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So if a friend or someone dear to you is really sick and suffering from some incurable illness (

And they feel awful cause their family is spending lots of money on them, and they're really dependent on others... Even for simple tasks..

And asks you to turn off the machine that's keeping them alive or help them (a form of assisted suicide... Or more accurately euthanasia) would you?

If I see they can't improve and they ask me that I'd help them.

Was playing that game "life is strange" and there you face that decision, pretty great game
Fairydust · F
That s a difficult one, I don’t think I could, it would eat away at me. 😞
Fairydust · F
@SW-User she had a stroke, her body couldn’t move but she’d understand everything that was going on. As it doesn’t affect the brain.
They didn’t give her a chance to recover. The Liverpool
Pathway is worse than euthanasia I meant. I didn’t agree with it. Would have been kinder to put her to sleep.
SW-User
@Fairydust I see, yeah that seems very dehumanizing 😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞
Fairydust · F
@SW-User
It was hard to watch my cousin, she was like my sister, we grew up together, the ones making the decisions weren’t close to her, I did try for her and spoke up. 😞
HannibalAteMeOut · 22-25, F
That's a tough one, because I would want to do a mental assessment first, since many in that situation would not be in the right place mentally to make such a decision... but of course many would argue how do you not expect somebody like that to not be depressed as well or suffer from some other mental illness?
On one hand it's good to think that when you can have nothing else in life, you can at least be given the right to choose your own death, when, where, how, whom you want around. It's an honourable and dignified thing.
On the other hand we could say that there is nothing worse than death and it can never be a "good death" (=euthanasia) under any circumstances.
I've learned palliative care, so I think I would go with that, just doing anything I could so that there would be no pain. I'd ask the person how do they want to be when the time comes before their death. Most likely they'd rather be at home with their loved ones. I'd try to help them achieve that. Chances also are that if somebody comes to that, there is not too much time left for them anyway. So I'd take up all the measures needed, sometimes that means that the person is prescribed many medications for the pain and this causes them to sleep a lot while it can also lead up to apnea. But this is in no way considered assisted suicide or even active euthanasia. It's a natural death.
Some years ago, I'd answer the same thing as you, and maybe my opinion will change over the years again, but for now I'd go with other options like I described.
SW-User
@HannibalAteMeOut thank you for your reply, yeah it's a really tough one
easterniowegin · 51-55, M
Unless this is a decision they make when they are lucid and not under duress, it can be too much of an escape when it shouldn't be.
Too many weak-minded ppl will look for an easy way out of a difficult situation. Where do you draw a line?
Must it be a life-threatening? Could it just be a reduction in quality of life? Could it just be inconvenient?

Think of Lt Dan in Forrest Gump movie. He wanted to end his life several times, but ultimately thanked him, w peace in his mind/heart, for saving his life.
SW-User
@easterniowegin if they're ok and lucid they don't know the pain so doesn't seem like a good reason, I honestly don't think it's about being weak-minded, until you don't live that yourself don't judge people in those tough situations.

And reality isn't always like movies......
easterniowegin · 51-55, M
@SW-User I'm not necessarily saying the situation is "like the movies" but I'm saying that such significant decisions should never be made under duress.
Even the most painful situations aren't usually as bad as they seem in the moment.
After talking about it for a while until I'm convinced this is what they really want, verifying everything is in place to make it as comfortable as possible for them, and assuming I won't risk any criminal charges for it, absolutely! It would even be an honor they want me to be the one to do it.
SW-User
@NerdyPotato true about everything, but the family that is keeping them alive likely wouldn't understand... And would think you killed that person.
@SW-User So be it... I'd be happy to explains once or twice. And if they still don't understand, that's not my problem.
Magenta · F
I would never do an assisted suicide. But I don't believe in being hooked up to machines to stay alive, as that is not living anyway.

I have helped take care of my mother and several other 'end of life' ladies. They all chose to stay home until the end. That was hard as well, but at least it was natural.
SW-User
@Magenta that was I'd love and hope I don't need to stay at any pony connected to a machine or an hospital.. But human health is so fragile that sometimes to save you, like in an emergency you need those..
Anyway if I was conscious and without hope and in that situation I'd ask someone that but honestly I doubt anyone would do it.
Magenta · F
@SW-User I hope you never have to be faced with it. 🤗
Longpatrol · 31-35, M
I would. Rather than suffer with no hope of the pain going away, if they asked I would help them move on.

I wish that had been an option for my mom. I knew her for 7 years and for more than half that she was in terrible pain.
SW-User
@Longpatrol definitely if that's their will... And yeah but in your case your mom would have wanted that?
Longpatrol · 31-35, M
I believe she would have, but I was very young I can't say for sure@SW-User
SW-User
@Longpatrol I see. I think that seeing my daughter would be the only reason for me to keep enduring something like that, at least with my presence... 😐As long as I'm not bothering and she liked me being with her
SW-User
If that person was me, I would want to be euthanised.
If that was my pet I would have the mercy to set them free.
I do not understand why this mercy is not extended to humans.
SW-User
@SW-User and it it was your beloved friend or some family member would you help them?

Yes I feel one should be able to choose.... 😐
SW-User
@SW-User mercy sounds correct exactly yeah.
SW-User
@SW-User I would. Yes. I see it as mercy.
Ontheroad · M
Yes, and I would want the same for myself. I in fact have just that deal with my ex. She is my POA for Healthcare, is named in my Living Will and Advanced Directives. We have discussed the whole end of life, pull the plug scenario and have each other's backs 100%.
SW-User
@Ontheroad that's good
SW-User
I couldn't do it
SW-User
SW-User
@SW-User why not? I wanna know your thoughts
SW-User
@SW-User
I know for sure I wouldn't have the heart to do it. Besides, I believe in hope.
SW-User
I would, without question.
I would also expect the same in return
SW-User
@SW-User yeah for me in that case is totally valid, but not in other cases, where there's still hope, I wouldn't want in the first place to be kept alive like that, so for me that wouldn't mean anything else but a natural death
*popcorn* i aint touchin the euthanasia Q on SW but ill watch

 
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