The Right to die.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I agree with MC regarding declining or avoiding extraordinary means of sustaining life. My husband and I both have DNRs in place, and our parents have been informed of our decisions (DNR, organ donation, creamation, etc...).

In addition, I also believe that, if an adult of sound mind is diagnosed with a terminal disease which causes great suffering, that adult should have the option of physician assisted suicide (PAS). I know if I were faced with a terminal condition that caused tremendous suffering, I would want all options, including PAS, available to me. (I realize I'm vague in precisely the areas I need to be clearest - "sound mind", "great suffering", an abundance of "ifs", etc... perhaps if this thread takes off I'll take the time to remedy all that. My opinion still remains: I believe it is morally acceptable to pursue PAS in certain circumstances.)

I agree here. If you want to kill yourself, you should have the right to do so.

Personally, I'd rather be dead. I'm not depressed by any means and I would not commit suicide, but I've lived enough life and I'm ready to go anytime the Lord wants to take me. I do not want to be resuscitated under any circumstances although I do not have a formal order out there. My family knows my feelings on it although they brought me back from the brink of death in 2002. I was not happy.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I agree here. If you want to kill yourself, you should have the right to do so.

Maybe I'm straining at gnats here, but is there a difference between having a "right" to do something (at least legally) and it being ethical to do something? I think there probably is.

. . . but I've lived enough life and I'm ready to go anytime the Lord wants to take me.

I think that's why I have a problem with it . . . physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia makes it my decision as to when, not the Lord's. Even if I might legally have the right to decide when I will die, ethically (or religiously, if you prefer), I do not think I have any such right at all.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Maybe I'm straining at gnats here, but is there a difference between having a "right" to do something (at least legally) and it being ethical to do something? I think there probably is.

I think that's why I have a problem with it . . . physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia makes it my decision as to when, not the Lord's. Even if I might legally have the right to decide when I will die, ethically (or religiously, if you prefer), I do not think I have any such right at all.

thanks for bringing that up...I actually meant to put right in quotes when I posted this originally.