copenhagen120
copenhagen120 t1_jacp8ek wrote
This is one of those issues that a lot of people feel uncomfortable facing. Lots of slippery slope arguments, religious/moral arguments, etc. Opinions change when you have a dying, suffering loved one who wants nothing more than to end the pain, and isn't able to. I promise, your take on the subject will quickly shift to "it's absolutely unacceptable that someone in terminal pain doesn't have the agency to end their struggle on their own terms".
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.
And I 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 just contributed to the powerlessness of a terminal diagnosis in such an unnecessary way and is heartbreaking to witness.
copenhagen120 t1_jacpric wrote
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.