Should assisted suicide be legal?

I have seen people put through ridiculous torture in an effort to keep them alive for a few more days or weeks. These people have said many times, that they want to die. They are tired of living and tired of the pain.

They are tired and want to be allowed to go. I have seen these people put through unnecessary tests and procedures that do nothing to add to the quality of the life that is left to them. All this does is make well meaning family members feel better and keep the hospitals and doctors rich.

This is a personal choice and it is one that should be respected. If one is in excrutiating pain, why should we continue to torture them by allowing the pain to continue? Why can't they say "enough" and allow them a morphine drip to let their pain and suffering go?

If an animal is in this condition, we consider it "humane" to put the poor thing to sleep. If a person is in this condition, we consider it "inhumane" to stop their suffering. I don't get it.

I feel that if a person is of sound mind, and they are terminally ill and death is imminent, that they should be able to orchestrate the manner of their death and the quality of the life that they have left to them. It's THEIR life, and not ours. I can illustrate this with a real life example.

I know of someone who had only a few weeks to live after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The doctors wanted the patient to have a procedure that would add only a few more weeks. The prognosis would still be the same.Death.

This patient fought for her right to die on her own terms and refused the procedure. The morphine drip was finally allowed and she died peacefully and without pain. The best that one can do is to make sure that a living will and/or advanced directive be in place and that a medical power of attorney be assigned.

This will ensure that the person's wishes are legally carried out.

This question is fairly easy for me. Mt grandma suffers with severe bipolar and dementia. Over the past two years her condition has gotten significantly worse.

We were told she will soon forget how to chew and my Mom has to make the decision whether to have her be fed with a feeding tube or not. It is hard to watch someone slowly die before your eyes. In answer to your question, I do believe people should be able to chose to live or die.

Like you said, only in cases where they are terminally ill or suffering and dying slowly. I pray I die quickly some day, hopefully in my sleep. As hard as it is to watch someone die slow, imagine how it may be to actually be the person who is suffering and dying.

Yes, I definitely believe in this. I think as long as the person who has the terminal disease, with the support of their family, and the opinion of the Dr. all agree, it should be allowed. This is the option I would choose, as I wouldn't want to put my family through that terrible time, watching their loved one suffering everyday, knowing there is very little or no chance of a cure within the few days or weeks you have to live!

I don't think religion should be brought in to this, because if the person has particular religious beliefs, they wouldn't choose this anyway) Hopefully, in the near future, they will lighten up on these laws, and make it more dignified for people who are suffering to pass on.

I lean more towards yes, assisted suicide should be legal. The only reason why it is not a resounding yes is that, with some diseases there may be a cure, maybe not today, but there may be a cure in a year, or two. I hate Health Care and medicine because, it is more profitable to sell expensive pills to people who are sick, then it is to cure the disease.

If we were to change this, we can cure at least some diseases, and lessen some pain. For all others, yes, assisted suicide should be legal, to those who have terminal illnesses and chronic pain. For those who want to keep their suffereing loved ones around, it is only for the simple fact of selfishness.

I have witnessed people living in incredible pain at the end of their lives, which converted me to the belief of assisted suicide. After accepting the premise I moved on to wondering why does our society place judgement anyway on "acceptable" reasons to die verses "unacceptable" ones? Why not let those who want to go, go?

My former husband is a drug addict. S condition is somehow more socially accepted than assisted suicide. He will probably distroy many more lives before he dies.

Each case should be weighed and evaluated independently. I believe the "possibility" to end one's life should be legal and considered. In the end, the decision should be of the person suffering from the terminal illness, the family and the health professionals -- NOT the government.

If the disease or illness is severe. I think assisted suicide should be attempted.

HI@kkarnes0425, Yes, but each situation should be taking into account on their own, because a simple yes or no doesn't take every kind of information about certain situations into account.

I just feel sad about this topic again,sometimes life is just cruel,and we did not have choices,and my answer to this is:yes. And I guess I will need this in 70 years later.

Yes, if the person is truly suffering and if the act is treated responsibly by doctors.

No because suicide is a sin. I think assisted suicide would be considered illegal. It's a dumb thing to do and is influencing people to do it.

People may desicded to end their life doing it when it may take a longer time to realize doing it to yourself.

We'll never get the right answer, definitely!

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.