A Free Society Should Not Protect People From Themselves

I see most of your points, but human euthanasia is an issue for me. First of all, suicide is not a crime that one can be convicted of. If one chooses to take one's own life, they are gone and their suffering has ended. The issue is, physicians take an oath to do no harm. They must all take this oath. A physician cannot really ever know for certain that imminent, painful death is the definite outcome of a disease process. People have different responses to cancer, Huntington's, Lou Gehrig's Syndrome...just to name a few. Some people do linger and suffer. Others are diagnosed and die swiftly. If a physician were to say, "I'm sorry Mr. Smith, you have advanced pancreatic cancer and are going to suffer for 32 days and experience....." you get the point. They cannot accurately pinpoint a disease process nor give a totally accurate prognosis. Human will is stronger than many give it credit for. My father fought lung cancer and it never came back once he beat it. I hate the thought of people suffering and I do not fault those who wish to take their own lives due to that suffering, but the families of said patients will sue the pants off of doctors who assist these patients and most doctors are not willing to kill their patients. Also, there are many compassionate care alternatives. I have known several people pass with devastating illness in dignity and with comfort.

Sorry, I couldn't help but comment on that. I don't like the thought of asking physicians to help their patients kill themselves under any circumstances. My brother in law is a physician and I know he would do everything in his power to keep his patients comfortable, but would not be able to assist them in ending their lives. What if there were to be a miracle? Also, look where Dr. Kavorkian is.

my2cents2u

23 Nov 2008 05:18

Comment

I see most of your points, but human euthanasia is an issue for me.  First of all, suicide is not a crime that one can be convicted of.  If one chooses to take one's own life, they are gone and their suffering has ended.  The issue is, physicians take an oath to do no harm.  They must all take this oath.  A physician cannot really ever know for certain that imminent, painful death is the definite outcome of a disease process.  People have different responses to cancer, Huntington's, Lou Gehrig's Syndrome...just to name a few.  Some people do linger and suffer.  Others are diagnosed and die swiftly.  If a physician were to say, "I'm sorry Mr. Smith, you have advanced pancreatic cancer and are going to suffer for 32 days and experience....."  you get the point.  They cannot accurately pinpoint a disease process nor give a totally accurate prognosis.  Human will is stronger than many give it credit for.  My father fought lung cancer and it never came back once he beat it.  I hate the thought of people suffering and I do not fault those who wish to take their own lives due to that suffering, but the families of said patients will sue the pants off of doctors who assist these patients and most doctors are not willing to kill their patients.  Also, there are many compassionate care alternatives.  I have known several people pass with devastating illness in dignity and with comfort.

Sorry, I couldn't help but comment on that.  I don't like the thought of asking physicians to help their patients kill themselves under any circumstances.  My brother in law is a physician and I know he would do everything in his power to keep his patients comfortable, but would not be able to assist them in ending their lives.  What if there were to be a miracle?  Also, look where Dr. Kavorkian is.

Comment

I see most of your points, but human euthanasia is an issue for me.  First of all, suicide is not a crime that one can be convicted of.  If one chooses to take one's own life, they are gone and their suffering has ended.  The issue is, physicians take an oath to do no harm.  They must all take this oath.  A physician cannot really ever know for certain that imminent, painful death is the definite outcome of a disease process.  People have different responses to cancer, Huntington's, Lou Gehrig's Syndrome...just to name a few.  Some people do linger and suffer.  Others are diagnosed and die swiftly.  If a physician were to say, "I'm sorry Mr. Smith, you have advanced pancreatic cancer and are going to suffer for 32 days and experience....."  you get the point.  They cannot accurately pinpoint a disease process nor give a totally accurate prognosis.  Human will is stronger than many give it credit for.  My father fought lung cancer and it never came back once he beat it.  I hate the thought of people suffering and I do not fault those who wish to take their own lives due to that suffering, but the families of said patients will sue the pants off of doctors who assist these patients and most doctors are not willing to kill their patients.  Also, there are many compassionate care alternatives.  I have known several people pass with devastating illness in dignity and with comfort.

Comment