First WA Assisted Suicide: Do you agree with the 'Death with Dignity' law?

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First WA Assisted Suicide: Do you agree with the 'Death with Dignity' law?

by Mr. T Posted May 22, 2009 21:50:26

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+21 raves

The first US assisted suicide in Washington took place to help a 66-year old woman with advanced cancer. Linda Fleming died after taking doctor prescribed meds with her family and dog by her side. Washington is one the first states to approve assisted suicide in the US, calling it the "Death with Dignity" law. In Oregon, 400 people have chosen to die in the past 12 years as well. Fleming said that the pain had become unbearable after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Patients using the "Death with Dignity" law must be 18 years old and terminally ill.

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+8 raves Lunacat May 22, 2009 22:59:25

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I support it 100%.
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chris86 June 08, 2009 18:28:17

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
The patient's wishes should be respected. If I end up with so much pain and there is no hope for me than just let me die. If I ever end up brain dead, please, pull the plug.
Lindairish June 02, 2009 17:20:56

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
Well, you know us crazy religious people. We kind of think that it's really up to God, when we die.
bluecountry May 29, 2009 02:22:57

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I do very much agree with Death with Dignity ...I have lived my life and should make my decision when it will end and how..No one has the right but me to decide how and when i should die.that is no one but my God...I will never allow a person to decide if i should lie with a feeding tube in me or not knowing anyone is around me ,When i can no longer take care of myself its time for me to go..If God don't take me ill handle it...
steven May 29, 2009 00:53:26 (edited)

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
Although it isn't easy to watch someone beg for death, there is the alternative of painkillers until the inevitable moment of death. I was there when my father-in-law passed away from painful cancer. He begged my wife to give him an overdose, but she couldn't do that. He was gone in another day or so anyway.

Having said that, I would like to point out that allowing assisted suicide now is the first real step to allowing eugenics, genocide, geriatricide, etc. later. How soon before it isn't just having someone put in an assisted living center anymore, but simply filling out the paperwork to have them "processed" or some equally inoffensive euphemism? Perhaps "Retirement" will take on a whole new meaning. After all, they are "old and useless" now, right? And "the cost of caring for them is prohibitive". There will be a huge range of excuses when we think human life is less than sacred--none of which will serve to make us feel better or excuse our behavior when we stand to be judged. And always remember that what goes around, comes around. It may be you next.
doublelibra May 28, 2009 19:27:54 (edited)

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
This is an individual matter of choice. I cannot dictate ethics or morality for another suffering person.
Xuvy May 28, 2009 17:47:48

Answered: I think that assisted suicide and the "Death with Dignity" law...
should not be a law. Doctors have been doing it forever. Now that it is a law when does the government step in (like with the boy with cancer who is being forced through chemo again) and say 'well your quality of life isn't up to snuff out you go'?
jellyfish May 27, 2009 19:56:02

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
Until you are suffering because of a debilitating illness, you have NO idea. How awful are you to want someone tortured to death? I can't believe that Jack Kevorkian was chastised for helping the sick end their suffering! This law is way late, but at least it's there!
La May 26, 2009 12:07:24

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
It's ridiculous to keep a terminally ill person alive when they don't want to be. They are in unnecessary pain, it's a waste of medication, etc.
jo to La May 26, 2009 18:02:20

and hospital resources and it costs the family a lot of money in health care....
tj May 26, 2009 08:27:54

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
First off no law by the goverment or state can stop someone from offing themselves. I also think it is bogus to think having a law to make it legal would make it right.
In this case I think the lady should have had powerful medication to stop the pain. Some people will say what's the differance? Intent. You take the medication to fight the pain. You risk the chance of over dosing but not with the purpose of killing your self. Suicide is the willful taking of ones life whether your in pain or not. Having this law is just a cop out!
+1 raves
concerned2 May 26, 2009 02:44:26

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
We put our animals to sleep without even asking their permission to save them suffering, but would force our loved ones to hang on to painful and artificially lengthened life because we are too selfish to let them go. I don't really understand how that can sound right to anyone.
luvguins May 26, 2009 02:31:41

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
We treat our beloved pets better than our significant others by terminating the pets suffering.
chatsworthbob May 25, 2009 21:11:55

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
Is a bunch of Crap! We now have abortion on demand and that industry has killed over 40 million babies! Just when will the government stop? Age 80, age 70? How about age 60? Or when the the government no longer wants to pay for a terminally ill patent? How about the homeless, the mentally insane, those on welfare, those that are financially broke or those that are on drugs... why not get rid of them also? These people are ALL a drain on a government and assisted suicide is the the second step on a slippery slope to justify additional suicides for what ever reason the government bureau decided is in the best interest of their party and/or the government's finances.
+2 raves
concerned2 to chatswo... May 26, 2009 02:48:24

The death with dignity law in washington requires that the person be terminally ill with 6 months or less to live, that the person be diagnosed by three separate physicians with that illness and prognosis, and that a psychiatric review be done on the patient in order to determine that it is the patient's choice and not made lightly.

your arguments would carry more weight if you armed yourself with facts, rather than conjecture and paranoia. I appreciate your fears, but am more concerned with the dignity and suffering of those who are in the position to make that decision.
jo to chatswo... May 26, 2009 18:04:38

don't fret. as long as they can be driven to a voting booth, they'll be kept alive. a voter's a voter. unless universal health care proves to be too expensive (and it will be) and they have to "lighten the load".... *tongue in cheek*
Elizabeth May 25, 2009 06:43:37

Answered: I think that assisted suicide and the "Death with Dignity" law...
I agree with the "Death with Dignity" law in principle, but am highly concerned it may open the way to legal" murder, should family members (whose eyes may be on inheritance money) push a relative or friend into an untimely death.
concerned2 to Elizabeth May 26, 2009 02:51:54

The Washington law is very tightly written - it requires three physician's diagnoses and prognosis, and requires that the patient have a psychiatric evaluation to ensure that the decision is solely their own. No law is perfect, of course, but one of the chief concerns of supporters of the law was that the restrictions were so tight that the persons wishing to avail themselves of its protection would find it too difficult to overcome.

