There will be a decision today in BC.  
 
I sometimes wonder how we put our animals down when they are suffering, but not let humans have their wish.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/06/14/bc-right-to-die-court-decision.html  
 
 

For example, if someone is in pain and there is no cure, why shouldn't they have the right to choose to live in pain or not. Being forced to live in pain just because society says choosing to die is wrong, is cruel. We are quick to put an animal down that is in pain but force humans to suffer. Does not really make sense.

There are so many moral questions here it would take months to address them all and you still might not have an answer in the end.

If someone is able to make the decision theirselves and it's what they want, who am I to tell them they can't?  
 
I'm lucky enough that I don't live a life that would make me consider that option. Hopefully I never have too.

Yes.  
 
I don't understand why suicide is illegal in the first place. If someone wants to end their own life, shouldn't that be their choice?  
 
Regardless of physical illness, if we have human rights, would those also not include the right to live or die on one's own terms?

Having just recently watched my brother die a slow an agonizing death..i can say i am totally in agreement with doctor assisted suicide .When there is no hope for them and its there wish, why can't they at least have that. We dont let our our animals suffer why do we let our loved ones. There just has to be a more human way!

for most circumstances i do believe in dr assisted suicide but i would want to ensure there are good policies for them to follow

I am in favor of doctor assisted suicide...but it will never be allowed in Canada due to our religious silent majority..many of us have seen how loved ones have died,slow,agonizing deaths,and even ,when death is for certain...there are certain pain medications that we cant get....but are available ''on the street''.this is a huge topic...and the religious part of our society are very much against it....

I have seen two friends pass a horrible, and painfully demeaning death due to cancer. If a person were to see how someone suffers from a disease such as Huntington's disease you would asking why haven't they allowed this long ago..  
 
I think if we really do have rights, then a part of those rights should be the right to chose to die on our own terms, in a less painful, a more peaceful fashion and at a time of our choosing.  
 

Maggie May said "    west said "I am in favor of doctor assisted suicide...but it will never be allowed in Canada due to our religious silent majority..many of us have seen how loved ones have died,slow,agonizing deaths,and even ,when death is for certain...there are certain pain medications that we cant get....but are available ''on the street''.this is a huge topic...and the religious part of our society are very much against it.... "   The religious voice in this county is diminishing. Look at the abortion issue, Christmas, loss of the Lord prayer in school, Sunday shopping. This is a country that was built on Christian values but we are losing them one by one. The issue of doctor assisted suicide is no different, it will come to pass eventually. The reason I think it hasn't already is because it is a very slippery slope. "

Thats the reason why the anti euthanasia crowd is so against dying with dignity...they have us all believe that the government will start deciding who should live or die...ie handicapped people...mentally challenged people etc...I just want it available for those in horrible pain...who are terminal...thats all

Yes.

I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another.

We are actually in the middle of this issue right now in our family.  
 
Monday evening at 9 pm we were called to Alberta to see a family member who has only 1-2 weeks left to live and gets worse with each passing day. Although we were only there for 2 days to visit and say our good byes while he was still able to get some enjoyment and peace from our visit, he made it plain that when you are suffering and in much pain being ravaged by disease with no hope, he would like to go on his terms with less suffering.  
 
Sometimes I think that we can be selfish in prolonging the inevitable without much thought to what the person is indeed going through.  
 
Alas, like anything else, this is just my opinion.

I do agree it should be allowed

The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another. "

I agree no one has a right to take the life of another..however  
 
 
Just want to point out that we are talking about assisted suicide. This isn't about taking someone elses life, this is about assisting someones own personal choice to chose to die on their own terms instead of suffering from a horrible illness...  
 
Of course like anything else there will be some grey areas..

We should have the RIGHT to choose how our lives end....instead of suffering on, to die with dignity would be something wouldn't it??

just like the abortion subject I think it all depends on the circumstances, but I do think that it's that persons life and they should have a say in it.

I watched my grandfather die of stomach cancer. I would have prefered him go a lot quicker and way less painfully.  
 
I am pro doctor assisted suicide.

MyNameIs said "    The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another. " I agree no one has a right to take the life of another..however       Just want to point out that we are talking about assisted suicide. This isn't about taking someone elses life, this is about assisting someones own personal choice to chose to die on their own terms instead of suffering from a horrible illness...     Of course like anything else there will be some grey areas.. "

I can see what you're saying, however, when we get to the basics of it, the person "Assisting" is helping to take the life of another. In my books its the same kind of idea.

