Should the "Right to Die" be legal?
First, I should explain. The “Right to Die Legislation” (more commonly known as the physician-assisted suicide) allows for a mentally competent adult patient with a terminal illness AND usually a prognosis of six months or less to request and be given a lethal dose of medication to end their lives when they choose.
In most states where this is actually legal, it requires two physicians to confirm the patients mental competence, residence, diagnosis and prognosis, and whether the patient truthfully wants to die on his/her OWN will.
I want to know your opinions!
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34 Answers
When all criteria are met, yes, of course it should.
Religion, by the way, plays no part in the process.
Yes. And the restrictions should not be quite so tight, as the assessment of time left and mental capacity in such cases is so subjective.
Yes.
To me, even asking the question (not you asking it) is irrelevant.
If you find a doctor who’s willing to help you, who (or which body) in peace name thinks they have the power to stop you from doing it?
@rebbel Unfortunately, it is still illegal in the U.S. in many states.
Yes. Although I disagree with the “6 months left to live” caveat.
Of course. Right now, even in states without right to die laws, people are giving lethal doses all the time in hospice care. It’s ridiculous how dishonest we are about this, and it’s horrible that there are places and single situations where people aren’t allowed to influence whether they can die or not when they are close to death anyway.
As a Catholic, I struggle with it, not going to lie. It leaves little room for miracles or faith. But for people who do not have a religious problem with it, its a humane option, I agree.
Also I think extreme mental illness, debilitating disease, criminals caged for life, etc..should have the option of a choice. I wonder how many would choose to die if it simply required a coherent pro argument, family and-or doctor to sign to quality of life.
(Edited)
@ucme Religion plays in to everything, actually.
I agree with @anniereborn that there shouldn’t be a 6 month caveat. There are several diseases that are so painful and debilitating for so many years that a date stamp shouldn’t be allowed.
@ucme If I listed medical miracles alone, I could easily prove you wrong, pet!
Religion is just another perspective to consider, like education, or experience.
Yes. This is a settled question, in my state, in forward thinking states, and in civilized countries.
@KNOWITALL I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumours, but I think that God has a sick sense of humour & when I die, I expect to find him laughing…pet! ;-}
Yes. I would go as far as anytime any adult person wishes to die, he or she should get assistance if it was asked.
Yes, with caveats. But not the 6 months thing.
Yes. The opposite should be illegal. Meaning people should not be forced to live with years of excruciating pain (caused by some diseases) if they choose to end their pain.
We show more compassion for our pets than we do for our people.
Absolutely. If a person has a right to life then they likewise have the right to end their life at a time of their choosing.
It’s like many of the personal prerogatives that are labeled as rights.
It is certainly your right to decide to die when you want. The problem is the demand that somebody else does it for you, or pays for it.
Anyway, it is already sort of here. I am certain we have all known somebody somewhere that was in hospice or some other terminal care that got that last large dose of narcotic, not by accident.
It’s really more about the ability to choose a more “humane,” way to die.
There are a zillion ways, to kill ourselves. But, can you choose to do it, with quicker, more painless ways, surrounded by loved ones? A gun to the head, a handful of Tylenol, a diet of bacon burgers, an extra large soda everyday, cigarettes, jumping from a high distance.
Where the people who jumped from the World Trade Center, rather than burn alive, charged with suicide? Did they have the “right,” to choose how they died?
It’s definitely a moral question…
@MrGrimm888 the details specifically refer to physician assisted suicide.
^I get that. But LEOs, firefighters etc. Know that they are putting their own lives at risk. Should THEY be mentally eveluated, or out through the same process?
@josie “It is certainly your right to decide to die when you want. The problem is the demand that somebody else does it for you, or pays for it.”
And from where are you getting this notion?
@MrGrimm888 @josie , it isn’t necessarily that you can choose to kill ourselves. However, right now, suicide in itself is illegal. Your family cannot claim family insurance benefits to put you to rest due to this. I am asking if these things should be lifted, and if someone should be forced to live with terminal illness.Not necessarily whether it is “humane”.
@essence_of_jade “Your family cannot claim family insurance benefits to put you to rest due to this”
NOT true.
The policy may say it has to be in effect for a period of time like 365 days.
@Tropical_Willie , in some instances. The suicide clause is found in most insurance policies, and it states that it will not cover suicide :)
@Tropical_Willie and this is understandable, but this is topicality in terms of what I am asking and your veering off into an entire other subject. I am simply asking whether Physicial-Assisted suicide should be legal.
Yes. It should be legal. But in America, I don’t see it happening. Abortions, are almost illegal. The two subjects, seem to follow a similar line of thinking. To me…
In NJ, the Legislature passed a Right to Die law about 6 months ago. There is a challenge to it by a religious leader but I hope it will be upheld. It seems to be being decided on a state by state basis.
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