Belgians doctors agree to "assist the dying" of healthy 24yr old with suicidal thoughts

Dj_Jestar · 30 Jun 2015 at 23:53

No.

Now, lets discuss your "genuine illness" remark and the clear and present implication that you don't believe mental illness to be a "genuine illness" - what course of action do you recommend for someone with mental health issues? Just shake it off?

Glaucus · 30 Jun 2015 at 23:57

robfosters said:
Sorry, but I'm against this.

I am fully in favour of assisted dying for someone who is terminally ill, but when you have nothing physically wrong with you, then the only assistance you should be given by doctors is psychological assistance.

.

Hmm, you really think mental illness is not a physical condition, hmmm

It's just we don't understand the workings if the brain yet.

robfosters · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:00

Dj_Jestar said:
No.

Now, lets discuss your "genuine illness" remark and the clear and present implication that you don't believe mental illness to be a "genuine illness" - what course of action do you recommend for someone with mental health issues? Just shake it off?

Of course I know mental illness is genuine, but for me, I will need a new heart withing 2 years. Mine is giving up fast. This lady (I'm presuming) has a normal heart that I would give anything to have in my chest, and to see her throw it away when there's nothing wrong with it is a kick in the teeth to people like me.

Dj_Jestar · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:08

Sorry to hear that about your heart.

However, this lady's mind is (er, was?) not right. It was broken. As attested by I don't know how many professionals she has seen in the years she spent in care and hospital. She claimed, and the doctors agreed, she was in mental torment the entire time and wished to die. So they helped her wish come true.

robfosters · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:11

Dj_Jestar said:
Sorry to hear that about your heart.

However, this lady's mind is (er, was?) not right. It was broken. As attested by I don't know how many professionals she has seen in the years she spent in care and hospital. She claimed, and the doctors agreed, she was in mental torment the entire time and wished to die. So they helped her wish come true.

OK. But as I said earlier, there should be mandatory harvesting of the useful organs. I'm just surmising. For all I know, the method of death may render the organs unsuitable for transplant.

Dj_Jestar · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:17

Can't harvest poisoned organs.

OhEsEcks · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:53

There's some ignorant and arrogant ****ing horse **** in this thread now.

spoffle · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:57

BigglesPiP said:
Oops, we turned death into an industry. The US would have adverts on TV by now.

I'd have thought getting the physical illness affecting her (I'm guessing a lot here) depression sorted would be a smarter move.

Suicide booths incoming, only $19.99.

spoffle · 1 Jul 2015 at 00:59

robfosters said:
I find this sort of thing an affront to people who are genuinely ill or disabled and want nothing more than to have a healthy body.

U WOT M8?

spoffle · 1 Jul 2015 at 01:01

robfosters said:
Of course I know mental illness is genuine, but for me, I will need a new heart withing 2 years. Mine is giving up fast. This lady (I'm presuming) has a normal heart that I would give anything to have in my chest, and to see her throw it away when there's nothing wrong with it is a kick in the teeth to people like me.

Why does it have to be physical? It sounds like your issue is with anyone who wants to die, not just because they're mentally ill. There'll be plenty of people who want to die who have fully functional hearts, because their "physical" condition causing them to want to die is elsewhere.

But why aren't you complaining about them throwing that away? I feel like you haven't really thought out your objection here.

413x · 1 Jul 2015 at 01:09

robfosters said:
Sorry, but I'm against this.

I am fully in favour of assisted dying for someone who is terminally ill, but when you have nothing physically wrong with you, then the only assistance you should be given by doctors is psychological assistance.

Personally, and I'm sure many will disagree, but I find this sort of thing an affront to people who are genuinely ill or disabled and want nothing more than to have a healthy body. The fact that someone wants to throw theirs away while millions would do anything for one is very sad. If she insists on this, she should be forced to donate her organs to let someone else make use and gain a full life out of what she didn't want.

Quite shocked by this

jetpaczx · 1 Jul 2015 at 01:18

I support it wholeheartedly, If my mental/physical health got that bad I would want to go on my own terms.

Someone once told me, If life is a gift, its yours to refuse.

Wish I could remember who said it

.

Bensons · 1 Jul 2015 at 08:43

Dj_Jestar said:
Can't harvest poisoned organs.

Such a shame.

Haggisman · 1 Jul 2015 at 08:46

robfosters said:
Of course I know mental illness is genuine, but for me, I will need a new heart withing 2 years. Mine is giving up fast. This lady (I'm presuming) has a normal heart that I would give anything to have in my chest, and to see her throw it away when there's nothing wrong with it is a kick in the teeth to people like me.

Would you feel the same about someone suffering from e.g. locked-in syndrome or loss of multiple limbs and in constant pain and unable to live any sort of fulfilling life? Just because one part of their body is perfectly healthy, they have no right to choose to end that suffering?

That seems pretty selfish to me...

MookJong · 1 Jul 2015 at 08:56

Nobody asks to be born, if you want to stop the ride and get off then that is your choice.

As long as there are checks and balances, the decision is rational and not a snap one I do not see a problem.

Hotwired · 1 Jul 2015 at 09:16

I've said it repeatedly but your shield of obtuseness and obnoxiousness is strong.

Depression is not a death sentence and it is not a guaranteed affliction through your life.

Euthanasia discards all hope and options for the future.

I am not in favour of a euthanasia scheme being a treatment for depression which is the cause of the suicidal thoughts.

And on top of that, a strong disbelief that any checks can be strong enough when someones mental state is both the driving force and the proof to get them qualified for the program.

I'm not opposed to euthanasia in cases of irreversible mental or physical degradation with a certainty of a complete loss of self in the predictable future.

Xordium · 1 Jul 2015 at 09:18

Hotwired said:
I'm not opposed to euthanasia in cases of irreversible mental or physical degradation with a certainty of a complete loss of self in the predictable future.

Well judging by your last sentence you have no problem with this then. Good glad we agree.

QUOTE BUTTON -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\/

spoffle · 1 Jul 2015 at 09:23

Hotwired said:

The hell are you doing with the screen shot thing? That's got to be one of the strangest things I've seen around here.

Hotwired · 1 Jul 2015 at 09:26

Clearly it is not the same thing.

Haggisman · 1 Jul 2015 at 09:26

Hotwired said:
I've said it repeatedly but your shield of obtuseness and obnoxiousness is strong.

Depression is not a death sentence and it is not a guaranteed affliction through your life.

Euthanasia discards all hope and options for the future.

I am not in favour of a euthanasia scheme being a treatment for depression which is the cause of the suicidal thoughts.

And on top of that, a strong disbelief that any checks can be strong enough when someones mental state is both the driving force and the proof to get them qualified for the program.

I'm not opposed to euthanasia in cases of irreversible mental or physical degradation with a certainty of a complete loss of self in the predictable future.

It seems like in your opinion mental illness is not real illness, and therefore is not permanent.

The truth is, we don't know (but please feel free to post any evidence to the contrary).

In some cases, sure, depression can be treated and even cured, just like physical illnesses, e.g. cancer.

In other cases, maybe it can't.

Would you advocate prolonging the suffering of someone in severe physical pain due to an illness which was (as far as medical professionals were concerned at the time) uncurable?

By your logic, someone suffering a prolonged agonising death from disease shouldn't be allowed to choose to end their own life, "just in case" a cure is discovered the next day. :rolleyes: