Euthanasia and you

[tkioz]

So I got into a rip roaring fist at the ready "debates" with a friend of mine over a comment I made while watching some hospital drama on TV, I can't even remember the name of the show, I don't usually watch that sort of stuff, regarding one of the characters on the show willing to risk death in order to keep her leg, never found out what happened as the TV sort of faded at the point as we argued, my comment was "what a bloody idiot".

My friend took exception to that comment claiming I didn't understand, how it was an emotional issue, etc. my replies all boiled down to "where there is life there is hope" which is how I personally live my life. Seeing how I walk with a cane because of my right leg I think I do understand the issue.

As far as I'm concerned so long as my brain is working I'm hanging onto life with both hands and my jar locked on as well. I've got that written down for my family as well, if I get into a car accident or whatever and the doctors want to pull the plug if I'm brain dead, yep, any thing else hell no, even if I'm reduced to blinking to communicate. If my doctor told me tomorrow my genitals had to come off or risk death (to me greater then 50% chance) I'd agree without blinking.

The way I see it in the 30 years I've been alive medicine has improved at a rate that is simply staggering, so I'm hanging in there until the angel of death himself gets sick of it and comes down himself, then I'm going to knee him in the crotch.

So how about it escapists for you when is life no longer worth living?

 

[Marter]

When I can no longer move, I'm done with life. Even being able to think isn't enough, I need to be able to convey my thoughts, and if I can't do that any more, I'm finished.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I'd rather die then live that sort of pathetic burdensome existence.

 

[tkioz]

When I can no longer move, I'm done with life. Even being able to think isn't enough, I need to be able to convey my thoughts, and if I can't do that any more, I'm finished.

define move? my old boss who had a mate who had the ability to move the little finger(I think) on his left hand and that was that.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

So I got into a rip roaring fist at the ready "debates" with a friend of mine over a comment I made while watching some hospital drama on TV, I can't even remember the name of the show, I don't usually watch that sort of stuff, regarding one of the characters on the show willing to risk death in order to keep her leg, never found out what happened as the TV sort of faded at the point as we argued, my comment was "what a bloody idiot".

My friend took exception to that comment claiming I didn't understand, how it was an emotional issue, etc. my replies all boiled down to "where there is life there is hope" which is how I personally live my life. Seeing how I walk with a cane because of my right leg I think I do understand the issue.

As far as I'm concerned so long as my brain is working I'm hanging onto life with both hands and my jar locked on as well. I've got that written down for my family as well, if I get into a car accident or whatever and the doctors want to pull the plug if I'm brain dead, yep, any thing else hell no, even if I'm reduced to blinking to communicate. If my doctor told me tomorrow my genitals had to come off or risk death (to me greater then 50% chance) I'd agree without blinking.

The way I see it in the 30 years I've been alive medicine has improved at a rate that is simply staggering, so I'm hanging in there until the angel of death himself gets sick of it and comes down himself, then I'm going to knee him in the crotch.

So how about it escapists for you when is life no longer worth living?

When it becomes an issue of simply prolonging the inevitable I suppose. If you are bedridden and simply taking medication to extend the amount of time before you die, what's the use?

Granted, if I was terminal, could take some meds to extend my life even by a few days, I would take it and experience as much as I could before I died.
I understand what its like to be disabled or sick and become depressed. But even as I was going through all that I knew it was temporary and that I would eventually learn to deal with it and live life again when I was ready. Anyone who gives up completely when their life is still livable frankly should get their head out of their ass and be grateful for what they have.

 

[Marter]

When I can no longer move, I'm done with life. Even being able to think isn't enough, I need to be able to convey my thoughts, and if I can't do that any more, I'm finished.

define move? my old boss who had a mate who had the ability to move the little finger(I think) on his left hand and that was that.

The ability to convey my thought to others without extreme difficulty. In that case, I'd end it.

 

[rokkolpo]

when you want to die and have enough reason to.
reason: unbearable pain, dementia. (and such)

someone shouldn't end his/her own life because of a limb not functioning.
no matter how depressed you are at that exact moment.

 

[Eggsnham]

If I were to be paralyzed, I would will myself to move. I don't want any o' that sciency mumbo jumbo. I'll do it.

If I were to lose my limbs... Then I'd find something to do. I dunno'. Shoot.

Life is far too precious to me to just waste it.

 

[Private Custard]

For me, it's when I reach about 60 years old. Then I'm outta here, whether I pay Dignitas or have to do it myself (I have it all planned).

I will not get old, I refuse.

 

[Zero47]

I'd rather die then live that sort of pathetic burdensome existence.

I sincerely hope you're being sarcastic.

For me there definately is a point where I couldn't cope living with a certain disability anymore and would forgive myself for choosing the easy way out. I don't know at what point I'd "give up", but it's nowhere near losing a single limb. I can imagine myself having a really hard time coping with blindness though.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

Just had an english exam which covered a play called Who's life is it anyway? which covered this topic (sort of). To sum up the play Ken is a disabled person from the neck down wants to be allowed to die but the doctors do not want this, if you can save a life then save it etc etc.

In my opinion I would not know. If I was like Ken in this story I probably wouldn't take my own life because I fear death. I'm not loking for it. If I can still think clearly then unless the conditions I was in were completely unbearable then I probably couln't do it. However if because of an illness that I was not able to think clearly I would hope that one of my relatives or someone could help me to die. Having my conscience is more important to me than pretty much everything else. If I lose that I am nothing and would want euthanasia. This is where it becomes touchy because it will then depend on someone else to get euthanasia for you. This then means that they may refuse to do it because they see you as a life and should live even if they don't know what it is you are going through.

Touchy subject this but i like giving my thoughts on it.

 

[tkioz]

I have asked my parents and siblings, that if I am rendered brain dead, or have locked in syndrome, to find some way to end my life.

I couldn't bear to live like that, it's not even living. And it's a right everyone should have.

Is there a name for the crowd that oppose euthanasia?
Like the way "bleeding hearts" is used to refer to the people that oppose "the end justifies the means" crowd.

I believe they're called Right To Life types, but that also applies to those who oppose abortion. Usually religious.

See personally I don't get that, I support euthanasia as a personal right (I doubt I'd exercise the right but that doesn't mean I don't support people having it), but "right to life" being against it is just faulty logic, isn't their whole anti-abortion thing based around the idea the foetuses don't get a chance, so you can't use that one hand and then be against a person make their own choice on the other.

I think I'm going slightly offtopic here.

 

[Gigaguy64]

If i was completely Brain Dead then for me Life would be no longer wotht living.

Unless that happens ill continue to life life to its fullest, even if it means sacrificing a leg or arm.
(Just not my right arm, i need that one to Draw.)

 

[Macgyvercas]

If I am ever declared brain dead, my parents have standing orders to pull the plug and donate my organs.