What do you think?

andrea · 05-30-2007, 10:55 AM

Americans split over right to die
By DAVID CRARY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK -- More than two-thirds of Americans believe there are circumstances in which a patient should be allowed to die, but they are closely divided on whether it should be legal for a doctor to help terminally ill patients end their own lives by prescribing fatal drugs, a new AP-Ipsos poll finds.

The results were released Tuesday, just days before Dr. Jack Kevorkian is to be freed from a Michigan prison after serving more than eight years for second-degree murder in the poisoning of a man with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Kevorkian's defiant assisted suicide campaign, which he waged for years before his conviction, fueled nationwide debate about patients' right to die and the role that physicians should play.

Though demonized by his critics as a callous killer, Kevorkian - who is to be released Friday - maintains relatively strong public support. The AP-Ipsos poll found that 53 percent of those surveyed thought he should not have been jailed; 40 percent supported his imprisonment. The results were similar to an ABC News poll in 1999 that found 55 percent disagreeing with his conviction.

The new AP-Ipsos poll asked whether it should be legal for doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives - a practice currently allowed in Oregon but in no other states. Forty-eight percent said it should be legal; 44 percent said it should be illegal.

More broadly, 68 percent said there are circumstances when a patient should be allowed to die, while 30 percent said doctors and nurses, in all circumstances, should do everything possible to save the life of a patient.

Southerners and Midwesterners are most likely to oppose assisted suicide. The poll found that 59 percent of Northeasterners feel the practice should be legal, compared with 52 percent in the West, 45 percent in the Midwest, and 43 percent in the South.

Razz · 05-30-2007, 12:40 PM

It is a very very fine line. I feel that any one in the health field should be doing all that is possible to maintain and promote the healthest and happiest life possible. But when it gets to the point that a person is counting down the days then it should be up to the the individual wheather they wish to keep going or not.

We are all going to die sometime anyway. So where is the line drawn? How could we know if this is the right thing or not? Miracles do happen, people pull out of situations where everything is stacked against them. But if the plug is pulled there IS no way to pull out.

Isn't suicide illegal? And isn't this suicide?

Am I for or against? Like nearly everything I'm on a fence post. I am empathtic towards those who feel it is time for them to go and wish to take that step. But also...what if a doctor was wrong? Or what if there was a misunderstanding? What if there is a screw up? I can see it causing masive problems.

So, I don't know! heh

Craig, Priest of the Temples of Syrinx · 05-30-2007, 01:08 PM

Why is suicide illegal? If someone wants to end their own life - why should I care? And, more importantly, why should the government say it is or isn't right?

Mikael · 05-30-2007, 03:06 PM

I don't think people should be forced to live if they're in constant pain and misery. They shouldn't have to count the days knowing the end is near.
But, Jack shouldn't have assisted someone's suicide like he did on 60 Minutes years ago-it kind of takes the dignity out of it.

andrea · 05-30-2007, 03:20 PM

Working with Hospice, I have a true understanding of what "terminal diagnosis" means. I do have very strong opinions on the matter, but because of my job I cannot share them in a public forum.

I can say I stand by the Hospice Philosophy which states that everyone is entitled to to make their final journey as pain free as possible and with dignity. Personally, I think it is up to the patient to define "dignity".

Mikael · 05-30-2007, 03:40 PM

This is a really good topic.

Razz · 05-30-2007, 03:46 PM

Craig, I want to say that I heard that suicide is illegal. Which is kinda silly, because if you actually 'succeed'....ya know?

Craig, Priest of the Temples of Syrinx · 05-31-2007, 07:48 AM

No, it's true. I just don't think it should be illegal. As long as no one else is harmed. Jumping off a tall building where the "suicidee" might land on an innocent bystander should be illegal.
A doctor assisting a suffering, terminally ill patient with a dignified death, IMO, should not be illegal. It ends the suffering, and saves money.

wilthrill · 06-01-2007, 09:04 AM

Good points all.

I agree with the concerns listed by Razz as well as two others (Clockwork if you're still out there you KNEW I would have "concerns")

1. What about pressure from others? Will the choice to die actually be voluntary or will the "suicidee" be succumbing to pressure from family, friends and society?

"Come one dad, if you live for 5 more years that is going to cost $2,500,000 and totally deplete your estate. What will your family have left?"

Of course this is dispicable but those kind of arguments would occur all to often. We might even get to the point where wanting to live is considered "selfish".

2. Perhaps I'm being simplistic but I like it when my DOCTOR'S goal is SIMPLE. Namely, first do no harm and then do everything reasonably possible to save me. Yes, that brain surgery may cost a shitload of money but when it's my life on the line I want a DOCTOR not an ACCOUNTANT!!!

Maybe that's "selfish" of me but that's how I feel.

andrea · 06-01-2007, 11:59 AM

Well this is how Oregon does it:

Under the law, a capable adult Oregon resident who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness by a physician may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, one of whom cannot be related to the patient, be entitled to any portion of the patient's estate, be the patient's physician, or be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to not suffer from a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time.

The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statute restrictions. Participation by physicians is voluntary. The law also specifies a patient's decision to end his or her life shall not "have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy."

05-30-2007, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
andrea Fawkin' Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Age: 28 Posts: 96 Rep Power: 0	What do you think? Americans split over right to die By DAVID CRARY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK -- More than two-thirds of Americans believe there are circumstances in which a patient should be allowed to die, but they are closely divided on whether it should be legal for a doctor to help terminally ill patients end their own lives by prescribing fatal drugs, a new AP-Ipsos poll finds. The results were released Tuesday, just days before Dr. Jack Kevorkian is to be freed from a Michigan prison after serving more than eight years for second-degree murder in the poisoning of a man with Lou Gehrig's disease. Kevorkian's defiant assisted suicide campaign, which he waged for years before his conviction, fueled nationwide debate about patients' right to die and the role that physicians should play. Though demonized by his critics as a callous killer, Kevorkian - who is to be released Friday - maintains relatively strong public support. The AP-Ipsos poll found that 53 percent of those surveyed thought he should not have been jailed; 40 percent supported his imprisonment. The results were similar to an ABC News poll in 1999 that found 55 percent disagreeing with his conviction. The new AP-Ipsos poll asked whether it should be legal for doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to help terminally ill patients end their own lives - a practice currently allowed in Oregon but in no other states. Forty-eight percent said it should be legal; 44 percent said it should be illegal. More broadly, 68 percent said there are circumstances when a patient should be allowed to die, while 30 percent said doctors and nurses, in all circumstances, should do everything possible to save the life of a patient. Southerners and Midwesterners are most likely to oppose assisted suicide. The poll found that 59 percent of Northeasterners feel the practice should be legal, compared with 52 percent in the West, 45 percent in the Midwest, and 43 percent in the South. __________________ yodeladyoohoo! http://www.myspace.com/lovelydayfor

05-30-2007, 03:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mikael Band Member Band Whore Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Down In a Hole Posts: 905 Rep Power: 43	I don't think people should be forced to live if they're in constant pain and misery. They shouldn't have to count the days knowing the end is near. But, Jack shouldn't have assisted someone's suicide like he did on 60 Minutes years ago-it kind of takes the dignity out of it. __________________ I just saved a ton of money on car insurance by switching to no car insurance!!! www.myspace.com/13468360

05-30-2007, 03:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
andrea Fawkin' Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Age: 28 Posts: 96 Rep Power: 0	Working with Hospice, I have a true understanding of what "terminal diagnosis" means. I do have very strong opinions on the matter, but because of my job I cannot share them in a public forum. I can say I stand by the Hospice Philosophy which states that everyone is entitled to to make their final journey as pain free as possible and with dignity. Personally, I think it is up to the patient to define "dignity". __________________ yodeladyoohoo! http://www.myspace.com/lovelydayfor

