copenhagen120 t1_jacpric wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:25 PM

Reply to comment by homefone in A renewed push to legalize ‘medical aid in dying’ by d5dq

Why not give them the agency to make that decision for themselves? Trust me, not giving them the choice doesn't make it any better.

My father-in-law is terminally ill, and for him the only thing worse than the physical pain is the emotional distress of knowing that his last days will be be a painful drain of emotional and financial resources on himself and the family he's leaving behind.

I really can't emphasize the agency part enough. Getting a terminal diagnosis is so emotionally difficult, partly because you're officially at the end of the line. There's nothing you or anyone else can do to keep the fight going. You've been stripped of agency in your fight to live, and you don't even have the agency to decide to end it if that's what you want. It contributes to the powerlessness of a terminal diagnosis in such an unnecessary way and is heartbreaking to witness.

homefone t1_jactmvn wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:53 PM

Look, I've been through similar circumstances. I would've never wished for that person to feel it necessary to kill themselves to avoid any burden of mine or somebody else's. As soon as that pressure exists, it can't be ethical suicide.

And, unless every case of medical suicide is undergone by a person 100% able to consent to such, legalizing this process amounts to state sponsored murder.

3720-To-One t1_jad0w24 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:42 PM

THEY ARE GOING TO DIE AN EXCRUCIATING DEATH.

Why are you so in favor of state-sponsored torture?

We literally euthanize our pets when their time is done so they don’t have to suffer.

Why can’t you have that compassion for a human, who’s going to die anyways, and who wants to be able to go out on their own terms.