Featured Assisted Suicides

I've stated in another thread a while back that I don't think that suicide should be illegal (sin, yes. Illegal, no). Anyone who tries and fails should be forced to go through counseling, however.

Now, in the case of assisted suicide, I believe it should be illegal. Strictly speaking legally, and not morally, if someone wants to end their life that is on them. If they need to seek outside help to end their life, then in my opinion, they don't really want to die.

In the case of the elderly or disabled who couldn't do it themselves, that's where it would legally get sticky for me. I would still say it needs to be illegal, but I don't have any solid, concrete reasons.

 

As to suicide, itself, it really doesn't matter whether the legal system addresses it or not. The guilty party is dead, thus no additional human punishment can be made. And, IMHO, forcing counseling on someone who doesn't want to be counseled does little good either. At least that seems to be the case with drunks, drug addicts, child molesters, etc.

As to assisted suicide, that's murder, plain and simple. Again, in my humble opinion. God lives life. God takes away life. Today, we're legally murdering unborn children left and right. If God wills a young life to end, the pregancy will result in a miscarriage or a stillborn birth. For man to make that determination is murder.

Now, take that to the other end of a person's lifetime. (Regardless of years lived or physical condition.) When God is ready, He will still a beating heart. When a person's purpose for being created and being on this earth is complete, there's nothing man can do to delay, even for one second, His will. Yet, man, because he has the capability, can decide to take God's role in the life of others.

And, he does. Starve a person to death, because she is in a coma and needs assistance, just as an unborn baby does. I can't see the difference between that and putting poision within reach of a disabled person. Or, giving someone a shot as if they were in the county dog pound's unwanted pets section.

God said Thou Shalt Not Kill (murder) in the OT. Repeated it in the NT for emphasis. Now, society accepts the murder of unborn children. It's also beginning to accept, assisted suicide in the same manner, that it's accepting pulling the plug on long term coma patients. While it may not be as apparent yet, society is moving towards measuring life in terms of productivity vs expense entailed. How far are we from the reality of pushing Grandma's wheelchair off a clift because she's too expensive to maintain? Her life prolonging medicines/treatments that God gave mankind the ability to create will be denied because she is no longer a productive citizen. She costs too much. Isn't it already happening in countries with socialized medicine?

Cain murdered Able. If you beleive that murder/sucide is a sin, what's the difference between picking up a rock, picking up a needle, or handing pills to someone wanting to end their life before God is ready? Is there a boundry between that and deciding to withhold care from someone who can't care for themselves -- regardless of time since conception?

As professing Christians aren't we to hold all human life sacred without finding exceptions for murder to be acceptable?

Edit: One more thought, if you don't mind.

What's the difference between driving a woman to an abortion clinic to end the life of a baby and handing her pills so she can end her own life?

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Yes, we need to realize that whatever you call it, this happens all the time in the medical field. If someone has a living will that says "no feeding tube if I am unable to feed myself" is that assisted suicide?

 

Years ago the military had a formula regarding their vehicles.

When the value of the vehicle depreciated and/or maintenance costs raised to half the original worth of said vehicle, they got rid of it.

Sad to say but way too many medical institutions (not doctors per se) but hospitals, think somewhat the same way. It's all about the money.

It's really a shame that death comes with such a sting to so many. All believers should be allowed to go to bed and just not wake up, but it just doesn't work that way for everyone.

 

Let me ask you this based on what you wrote.

Nope!

What I was referring to are those medical institutions who see patients as mere cash cows. When the "cash cow" dries up the drip begins.

 

So the question. Should assisted suicide be legal by any one, Doctors only, under all circumstances, some circumstances, never?

Sorry, I ain't taking the bait as I don't have a clue one way or the other.

 

No, never.

HankD