05-30-2007, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mikael Band Member Band Whore Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Down In a Hole Posts: 905 Rep Power: 43	This is a really good topic. __________________ I just saved a ton of money on car insurance by switching to no car insurance!!! www.myspace.com/13468360

06-01-2007, 11:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
andrea Fawkin' Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Age: 28 Posts: 96 Rep Power: 0	Well this is how Oregon does it: Under the law, a capable adult Oregon resident who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness by a physician may request in writing, from his or her physician, a prescription for a lethal dose of medication for the purpose of ending the patient's life. The request must be confirmed by two witnesses, one of whom cannot be related to the patient, be entitled to any portion of the patient's estate, be the patient's physician, or be employed by a health care facility caring for the patient. After the request is made, another physician must examine the patient's medical records and confirm the diagnosis. The patient must be determined to not suffer from a mental condition impairing judgment. If the request is authorized, the patient must wait at least fifteen days and make a second oral request before the prescription may be written. The patient has a right to rescind the request at any time. The law protects doctors from liability for providing a lethal prescription for a terminally ill, competent adult in compliance with the statute restrictions. Participation by physicians is voluntary. The law also specifies a patient's decision to end his or her life shall not "have an effect upon a life, health, or accident insurance or annuity policy." __________________ yodeladyoohoo! http://www.myspace.com/lovelydayfor

05-30-2007, 12:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Razz Productive GCB Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 1,118 Rep Power: 45	It is a very very fine line. I feel that any one in the health field should be doing all that is possible to maintain and promote the healthest and happiest life possible. But when it gets to the point that a person is counting down the days then it should be up to the the individual wheather they wish to keep going or not. We are all going to die sometime anyway. So where is the line drawn? How could we know if this is the right thing or not? Miracles do happen, people pull out of situations where everything is stacked against them. But if the plug is pulled there IS no way to pull out. Isn't suicide illegal? And isn't this suicide? Am I for or against? Like nearly everything I'm on a fence post. I am empathtic towards those who feel it is time for them to go and wish to take that step. But also...what if a doctor was wrong? Or what if there was a misunderstanding? What if there is a screw up? I can see it causing masive problems. So, I don't know! heh

05-30-2007, 01:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Craig, Priest of the Temples of Syrinx Band Member Band Whore Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 734 Rep Power: 44	Why is suicide illegal? If someone wants to end their own life - why should I care? And, more importantly, why should the government say it is or isn't right?

05-30-2007, 03:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Razz Productive GCB Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 1,118 Rep Power: 45	Craig, I want to say that I heard that suicide is illegal. Which is kinda silly, because if you actually 'succeed'....ya know?

05-31-2007, 07:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
Craig, Priest of the Temples of Syrinx Band Member Band Whore Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 734 Rep Power: 44	No, it's true. I just don't think it should be illegal. As long as no one else is harmed. Jumping off a tall building where the "suicidee" might land on an innocent bystander should be illegal. A doctor assisting a suffering, terminally ill patient with a dignified death, IMO, should not be illegal. It ends the suffering, and saves money.

06-01-2007, 09:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
wilthrill Band Whore Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 818 Rep Power: 44	Good points all. I agree with the concerns listed by Razz as well as two others (Clockwork if you're still out there you KNEW I would have "concerns") 1. What about pressure from others? Will the choice to die actually be voluntary or will the "suicidee" be succumbing to pressure from family, friends and society? "Come one dad, if you live for 5 more years that is going to cost $2,500,000 and totally deplete your estate. What will your family have left?" Of course this is dispicable but those kind of arguments would occur all to often. We might even get to the point where wanting to live is considered "selfish". 2. Perhaps I'm being simplistic but I like it when my DOCTOR'S goal is SIMPLE. Namely, first do no harm and then do everything reasonably possible to save me. Yes, that brain surgery may cost a shitload of money but when it's my life on the line I want a DOCTOR not an ACCOUNTANT!!! Maybe that's "selfish" of me but that's how I feel.