Assisted Death

[roxiquicksilver]

I just watched this documentary by Terry Pratchett called 'Choosing to Die'. He was diagnosed with Alzeimers a couple years ago and was looking into what options he had. He still remains undecided but believes we should have the choice, as do I. I would like to hear what other people's opinions are because I believe that the arguments against it do have some grouding but I do not believe they are strong enough to make it unlawful.

This is the URL although I think it can only be watched in the UK - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0120dxp/Terry_Pratchett_Choosing_to_Die/

 

[CosmicJoghurt]

I concur. But I haven't really thought it all the way through, though...

By the way, welcome to LoR. Be sure to post your intro, so we can get to know you a bit more. Oh, and watch out. There's a slight chance you'll be promised cake. The veracity of this promise, I shall not uncover.

 

[Noth]

welcome to the forums

It can indeed only be watched in the UK. My guess is that someone will soon post it on youtube as well if it's new though.

Depending on where you'd want this discussion to go I think it might be better suited in for instance the philosophy forum - if you want to go in depth about the idea of euthanasia in general.

On-topic though, without having seen the documentary I'm at first inclined to say 'yes' to allowing euthanasia. I live in a country where under very specific circumstances this is allowed (I'm not sure if altzeimer's is a viable reason there) and tend to lean quickly towards supporting something that seems to lessen unbearable pain in people. It's been a while since I gave the topic a great deal of thought though, but maybe this topic can mend that

 

[aeritano]

As a firm believer of personal autonomy, i feel that assisted death should be acceptable.

i have seen first hands the horrors of Alzeimers... and trust me.. it is a fate worst then death... why anyone would want be be kept alive with it past stage 4 is beyond me.. feeding through a tube because you cant remember how to swallow, not being able to speak, forgetting loved ones, bed ridden because you forgot how to walk, cant watch TV because you wont remember what you watched... you are basically a vegetable.... that IS a fate worse then death.. imho

my advance directive states that if i have Alzeimers, all medical treatment is to be stopped, add that to the DNR clause.. i made sure that if i were to develop Alzeimers, that the next serious thing will be the end of me...

 

[televator]

As Rush Limbaugh would say, I am pro-death.

 

[australopithecus]

I watched it last night and thought it was an extremely well done piece, and Pratchett should be proud he tackled such a topic the way he did in the programme. There was one point made (I think by the wife of the man who chose to go to Dignitas) which sums up the argument for euthanasia for me. You wouldn't let a pet suffer the way you'd expect a person to, yet helping someone who still has the presence of mind to choose to die is still illegal.

 

[roxiquicksilver]

Thanks for the replies I was thinking about putting it in philosophy but I'm not much of a philosopher so I thought this place was the best bet. I don't know I just watched it and it really made me want to say something and I'm sorry to the people who can't watch it because it was really well done, it's quite new it only came out this monday so hopefully it will be posted on youtube or somewhere where others outside the UK can watch it.

In this country only passive euthanasia is allowed and that means to stop giving medication or helping the person live, so effectively it is a painful death, I would assume.

You wouldn't let a pet suffer the way you'd expect a person to, yet helping someone who still has the presence of mind to choose to die is still illegal.

This is so true.

@aeritano - I dont know if you were able to watch the documentary but even in Switzerland where it is legal, it is only allowed if the person themselves is able to to do it. This meant that many of the people chose to die before they actually wanted to for fear of not being able to do it later. And Terry Pratchett said he did not want to go now but would like to when his Alziemers became worse but by that time he would not be able to choose.

@CosmicJoghurt - Thanks, I will get round to that very shortly, I'm just a tad on the lazy side. I look forward to the cake although I thought it was cookies


Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:59 am

Re: Assisted Death

 

[Pulsar]

I posted Pratchett's moving Dimbleby Lecture here last year (time flies...), and it deserves to be posted again. Highly recommended:

 

[ImprobableJoe]

I've thought about it enough that I already have a plan in place. I'm fortunate, because my wife is a nurse and if I'm ready to go before she is, she's got the knowledge to help me make it happen in the least painful way possible.