCQESgo[/youtube]

 

[nando]

can we volunteer people?

 

[Creqaw]

I agree. The main argument against this though, is the assumption that life (any kind of life), is preferable to death, and the possibility of abuse.

It can't possibly be the main argument since it's probably one of the worst I've ever seen on the topic of euthanasia. It's merely an opinion that was created out of fear of death.

 

[matt382]

I think that if it is made legal, there should be certain criteria that you have to meet before being allowed to do so. So someone who is terminally ill and unable to live without someone's help should be elligable, whereas someone who has depression and wants to have assisted suicide should be rejected.

 

[Foxi4]

I think that if it is made legal, there should be certain criteria that you have to meet before being allowed to do so. So someone who is terminally ill and unable to live without someone's help should be elligable, whereas someone who has depression and wants to have assisted suicide should be rejected.

What about patients in deep comas who cannot voice out their opinion?

What about people who were legally incapacitated - do they have a say?

This is a broad subject, you can't just say "yeah, it's okay to slay humans". The criteria you mention would have to be established for every possible illness that can affect the way a person thinks.

Not just that, people on their dying beds are usually under the influence of chems, most of which affect not only the way they experience pain but also the way they think. I could enumerate a good few strong prescription painkillers that are in circulation and may cause suicidal tendencies when in fact the person doesn't "want" to die when they are not used.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

I'm not in UK, but I still think assisted suicide should be legal all over. It's stupid to think that a human, does not even have full ownership of his body/life and the government does. If a person wants to die because they are severely depressed, have nothing else to live for, are almost dying and such, then yeah, if they want death, give it to them.

 

[Foxi4]

I'm not in UK, but I still think assisted suicide should be legal all over. It's stupid to think that a human, does not even have full ownership of his body/life and the government does. If a person wants to die because they are severely depressed, have nothing else to live for, are almost dying and such, then yeah, if they want death, give it to them.

Depression is a curable disorder, developed and severely spread cancer that shut down your internal organs so that you have no chances for recovery is not. There needs to be a distinction, and a thick red line showing it, when a doctor should treat and when a doctor should consider allowing this kind of a solution.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

"Depression is a curable disorder"

Easy for someone to say who doesn't suffer from depression. (assuming you dont).

It might be curable for some, but for others, it doesn't.

 

[Foxi4]

"Depression is a curable disorder"

Easy for someone to say who doesn't suffer from depression. (assuming you dont).

It might be curable for some, but for others, it doesn't.

Nearly every depression can be cured or at least become less of a burden with some help of a good therapist. Depression's no good reason for suicide, it never was an never will be. Depressed people are unwell and should seek help, not the ultimate solution and just skip over life.

 

[yuyuyup]

w4t

 

[Cyan]

They rejected that campaign in France few years ago.

I'm favorable for suffering people, in terminal states, who ask death for ages to stop their suffering. The people who are dead anyway because medecine don't have any clue, they only apply their "IF we find a cure tomorrow we can't kill the patient today!".
They accepted they hypocrite statement (pun intended) saying that they will always help the people, why don't they help them to stop their agony too?



I'm against using it for depression, or any other reason not involving physical and irreparable illness.
Depressed people usually don't have the courage to commit suicide, they are too depressed to make the decision. It's not a reason to kill those people. It can last long, many years, and someday they are fine and they are happy to be alive, they don't even know how it "fixed" itself.


Of course, if it's practiced, it will be abused and that's why it's difficult to accept it.
How would you prove that the dead patient agreed himself and wasn't suffering hallucination, wasn't drugged, or didn't have mental illness saying things lightly ?

I think voluntary euthanasia has some flaw and will be abused.


Maybe it shouldn't be a medical corps decision but a judgment involving the family (if any member left) and listening to the patient, analyzing his mental state, etc.
I don't know if it can be better.
Though, justice is VEEEERY slow, the terminal patient would be dead naturally in agony before the judge took his decision :/

 

[jarejare3]

Suicide, is not something we discuss in public, I for one honestly thinks that everyone deserve a second chance. When someone wants to die it's my responsibility to At least give them one more chance to see the world and change.

If that doesn't work, then I will have to carry the burden of not being able to save someones life. it's something to be brought to the grave.

If they want to die, FINE, but don't drag others.
Therefore i voted no.

 

[Fat D]

I would say that in cases of severe depression, it might be unjustified to just allow this. Maybe with lengthy mandatory counseling I could be OK with that, but I would not want a person to just give up his life to feelings alone and support that.
Terminal diseases on the other hand are situations where I would agree with assisted suicide if that person is of sound mind and has been properly advised. If one is close to death anyway, it is an opportunity to avoid the suffering.

 

[Foxi4]

They rejected that campaign in France few years ago.

I'm favorable for suffering people, in terminal states, who ask death for ages to stop their suffering. The people who are dead anyway because medecine don't have any clue, they only apply their "IF we find a cure tomorrow we can't kill the patient today!".
They accepted they hypocrite statement (pun intended) saying that they will always help the people, why don't they help them to stop their agony too?



I'm against using it for depression, or any other reason not involving physical and irreparable illness.
Depressed people usually don't have the courage to commit suicide, they are too depressed to make the decision. It's not a reason to kill those people. It can last long, many years, and someday they are fine and they are happy to be alive, they don't even know how it "fixed" itself.


Of course, if it's practiced, it will be abused and that's why it's difficult to accept it.
How would you prove that the dead patient agreed himself and wasn't suffering hallucination, wasn't drugged, or didn't have mental illness saying things lightly ?

I think voluntary euthanasia has some flaw and will be abused.


Maybe it shouldn't be a medical corps decision but a judgment involving the family (if any member left) and listening to the patient, analyzing his mental state, etc.
I don't know if it can be better.
Though, justice is VEEEERY slow, the terminal patient would be dead naturally in agony before the judge took his decision :/

I'm pretty much with Cyan on this one. The option should be available for people for whom contemporary medicine has no cure that are in agony and a near-death state as it is, and even then it should be an option. There are terminally ill people who do have the will to fight, so it should be entirely up to them, not their families and whatnot... unless they are in a vegetable-like state with no positive forcast for the future.

 

[dickfour]

We put down our pets becaue we love them. I personally would want the option for myself.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

"Depression is a curable disorder"

Easy for someone to say who doesn't suffer from depression. (assuming you dont).

It might be curable for some, but for others, it doesn't.

Nearly every depression can be cured or at least become less of a burden with some help of a good therapist. Depression's no good reason for suicide, it never was an never will be. Depressed people are unwell and should seek help, not the ultimate solution and just skip over life.

You seem to know everything.