Kevorkian released. Is his stance on right to die the correct one?

[mudesi]

On the one hand, the argument is that anyone has the right to die if he/she so chooses. The other side of this is that sometimes, people are not really capable of making such a decision.

I would argue that people with depression, bipolar disorder, etc. are not capable of making a rational choice of whether to live or die, and that these people need help with their conditions, not help with committing suicide. In fact, their suicidal ideations are symptoms of their mental disorders, and it is cruel and uncompassionate and immoral to help them kill themselves. It's like saying you wouldn't give penicillin to a person with a bacterial infection, but instead you'd be happy to cough in his face.

On the other hand, there are cases involving people with painful and life threatening illness. Should they have the right to choose their time and method of death? And if so, how do we determine whether or not someone is in a state of mind where he/she is capable of making that decision rationally? Like I said, I don't think it's right to help people die if they don't have the state of mind to make such a choice. But that opens a real can of worms, which is the subject of how to determine such a state of mind, and what the role of the government should even be in such cases.

It's a pickle.

[bunkerbuster1]

1. No.

He operated well outside of the law, and knew it, and hence his position isn't correct. Not in my book.

That said, I have a tremendous sympathy for what he and others have tried to accomplish, i.e., that those who have a rational reason to depart this world on their own terms, should be able to do so humanely.

We ought to work to have a legal way to accomplish this.

[unpossibles]

2. I can only speak for myself, but I would put my dog or cat down if I had to

it's the humane thing to do.

I would hope my loved ones would have the same consideration for me, and could do so legally.

[KamaAina]

5. People aren't dogs or cats

for example, we don't spay or neuter people when they enter homeless shelters (yet, anyway).

[unpossibles]

16. I'm sorry, but I did not say people are dogs or cats

it's humane to alleviate someone's pain if they are mortally sick.

For me this is all about choice, and I said it is what I would want for myself, obviously only if I had a terminal disease or was in great pain. I did not advocate it for you, so if you disagree, then don't do it.

[and-justice-for-all]

40. I agree with you....

Life is life, I hold my cats in as much regard as I do family, because they are family.

[unpossibles]

42. thank you. n/t

[MissMillie]

3. yes it is a pickle

and I never know where to come down on this issue either.

All the more reason to have conversations with your family/loved ones when you're of sound mind and body. Unfortunately too many of us don't want to think ahead to times that might be difficult.

[BOSSHOG]

6. I spent a lot time in an Alzheimer's ward of a nursing home

when my Dad was there. Incredibly horrible disease. I would not want my wife to go through the pain and potential financial ruin because I had lost my mind and could possibly live for years and years at an incredible cost. I would rather be put out of everybody's misery. I did not observe "quality of life" just life forms existing. On the other hand, I would not "kill" my wife. Fortunately Dad was not there very long. We brought him home where he died watching his horses out the front window; most likely having no idea what they were.

[Swamp Rat]

35. .

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. The folks in Oregon seem to have settled this question...nt

[MissB]

13. Despite numerous attempts by the federal government,

our law still stands. :)

[Madspirit]

7. That's Not the Question

There are a lot of places that support dying with dignity...The Hemlock Society, etc. ...and yet they do not support Kevorkian. He is/was a pervert from hell who orgasmed when he killed someone...my opinion. I loath the man with a fiery passion. He is not righteous. He just likes to kill people. If he hadn't found this issue he would be doing it anyway. Blech. There are other groups supporting the same thing but without the extreme pleasure this man feels when he kills.
Lee

[regularguy]

20. Yup.

I always felt that this dude actually got off on death.

[Ganja Ninja]

8. From what I remember most of the people he helped weren't ...

just suffering from depression but had real terminal medical conditions and would have died lingering painful and costly deaths. I believe there are circumstances when a person, if they desire, should be assisted in dying to prevent just those types of death where a patient is living in long term constant pain with no hope of recovery and depleting the resources of their family/spouse.

[Henryman]

9. It's done every day and in every town....

....but doctors have to cover it up because it's illegal. One has to be naive to believe doctor-assisted suicides are not happening in every hospital in our country. We need to stop making doctors and terminally-ill patients criminals by making this humane process a legal part of health care.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. And that was Kevorkian's argument.

He simply wanted people to face up to reality and stop all the secretive bullshit surrounding what's done everyday in hospitals around the country.

[Recursion]

11. It was one thing when he made a machine...

... by means of which a person could inject himself with poison.

To me, at least, it was quite another thing when he pushed the button himself.

[uppityperson]

33. I agree, problem is when family isn't is agreement and pt can't say.

That is when problems arise (Schiavo for instance). I am glad that my family is in agreement on these sorts of things as it has helped and will help us make decisions.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

34. it happens with handicapped infants too.

OB-gyns are also put in the difficult position of helping their patients decide if they can deal with a handicapped child, or extreme preemie, and how severely the child will be affected, and all the factors that go into having a perpetual infant that needs 24/7 care.

