Assisted Suicides

[freeatlast]

Should Assisted Suicides be illegal? Why?

 

[Sapper Woody]

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.

 

[Oldtimer]

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?

.

 

[freeatlast]

Let me add a little to this and please I am not trying to justify this or condemn it at this point. There were people in the bible who killed themselves and God never addressed it directly as sin. Is it really murder biblically to take your own life? Is it really murder to help another take their own life?
I would also remind all that some people want to die not because of suffering from physical health issues and pain but because of other reasons. They lost a loved one, they are in deep financial debt, they are just depressed for what ever and any other reasons. If it is alright in some cases would it be wrong in others or is it always wrong? Should a loved one legally be allowed to assist, not take the life but assist.

 

[freeatlast]

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?

.

Night and day but this is not about abortion so please do not hijack the thread. This is about someone who makes their own decision to end their own life but needs help.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Everytime a loved one is dying at a hospital and the doctors "call in the family" and they start the morphine "drip" - I think everyone knows what that drip is for.

Yes, it's for pain release, but it's also to hasten the death.

What's the difference between that - which we all accept - and assisted suicide of a conscious patient who cannot bear the pain anymore and asks for help.

 

[freeatlast]

Everytime a loved one is dying at a hospital and the doctors "call in the family" and they start the morphine "drip" - I think everyone knows what that drip is for.

Yes, it's for pain release, but it's also to hasten the death.

What's the difference between that - which we all accept - and assisted suicide of a conscious patient who cannot bear the pain anymore and asks for help.

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

 

[12strings]

Everytime a loved one is dying at a hospital and the doctors "call in the family" and they start the morphine "drip" - I think everyone knows what that drip is for.

Yes, it's for pain release, but it's also to hasten the death.

What's the difference between that - which we all accept - and assisted suicide of a conscious patient who cannot bear the pain anymore and asks for help.

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?

 

[freeatlast]

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?

You did not answer the question but stated a fact. Should assisted suicide be legal by any one, Doctors only, under all circumstances, some circumstances, never?

 

[HAMel]

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.

 

[annsni]

Everytime a loved one is dying at a hospital and the doctors "call in the family" and they start the morphine "drip" - I think everyone knows what that drip is for.

Yes, it's for pain release, but it's also to hasten the death.

What's the difference between that - which we all accept - and assisted suicide of a conscious patient who cannot bear the pain anymore and asks for help.

I will disagree with you. Usually the morphine is started significantly before the very end if there is pain involved. My mother was on morphine for 2 months before she died. There was no hastening her death with the morphine but it kept her comfortable as she passed.

Where do you get the information that doctors begin morphine to hasten death?

 

[freeatlast]

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. Is it your belief that God supports the assisting of the death of someone who is suffering and will die anyway?

 

[freeatlast]

I will disagree with you. Usually the morphine is started significantly before the very end if there is pain involved. My mother was on morphine for 2 months before she died. There was no hastening her death with the morphine but it kept her comfortable as she passed.

Where do you get the information that doctors begin morphine to hasten death?

Ann most likely no absolute information will be able to be given as it is against the law, but this has been known about for many years. I knew about this over 50 years ago as it was common knowledge, and it was done way before that and still is, but just not spoken about for fear of prosecution.
So to the question. Should assisted suicide be legal by any one, Doctors only, under all circumstances, some circumstances, never?

 

[HAMel]

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.

 

[freeatlast]

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?

 

[HAMel]

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.

 

[freeatlast]

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 bait just an honest question. If you don't know that is your answer.

 

[HankD]

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

No, never.

HankD

 

[annsni]

Ann most likely no absolute information will be able to be given as it is against the law, but this has been known about for many years. I knew about this over 50 years ago as it was common knowledge, and it was done way before that and still is, but just not spoken about for fear of prosecution.
So to the question. Should assisted suicide be legal by any one, Doctors only, under all circumstances, some circumstances, never?

Interesting because I have numerous friends who are doctors - very close friends - and not one of them agrees with this. We've talked about it and they have said that morphine is not allowed to be given in high enough amounts to kill and that they cannot control death. They can allow it to happen but they cannot - nor will they - hasten death. It happens in God's timing.

 

[freeatlast]

Interesting because I have numerous friends who are doctors - very close friends - and not one of them agrees with this. We've talked about it and they have said that morphine is not allowed to be given in high enough amounts to kill and that they cannot control death. They can allow it to happen but they cannot - nor will they - hasten death. It happens in God's timing.

Ann as usual you did not read what I said or you disregarded it. I said it was illegal so that means it is not allowed. The fact that you know some Doctors who will not do this does not mean it does not go on. Also do you really think they are going to admit it if they did? DUH it is illegal! Other doctors are not going to admit it to them because of the possibility of prosecution, but this does take place way more then most realize. When a family goes to a Doctor and asks for this there are those who will and in fact do it.
How about answering the question?
So to the question. Should assisted suicide be legal by any one, Doctors only, under all circumstances, some circumstances, never?