Euthanasia - Could you let a loved one pass?

[Justme]

I've heard many people talk of the sanctity of life, but I was wondering if life was sacred for the sake of being so, or is the quality of that life be just as important. I remember a few years ago about a women that was brain dead and was on life support and a feeding tube for decades. The husband wanted to take her off the machines and let her pass in a dignified manner and her parents were fighting him.

Would remaining alive by machine, with no hope of ever becoming conscious be living a life or would that be simply existing? Would turning off life support be cruelty or would it be humane?

If it came to you, would you place "No Resuscitate" clause in your will and If a family member (daughter or son) had done so, in their will, could you pull the plug on them? Could you give them the dignified death they had wished for when the time came?

[Kelise]

Euthanasia was legal where I live until not too long ago, they plan to bring it back within another few years (so they say).

No one in my family is religious, all I've asked are in favour of euthanasia.

[Kit]

There comes a point where you WISH you were dead- or are not even coherent enough to be able to wish it. In that place, with no reasonable hope of returning from it, I'd rather just go.


We had a guy in our hospital a couple of years ago. Mid-30's, professional, family; he had a minor wound that got infected with the "flesh eating bacteria". For weeks, he got worse and worse, went into a coma, and he was just slowly consumed piece by piece. There was no reasonable (or unreasonable) hope of recovery- we all knew he was going to die. The bacteria was in his blood and had colonized every bit of his body. His family was into that "sanctity of life" thing and wouldn't let him go. It was horrible to watch. Every day, when we would come to work, we'd ask with dread if that poor guy was still alive- what his latest labs looked like, and what else they'd hacked off him (they amputated another piece of him every few days). We were all relieved when what was left of him finally died. I'll never forget him. It's hard to imagine what value anyone would see in going through that, or putting a family member through it.

[Telcontar]

I definitely believe people should have the right to decide when to die. If I manage to get old enough to where it becomes a possibility, I do plan to make sure my family members know my thoughts and beliefs on the subject so I'm not kept lingering on for no reason. Even in cases like unreversible dementia I'm not sure it's worth it to 'stick around.' Hopefully by the time it's a problem, medical science will have a better grip on how to treat it...

[Kit]

It's a possibility EVERY DAY- you could get hit by a bus today, so make sure your family knows your wishes. Better yet, a living will.

[Kailarthas]

I think because life IS precious, euthanasia should be allowed. It's absurd that we can decide everything about our lives except when to end it. If I am attached to tubes and machines, and my brain is done, I am dead. My personality, my being is dead. All that's left is a shell, a husk of flesh. That is not life.

[Justme]

Has anyone ever seen the Movie Solient Green? There is a very wonderful scene where the main character's friend goes into a place where they assist you in ending your life. What happens after that is an all time shocker. If you haven't seen the movie I wont ruin it for you.

[Reaver]

SOLIENT GREEN^tm IS PEOPLE!!!

[Justme]

SOLIENT GREEN^tm IS PEOPLE!!!

Spoiler! LOL

[Steerpike]

I agree that adults should have the right to decide when and how they die. I think I would be able to comply with the wishes of loved ones in this regard, though when it comes to children I just don't know. I hope never to be faced with the situation.