Assisted Suicide / Assisted Death

[Katabole]

Well it has been in the headlines for a while. A number of US states have legalized it. A number of countries have legalized it and that number is growing. Belgium probably has the most liberal laws about it, that if someone is unhappy, they can go to a doctor and get put down.

I work in the social science, medical industry. My co-workers and I go out of our way to help others. We do not like to see people suffer and we try our best to give them comfort, whether that be counselling or prescription medications to reduce pain and suffering. The last thing we would ever think of doing is to put someone down like a dog or a cat and from my Christian perspective since I believe that humans were made in the image of God and that Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly, taking that life away is morally wrong.

I understand the highly advanced trait of mercy and I know of many examples in WWII where friends of soldiers had to kill their colleagues because their wounds were too terrible for their bodies to function. From a personal point of view, my Christian parents removed the life support system for my brother years ago because he was brain dead, due to complications that arose after a bone marrow transplant.

It seems to me though, that society is on a slippery slope and that it may be heading in the future like that movie, 'Logan's Run', where no one is allowed to live past the age of 35 because it would be too much burden to the system. I talked to one of my friends who grew up in Communist Poland and whose parents lived through the Nazi occupations and he thinks this belief in assisted suicide is nothing short of what the Nazi's were perpetrating, which is state sanctioned murder and a devaluing of human life.

The other thing is, how is a Christian supposed to respond? We do not live in democratic Christian theocracies. Should we demonstrate to have it removed? Call our Senators or member of Parliament? I know this may sound cynical but I do not see Christians ever agreeing to this, if we can help someone who is alive we can help them but atheists would see no problem in it and at least there would be less atheists.

Your thoughts?

[RickD]

I think Russia has the perfect retirement system. Give everyone free vodka, so the majority dies at an early age from liver disease. That way there isn't as many old people alive to take care of.

[Storyteller]

I have mixed feelings on this...

We put animals down as an act of mercy, why is it different, why is it not an act of mercy?
Life is precious, God given. Do we have the right to take it away? I think with animals, its slightly different, we are (or should be) their guardians whereas God is ours.

I read a heartbreaking account of a young girl in her twenties, crippled, in constant pain, struggled to breathe, chained to machines. She begged to die. For her, life was a living hell. How do you comfort someone like that? How do you tell someone that even their pitiful existence is precious when to them it isnt?

[Mallz]

Hmm...

How about a very old woman physically breaking down who doesn't want any more invasive procedures and is ready to go? And by not doing any invasive procedures she will die and it will hurt? I've had to help people go before by titrating morphine drips as their heart goes. Ya know, hospice type care but more acutely/active in the hospital.

[Mallz]

Oregon is a place where you can come for assisted suicide, people will move here for it. I disagree with much of it. I think in cases where there is a good fight to be fought, one should fight and be helped. It's a normal sane reaction to fight for life. Many people who don't are depressed and need help to fight. But once the good fight has been fought..?

[crochet1949]

And then a person hears of the patient who was dying of breast cancer -- she wanted to be put out of her misery -- as it turns out - she went into remission -- so -- it would appear that until a person is actually dead -- ya never really Know.

My Dad was given two weeks to live 20 yrs ago or so -- during gall bladder surgery the surgeons discovered his liver was already half gone -- they eased him out the last day or so with morphine patches and such. He deteriorated faster than anticipated -- 1 1/2 weeks rather than 2.

Was just thinking that out in nature -- life runs it course -- nothing is assisted -- an animal lives and it dies. A corps either decays or is next in the food chain. Natural death should be seen as part of living.

Sometimes there simply are No Easy answers.

[Kurieuo]

Perhaps this is rather naive, but the way I see matters laws aren't going to stop someone wanting to commit suicide. So I find it rather humourous that those "who want to die" would want laws to changed which would otherwise probably protect those who perhaps want to live but someone else is making the decision for them due to an incapacity.

You can easily order yourself a suicide bag via eBay. If someone doesn't have the guts to do themselves in, then they're not really ready in their head to go. Why dirty the hands of others?

[Nessa]

Perhaps this is rather naive, but the way I see matters laws aren't going to stop someone wanting to commit suicide. So I find it rather humourous that those "who want to die" would want laws to changed which would otherwise probably protect those who perhaps want to live but someone else is making the decision for them due to an incapacity.

You can easily order yourself a suicide bag via eBay. If someone doesn't have the guts to do themselves in, then they're not really ready in their head to go. Why dirty the hands of others?

Suicide bag through the post?

I find it weird the thought of going out to check the post box everyday....

Is today going to be the day...

[Kurieuo]

Perhaps this is rather naive, but the way I see matters laws aren't going to stop someone wanting to commit suicide. So I find it rather humourous that those "who want to die" would want laws to changed which would otherwise probably protect those who perhaps want to live but someone else is making the decision for them due to an incapacity.

You can easily order yourself a suicide bag via eBay. If someone doesn't have the guts to do themselves in, then they're not really ready in their head to go. Why dirty the hands of others?

Suicide bag through the post?

I find it weird the thought of going out to check the post box everyday....

Is today going to be the day...

You can just have one on stand by while you decide to make up your mind. (just adding, no one should be concerned about me )

[IceMobster]

A bit off-topic: is it possible to be a Christian yet not pro-life?

[Kurieuo]

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but is it possible to be Atheist and pro-life?

BTW, fwiw, I don't consider myself pro-life. Don't like the term. There is no such thing as pro-choice either. Labels cloud the real issues involved, like they always normally do.

[RickD]

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but is it possible to be Atheist and pro-life?

BTW, fwiw, I don't consider myself pro-life. Don't like the term. There is no such thing as pro-choice either. Labels cloud the real issues involved, like they always normally do.

Of course you're pro-life. Stop being contentious.*








*In Audie's absence, somebody's got to pick up the slack.

[RickD]

A bit off-topic: is it possible to be a Christian yet not pro-life?

Yes.

[IceMobster]

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but is it possible to be Atheist and pro-life?

Yes, it is possible.

BTW, fwiw, I don't consider myself pro-life. Don't like the term. There is no such thing as pro-choice either. Labels cloud the real issues involved, like they always normally do

What do you mean?

A bit off-topic: is it possible to be a Christian yet not pro-life?

Yes.

Is this sarcasm?

[RickD]

A bit off-topic: is it possible to be a Christian yet not pro-life?

Yes.

Is this sarcasm?

No. I know I get carried away with sarcasm, but it's possible to be a Christian and not be pro-life.

I'd say if one isn't pro-life, and one is a Christian, it would be inconsistent with Christianity's teachings. But choosing to be pro-life isn't the barometer for faith in Christ.