Assisted suicides

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 07:50:15 PM

QuoteUnless any of us on here have had the same experiences as these people I don't think we are in a position to judge.

Cop out.

Diet Coke · October 18, 2008, 07:54:05 PM

No cop out....I just don't know how I'd react until something similar happened to me (hopefully never)

ardmhachaabu · October 18, 2008, 08:05:06 PM

Quote from: Diet Coke on October 18, 2008, 07:54:05 PM
No cop out....I just don't know how I'd react until something similar happened to me (hopefully never)

You can't weigh up the pros and cons of this situation? Interesting. I have no problem with that, I know exactly what I would do. I wouldn't help someone kill themselves, no matter their predicament.

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 08:11:40 PM

Quote from: Diet Coke on October 18, 2008, 07:54:05 PM
No cop out....I just don't know how I'd react until something similar happened to me (hopefully never)

I don't understand this line of the agrument at all.
If it happend to me or you? What has that got to do with anything? Me or you doing what these people done wouldn't suddenly make it right. I'd imagine if most people woke up in a hospital bed unable to move from the chest down they'd want to die too. I'd say it's a common reaction but do we start killing them because it's their wish? Of course we f**king don't, we (or the professionals) help them adjust. As i said earlier if someone is suffering from depression they might want to die but you wouldn't help them!

The fact is that these people, rather than help their son adjust to his injuries they took him to a clinic to die (and the comment about their daughters is very telling imo) I think they should be doing jail time!

Puckoon · October 18, 2008, 09:42:52 PM

Someone made a comment earlier about the impact of suicide on families - and this point couldnt be more important in the most tragic of circumstances, but really has nothing to do with this particular circumstance. The man had tried 3 times, and was on the verge of starving himself to death. It wasnt really going to come as any sort of a surprise to anyone had he succeded during a 4th, 5th, or 6th attempt. I find his situation very unique, and while heartbreaking - I support his decision.

Pints -you claimed it would be far too easy to knock someone off and get away with it at this clinc in switzerland - what do you know about this clinc and its operations that makes you think for one second that that is even plausible - especially when you consider the publicity that this particular ordeal has generated?

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 09:49:49 PM

Quote
Pints -you claimed it would be far too easy to knock someone off and get away with it at this clinc in switzerland - what do you know about this clinc and its operations that makes you think for one second that that is even plausible - especially when you consider the publicity that this particular ordeal has generated?

I wasn't talking specifically about the clinic when I said that, I meant in general if assisted suicide was allowed.
The clinic kills people, that's all I need to know.

Puck waht about the people who are depressed and have tried to end their lives, they're taken in to hospital and helped - are you saying we should be sending them over to Switzerland for someone to help them out?

mannix · October 18, 2008, 09:58:37 PM

If I was injured like that I would like to have the option,being paralysed must be the worst thing. One thing losing leg function, at least you can get around and wipe your ass but to lose hand function would seal the deal for me.
If there is a god then I hope he blesses the soul of this poor young fella, I think he must have really wanted to end it.
I know a lad in new york, paralysed from waist down that reckons if he lost the function of the arms he would have had his brother pull the plug.
He is one that can truly say what is to be in the position.

Maguire01 · October 18, 2008, 10:14:33 PM

Quote from: pintsofguinness on October 18, 2008, 04:17:17 PM
Their job imo is to help him through it and help him adjust. If someone close to you had depression and wanted to die you wouldn't help them committ suicide!

Totally different. People suffering from depression can be fully treated and can lead a normal life again. Someone paralysed is paralysed forever. They'll need full personal care 24/7 - they can't go to the toilet, can't feed themselves, can't even scratch themselves. Yes, you can make them as comfortable as possible, but by helping him 'adjust', you mean making him as comfortable as possible whilst they lie there for the rest of their life, unable to do anything.

Puckoon · October 18, 2008, 10:16:32 PM

well in terms of prognosis, being quadrapalegic and depressed are two different things. In my humble opinion. In addition, this man wanted to go, he wasn't "sent". Anything else is an unfair assumption.

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 10:21:38 PM

No, it's the same thing - people want to die - you boys think we should help some kill themselves while the others should be treated for their depression. Doesn't make much sense.

Maguire01 · October 18, 2008, 10:25:07 PM

Quote from: pintsofguinness on October 18, 2008, 10:21:38 PM
No, it's the same thing - people want to die - you boys think we should help some kill themselves while the others should be treated for their depression. Doesn't make much sense.

My point is that people with depression can actually be treated. People who are paralysed can't be - all you can do is make them as 'comfortable' as possible in the situation they're in.

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 10:31:14 PM

Quote from: Maguire01 on October 18, 2008, 10:25:07 PM
Quote from: pintsofguinness on October 18, 2008, 10:21:38 PM
No, it's the same thing - people want to die - you boys think we should help some kill themselves while the others should be treated for their depression. Doesn't make much sense.

My point is that people with depression can actually be treated. People who are paralysed can't be - all you can do is make them as 'comfortable' as possible in the situation they're in.

Well where do you draw the line? There are a lot of people in the world paralysed yet they don't want to die - maybe the wanted to at first, I know I would. Someone wakes up in a hospital paralysed, wishes they had to die, (and I'd imagine that's most people who find themselves in that sad situation) do we help him/her committ suicide?

Maguire01 · October 18, 2008, 10:38:32 PM

It's their choice. In this case, the parents were unlikely to have helped their son if they thought he hadn't thought it through. And he had tried to kill himself already.

Also, yes, there are many paralysed people in the world, but it's one thing not to have use of your legs for example, but another thing to be paralysed from the neck down. And just because some don't want to die, doesn't mean that everyone else should be made to live.

pintsofguinness · October 18, 2008, 10:43:36 PM

Someone wakes up in a hospital paralysed, wishes they had to die, (and I'd imagine that's most people who find themselves in that sad situation) do we help him/her committ suicide?

milltown row · October 18, 2008, 10:47:33 PM

was at a funeral many years ago, young clubman who lost his life in a terrible accident at work. while standing their i met another clubman who 6 months previous was in a accident which left him paralysed from the neck down. his words that he said that day stay with me now.......

many years later, i'm sure he's not in that place, but i dont really know. wouldn't ask him. this topic is impossible to debate unless you are put in or have been affected personally