It should be an option and should definitely be on a case by case determination.
First off the word suicide needs to be removed. It is another word with negative connotations. Here is Wash. state the Death with Dignity program does not use the word. It states the cause of death is the one that the person was dying from. For other times euthanasia is the proper word. I am totally in support of people being able to decide when and how they wish to die. I have posted many items along the Death with Dignity lines.
I worked in healthcare for 14 years and part of that time was in hospice. Assisted suicide should be legal everywhere. If you're against it, I highly suggest volunteering at your local hospice. That will give you some perspective on the cruelty of removing the option to die with dignity.
I agree. I worked at an Aids Hospice and I believe everybody has the right to die with dignity when they are ready or the pain is unbearable. We euthanize animals, so we, as humans deserve the same rights and respect. There are some countries that allow this, but of course, we are in the dark ages on many issues and I don't see it changing for a long time. We're much too busy focusing on fairy tales, war, money, power, etc.
By any one at any time for any reason.
No choice but to.
We're all going to die, some sooner than others.
All for it. I see no reason someone should hang on while suffering. I think there need to be rules and procedures to ensure that abuse of the process does not occur. You read stories all the time of abuse of individuals by family members. There will be some people who would take advantage of this to ease their burden of an individual who does not want to do this.
@MARDUK Sorry to hear this. You sound like a friend of mine I lived with some years back who had diabetes and both legs amputated plus multiple other problems. He did keep his spirits up and tried to manage as best he could. Kept a sense of humor and tried to be as positive as he could. He had prosthetic legs and I recall him coming home from shopping one day stating "Can't wait to get these lags off", we both had a good laugh.
I have told all of my children that when the time comes where I have no quality of life or a terminal illness, to allow me to take my life (or take it for me). I do not ever want to be a burden to my family.