Euthanasia and the Right to Die.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I don't know if anyone has been following the case of Tony Nicklinson, a guy with "locked in syndrome". He has been to the High Court bringing a case to allow a doctor to end his life without then prosecution for murder. Essentially he wants a judge to rule that it would be OK for a doctor to kill him which would then change our laws on murder and assisted suicide. The High Court has said no to this as they say that it is a matter for Parliament to put into law. For those that don't know we have a Common or Case Law system. Essentially not all our laws are passed by Parliament in Statute and Legislation, but are based on decision made by Judges in previous cases. Murder is an example of common law, although there is plenty of legislation from Parliament surrounding murder the actual offence is not.

So it would seem that the Judiciary are washing their hands of this. The guy still has the option to commit suicide, but the only way he can do that is to stop taking in food and water which I am certain would be an unpleasent death to say the least. His family have the option to travel to the continent to a clinic, but their argument is why should they suffer the indignity of that. I caught a part of an interview the family gave and Tony said "I will appeal so at least I will know who controls my life". Powerful words, even when delivered Stephen Hawkin style.

So, what do the panel think?

[TheGayTent]

Legalising euthanasia is a terrible idea. What right do we have to end our lives prematurely? It is God's right and his alone...

Insert winkey smiley thingy here...

[The Nal]

He should be allowed to end his own life if he is of sound mind and there is 100% no cure so no chance of recovery.

The other option is to keep him alive in a miserable state for as long as possible, meanwhile draining money from the family and leaving them broke when he does eventually die.

And thats not to mention the pain he is suffering. Pain that gets worse and worse.

As TGT said though, religious organisations are 100% against this,. Rather amusingly, even if the person isn't religious.

[kaosmark2]

I believe in the right to die. The key thing has to be the appropriate protections so that greedy bastards can't claim someone wanted it so as to get from a will - particularly with dementia cases.

[TheGayTent]

He should be allowed to end his own life if he is of sound mind and there is 100% no cure so no chance of recovery.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

If I was in his position I think I'd possibly want to do the same so I can only go with the notion to change our laws regarding assisted suicide. As one of the above posts indicates there would have to be very strict control measures in place to stop potential abuse.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Yoghurt on a Stick

[Rufus Gwertigan]

He should be allowed to end his own life if he is of sound mind and there is 100% no cure so no chance of recovery.

The other option is to keep him alive in a miserable state for as long as possible, meanwhile draining money from the family and leaving them broke when he does eventually die.

And thats not to mention the pain he is suffering. Pain that gets worse and worse.

As TGT said though, religious organisations are 100% against this,. Rather amusingly, even if the person isn't religious.

[The Nal]

This is the problem area IMO. Who decides if someone is of a sound mind? How do you qualify to make this decision? What test is there to decide whether someone is of sound mind or not?

[TheGayTent]

Combination of his communications to people, the doctors, his family and mental health staff. More than enough to make a decision.

[feral chile]

What would happen if the person wanted to die and the familt contested iy on the grounds of mental instability?

i think at the moment, because as a society we value life, the desire to die is considered unbalanced. So it's a bit of a Catch 22.

[Purple Monkey]

We'll send entire legions of healthy young men to die on the battlefield for nothing but ending a man's suffering is unacceptable?

As long as we're murdering on the other side of the planet, totally fine.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Purple Monkey

[Rufus Gwertigan]

This is the problem area IMO. Who decides if someone is of a sound mind? How do you qualify to make this decision? What test is there to decide whether someone is of sound mind or not?

It's a complete minefield which is why nothing has been done about the problem and why any attempt to change laws will take decades.

[rachbon]

I'm not the slightest bit surprised that he lost the case.

I watched his documentary on channel 4 and it was so upsetting. He doesn't have a life, if he doesn't want to exist any more then he shouldn't have to. He should have the right to end his life if he wants to.

The problem with legalising euthanasia is that vulnerable people would need to be protected.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

We'll send entire legions of healthy young men to die on the battlefield for nothing but ending a man's suffering is unacceptable?

As long as we're murdering on the other side of the planet, totally fine.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Which in reality would be incredibly simple to do but the people against it make it sound like the most complex thing in the world...

He should have the right. No doctor should ever be made to do it though. They should have a choice as much as he should have the choice.

So if he wants to... and he can find a medical professional to do it... There shouldn't be an issue...

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

You have hit the nail on the head. At the moment no doctor/health professional can be involved in an abortion (or IVF) against their wishes. In the UK that is enshrined in law. So why not the same for assisted suicide (I hate the term euthanasia, it sounds like what you do to dogs and ex wifes)

[TheGayTent]

In the UK we have a policy that you need 2 doctors signatures to have someone sectioned under the Mental Health Act (usually). A woman needs 2 signatures to have an abortion and there are many circumstances. Why then not have 2 doctors sign you off as sane? Belgium use that very same system at the moment along with diagnostic criteria.

[eFestivals]

We call it "humane" to put a dog down - often when that dog might still have a long life - and yet a sentient human is required to starve himself to death if he wishes to die, because others are not allowed to help him with his self-declared wish.

It's laughable.

The raving religionists who are responsible for such a laughable situation should be taken outside and shot.

[zahidf]

The raving religionists who are responsible for such a laughable situation should be taken outside and shot.

[eFestivals]

Unless they want to be shot, in which case they shouldn't be.

Oh, they should be shot whether they want to be or not.

At least I'd be giving them the quick and relatively pain-free death they won't allow Tony.

[AcademicPistol]

I do find it weird how mankind generally values the life over one living more than another. Like vegetarians that eat fish or vegans that kill insects.

[LondonTom]

We call it "humane" to put a dog down - often when that dog might still have a long life - and yet a sentient human is required to starve himself to death if he wishes to die, because others are not allowed to help him with his self-declared wish.

It's laughable.

The raving religionists who are responsible for such a laughable situation should be taken outside and shot.

[worm]

My friend has MS and he's going to kill himself eventually. He's already signed up to that place in Sweden. I find the idea tormenting..... It's my life-long friend. He wants to die and has chosen to do so so rationally and fatalistically. He just doesn't seem of sound mind to me.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

My friend has MS and he's going to kill himself eventually. He's already signed up to that place in Sweden. I find the idea tormenting..... It's my life-long friend. He wants to die and has chosen to do so so rationally and fatalistically. He just doesn't seem of sound mind to me.

[worm]

If his decision is considered rational by you how can you then say that he doesn't seem of sound mind, in relation to his decision?