The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "    MyNameIs said "    The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another. " I agree no one has a right to take the life of another..however       Just want to point out that we are talking about assisted suicide. This isn't about taking someone elses life, this is about assisting someones own personal choice to chose to die on their own terms instead of suffering from a horrible illness...     Of course like anything else there will be some grey areas.. " I can see what you're saying, however, when we get to the basics of it, the person "Assisting" is helping to take the life of another. In my books its the same kind of idea. "

The person assisting though would be doing only as the person who has chosen to die is asking. But I do understand what you are saying. He is even though assisting as per wishes, it is still taking the life of another. This is one of those grey areas I suppose.  
 
It would be the person who is assisting that would live with the consequences or rather feelings from then on out in dealing with knowing they helped take the persons life and whether they could live with the decision 100%, that they did the right thing in assisting. No second thoughts basically.  
 
To assist in itself would take as much fore thought and considerations regarding feelings and possible consequences emotionally, mentally ect post death, as much as the person who has chosen to die, must consider in their request. I don't ever want to be on either end of this dilemma, but likely some of us will be confronted with this on either end of the scale.  
 
I hope that I made some sense.  
 

I have never been in or know anyone who has been in that type of situation.  
 

but in practice deciding where to draw the line is so hard so opiniated that I just can't support it  
 
Edited by DontBeSilly, 2012-06-15 14:23:01

yes, if it the person's own choice. that's why it is important to make a living will. that way, it doesn't end up being left to someone else's decision.

Canada's laws are unconstitutional.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/06/15/bc-assisted-suicide-ruling.html  
 

The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "    MyNameIs said "    The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another. " I agree no one has a right to take the life of another..however       Just want to point out that we are talking about assisted suicide. This isn't about taking someone elses life, this is about assisting someones own personal choice to chose to die on their own terms instead of suffering from a horrible illness...     Of course like anything else there will be some grey areas.. " I can see what you're saying, however, when we get to the basics of it, the person "Assisting" is helping to take the life of another. In my books its the same kind of idea. "

depends on what you define as assisting? writing a prescription for enough pills for the individual to take them selves, administering enough morph to slow breathing and possibly help quicken the process with the pt consent, setting up an iv with a PT controlled pump and information on whats a lethal dose or, injecting the pt on their wishes.  
 
there can be assistance with out the dr actually doing the deed

I find it hard to believe that people compare euthanizing animals to assisting death of a human. It's not the same at all.  
Keeping a sick and dying animal alive is costly for the owner, if you want to ensure their comfort, especially. We as pet owners go in to owning a pet knowing that animals do not have very long lifespans in comparison to humans. So, the death of a pet cannot really be compared to that of a human life.  
Cost of medical care for humans does not compare to that of an animal. We do not have to pay for expensive surgery's to keep us alive, or for hospital or over the counter administered drugs. For other prescription drugs, there are coverage plans.  
Medical technology for humans allows Dr's. to keep us comfortable if death is inevitable. We already have the choice to sign a DNR, and refuse any life saving treatments. Why not just allow the medical professionals to keep you comfortable in palliative care.  
I don't know, maybe it would become cheaper on the medical system to just euthanize people instead of having palliative care units, and have to employ however many people work on those wards, and also to supply all of the necessary equipment and medications needed to keep people on those wards comfortable. Those resources could be put elsewhere I suppose. Just really seems wrong to me though.

Life is a gift, even if it is a crappy one. just the way I was brought up I guess.

traveller said "    The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "    MyNameIs said "    The Brilliant Captain Obvious said "I believe that no person has a right to take the life of another. " I agree no one has a right to take the life of another..however       Just want to point out that we are talking about assisted suicide. This isn't about taking someone elses life, this is about assisting someones own personal choice to chose to die on their own terms instead of suffering from a horrible illness...     Of course like anything else there will be some grey areas.. " I can see what you're saying, however, when we get to the basics of it, the person "Assisting" is helping to take the life of another. In my books its the same kind of idea. " depends on what you define as assisting? writing a prescription for enough pills for the individual to take them selves, administering enough morph to slow breathing and possibly help quicken the process with the pt consent, setting up an iv with a PT controlled pump and information on whats a lethal dose or, injecting the pt on their wishes.     there can be assistance with out the dr actually doing the deed "

I define assisting as knowingly providing medication with the understanding that the patient will be using them to end their life. Regardless of who in the end administers the medication, if you provide the means to do it, then you're assisting and therefore taking a life.

lol good luck charging a dead person

All it takes is for you to witness a person suffer painfully day in and day out for months/years on end before they die of natural causes before you realize assisted suicide would have been more humane.