I think in very specific terms, we should have the right for assisted suicide. I don't think this is a topic that we can give an unequivocal "yes" to, as this has the ultimate negative consequence if in the wrong hands.
I understand how complicated this issue is, but it also seems UN-complicated as well. It is possible for a person to create a living will, where they describe certain conditions and their expectations for how to medically handle these conditions. However, it is impossible to predict what those exact conditions will be, but written guidelines for our doctors and loved ones to follow, when we are unable to speak for ourselves, *should* provide enough guidance for *most* conditions. I guess that is the tricky part: the words "should" and "most" in the previous sentence: there are enough extraordinary circumstances that loved ones and doctors would need to fill in the blank and essentially guess what the incapacitated person would do in the "other" situations.
Also, the amount of variation between people's tolerance levels for living with diseases (or, suffering with the disease) is so varied--how does someone determine what is a legitimate amount of suffering to die? Just to exaggerate the point, using pets as an example: what if one person requests assisted suicide because they can not use the bathroom or can not stand (like our pets) vs. a person who is on life support machines. I know this is a silly example, but what are the parameters, and who gets to decide? I'm curious if there are a list of conditions in Montana that are "OK'ed" for assisted suicide, and others that are not? Or, is it 100% determined by the patient beforehand? What if they did not list the particular condition in their living will? Who decides then?
How many people have completed a living will, describing what their final wishes are, how long they would want to be on life support machines, etc? I would love to hear more about this complicated issue, and how it is handled, from people who have experienced it and/or who have written a living will.
Comment Reply
I think in very specific terms, we should have the right for assisted suicide. I don't think this is a topic that we can give an unequivocal "yes" to, as this has the ultimate negative consequence if in the wrong hands.
I understand how complicated this issue is, but it also seems UN-complicated as well. It is possible for a person to create a living will, where they describe certain conditions and their expectations for how to medically handle these conditions. However, it is impossible to predict what those exact conditions will be, but written guidelines for our doctors and loved ones to follow, when we are unable to speak for ourselves, *should* provide enough guidance for *most* conditions. I guess that is the tricky part: the words "should" and "most" in the previous sentence: there are enough extraordinary circumstances that loved ones and doctors would need to fill in the blank and essentially guess what the incapacitated person would do in the "other" situations.
Also, the amount of variation between people's tolerance levels for living with diseases (or, suffering with the disease) is so varied--how does someone determine what is a legitimate amount of suffering to die? Just to exaggerate the point, using pets as an example: what if one person requests assisted suicide because they can not use the bathroom or can not stand (like our pets) vs. a person who is on life support machines. I know this is a silly example, but what are the parameters, and who gets to decide? I'm curious if there are a list of conditions in Montana that are "OK'ed" for assisted suicide, and others that are not? Or, is it 100% determined by the patient beforehand? What if they did not list the particular condition in their living will? Who decides then?
How many people have completed a living will, describing what their final wishes are, how long they would want to be on life support machines, etc? I would love to hear more about this complicated issue, and how it is handled, from people who have experienced it and/or who have written a living will.
December 7, 2008 - 3:01pmThis Comment
Reply