I can't say that your fears are groundless - it may be possible to undermine any system, however tightly knit, but there is a very very slim chance of misuse in this particular system.
tomem May 24, 2009 23:31:13

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
The "dignity" is not in the death, it is in the life. But the pro death crowd has no concept of what real dignity is anyway.
+1 raves
PB & J May 24, 2009 22:25:12

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I am not familiar with the specifics of the Washington State law.
I feel if three doctors (including the patient's Primary Care physician) certify the person will more likely than not die within 6 months regardless of the best medical care possible, and a psychiatrist certifies the person is not clinically depressed that an individual should be permitted to choose Death with Dignity.
+1 raves
concerned2 to PB & J May 26, 2009 02:52:36

precisely how the law is written.
PB & J to concerned2 May 27, 2009 00:20:38

Thanx for the info!
liz May 24, 2009 15:44:11

Answered: I think that assisted suicide and the "Death with Dignity" law...
If there's no hope and the person is suffering, then yes, I support it.
Katharina May 24, 2009 07:16:23

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
If there is no hope, yes. Medicine should not keep s.o. alive who will die if nature is doing its own thing.
+2 raves
nancy May 24, 2009 05:47:01

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I think it is very cruel to make humans suffer as long as we do, just because some people are so mean spirited that they believe that they would like to suffer for a long time so others should too.

We do not approve of such cruelty to our dogs, but force prolonged pain on individuals of our own species, then resuscitate them if they stop breathing so they can suffer even longer..
tj to nancy May 26, 2009 08:40:37

Here in Missouri (and I belive nation wide) you can sign a legal document that states do not resuscitate. So if you stop breathing or if your heart stops the hospital will not resuscitate. It gives the patient what they wish and protects the hospital from heirs that want to sue. My mom had it in 1995.
James1960 May 24, 2009 05:26:34

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I believe that a person of SOUND MIND should be allowed to "check out" when they are ready. I know that _I_ don't want to be trapped in a failing body when the time comes for me to go.
Sierra Faith May 24, 2009 03:06:33

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
if the person is suffering i think then its okay.
no one wants to suffer a painful and slow death.
Fox Rider May 24, 2009 02:17:47

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
nothing wrong with it, it has been going on for so long anyway against the law with doctors anyway....so what? better than offing yourself with a gun or overdosing to an extent you don't know if it will work? right?
+1 raves
sandy60 May 24, 2009 02:05:29

Answered: I think that assisted suicide and the "Death with Dignity" law...
I haven't walked in the shoes of one who is dying so I don't want to judge or given much of an opinion,...but I can tell you, as a Hospice worker, there is death with dignity when one dies on Hospice.
+2 raves
Rick4Ron May 24, 2009 01:28:08

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
I'm not familiar with the wording of this law. However, I support liberty and freedom of choice. Perhaps, there are circumstances that I haven't considered? Still, on the face of it, I support the concept.

We are much more humane to animals, and those receiving a death sentence.. then we are to humans. A gentle death, should be a legal option for anyone with an understanding of the decision.
Wren77 May 23, 2009 21:29:11

Answered: I think that assisted suicide and the "Death with Dignity" law...
My first reaction is to say no to this law, but on further thought, who knows how some one facing a long suffering period before death feels ? We should keep the law and let each individual make their own judgements. Incidently, I live in WA.
K-ZOOMI May 23, 2009 20:30:29

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
I personally believe that to take ones own life is a sin.
+1 raves
nancy to K-ZOOMI May 24, 2009 05:49:06

I believe that it is a sin to desire others to suffer for long periods of time just because we have the medical knowledge and ability to keep people alive.
K-ZOOMI to nancy May 28, 2009 16:48:45

I agree in part. I would say that the very technology has given people the situation that they would end thier life.
+1 raves
Penguinz ►Art of Fighting◄ May 23, 2009 19:32:16

Answered: Yes. I agree with the assisted suicide, 'Death with Dignity' law.
Suffering is worse then death.
Kat May 23, 2009 19:24:25

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
Alright, this is stupid. People with Cancer can kind of crazy sometimes, their not lunatics but the sickness (or any sickness) can put you in a position to say that you want to die. I just don't think that the patient should be allowed to make that decision, and neither should the family (to say they want them to die, if they want them to live then of course they can override it).
Penguin... to Kat May 23, 2009 19:41:26

You really want a 66 year old women to slit her own neck or jump off a building? Or would you be happy knowing she is going through pain you can't even comprehend? Or knowing her family feels so helpless that they can't do anything but watch her in pain.

Or would you rather see that women drift off into an eternal sleep?
poet4justice May 23, 2009 18:55:05

Answered: No. I do not agree with allowing assisted suicide.
let me tell yo that assisted suicide is murder and not suicide because for those who want to die they can do by themswelves..... they justy want somebody else to pull the trigger.
concerned2 to poet4ju... May 26, 2009 02:55:50

the law allows a physician to prescribe a fatal dose of medication. The patient then decides when to take it and where. No one feeds the medication to him or her, or injects him or her with a fatal dose.

In other words, you may rest easy knowing that the patient still pulls the trigger.
poet4ju... to concerned2 May 28, 2009 04:15:27 (edited)

then why the doctor when there is so many other option just because the doctor has authority over one heath doesnt mean he is the only option

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