[MissB]

12. Oregon has set up assisted suicide just right.

:)

You need to be within 6 months of dying, two doctors need to (separately) make the determination that you're of sound mind and haven't been coerced and you must be physically able to take the pills yourself.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

15. exactly

Oregon has the right idea.

[sandnsea]

26. 30-40 per year

Agreed. People should be concerned about the Texas Futile Care Law, where the hospital gets to decide who to kill.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050310-1343-wst-assistedsuicide.html

[Henryman]

28. I don't understand the reason for 6 months or taking the pills.

Six months is completely arbitrary. What's the reason for taking the pills yourself? What if you meet all other criteria but you are paralyzed? Then you have to suffer? Doesn't make sense to me.

[MissB]

30. Six months = gotta really be ready to die.

Take the pills yourself = no coersion.

[Henryman]

41. Again, both arbitrary standards. IMO n/t

[depakid]

29. Here are the annual Death with Dignity Act reports from Oregon DHS

http://egov.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/ar-index.shtml

[Az]

14. How is it a pickle?

Even Kevorkian was against helping those with mental conditions that left them suicidal.

It seems pretty straight forward to me. If a person is of sound mind and does not wish to suffer any longer then it is their life to choose to do with as they see fit. There is nothing more distinctly our own than our lives.

[Gregorian]

17. It's hard to add to that.

The only thing that might complicate the matter is the involvement of another person.

I have a pretty good bs detector, and listening to Kervorkian never set it off. I always thought the man was level headed.

And even if someone else is involved, you're right. It is our most basic choice.

[Javaman]

18. Yes, I believe we should all be allowed to die...

I have no interest in living forever.

LOL

[Mugu]

19. Uh-oh...

Jack the Dripper is on the street again.

[blues90]

21. I feel people do have the right to die

And on their terms . I don't think the government has any place in this .

Even long term depression where for some there is no cure should be able to decide , who can possibly tell what pain they are in .

Mental pain can be just as disabling as phyical pain . Depression does not mean a person is not aware of their options .

[Karenina]

24. The topic of DEATH is forbidden

in American society. Outright prohibition has a very spotty record.

[onecent]

22. I feel the same way about this that I feel about abortion! I want to have

the control over my body and what I do with it is NO ONE ELSES BUSINESS.

[beevul]

23. My stance as well N/T.

[WilliamPitt]

25. Yes.

[mitchtv]

27. Sorry , no death until the family/insurance is drained

If on MediCare no death allowed without an act of congress.

[TahitiNut]

31. How dare anyone interfere with the health industry's right to profit from human suffering??

People only have the right to die when they run out of money or join the military.

:puke:

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. YES, he's correct! MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

Stay OUT OF my life and we'll get along just fine.

[Swamp Rat]

36. Good. Yes. n/t

[XOKCowboy]

37. Yes. Dr. Kevorkian is a hero...

You have to watch a loved one (in my case my grandmother) linger in a vegetative state for YEARS to realize that living is not just drawing a breath. My grandmother knew she was losing her mind due to Alzheimer's. She was the strongest woman I've ever known. She would have never wanted to live like she did the last 3 years of her life. Bedsores, incontinence, frozen in a fetal position. This woman was born on the prairie at the turn of the century. She went through natural childbirth 3 times with no doctor and just a local midwife in an unsterilized ranch house (she lost one child). She survived The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl and established a ranch that we still live on. To watch this woman become helpless and pitiable was one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure.

Dr. Kevorkian's patients faced years of intense pain and/or mental and physical degradation from TERMINAL illnesses. He provided a way for people with terminal illnesses die with dignity. It burns me up when people trot out that old moniker "Dr. Death" to mock him. He should have NEVER been sent to prison.

Sorry for the rant but this subject really gets to me.

[BlueIris]

38. Hey, Jack, come to Oregon. There are like, three docs here who will even

consider (publicly, anyway) helping folks die with dignity and they're being stigmatized beyond belief.

[and-justice-for-all]

39. I see it this way....

..Its your life, you are free to do with it as you wish. But you only get 1, thats all. That should be clearly explained to someone before they decide to check out, how someone chooses to check out is up to them and not any Government.

Why should I be forced to live on life support when the reality is that I can never live a normal life again? Its a burden to my family, emotionally and financially. The Sherivo issue was not an invite for Senators to invade that families privacy in such a personal affair, it was very shallow of them to make Terry a political issue, when it was not for the Government to decide what is best for Terry and her family.

Starvation as the catalyst for her death was crude, there was no reason why they could not induce her passing with drugs while she was already asleep.

I have a right to die the way I choose to do so, if I want a Kevorkian Death Cycle then thats the way it will be. Once may think that I am out of my mind and incapable of rationalizing such a decision, but it is my life and I will do with it as I choose.