LogFAQs > #980017065

Billyionaire posted...

My response to this would be: life has always sucked. People have lived in much, much worse conditions than we have across the many centuries of human civilization. And, while death probably would have been an appealing option in those times too, most people would rather have lived than died.

I'm not saying this woman in her own personal circumstance is wrong for choosing to die, but to act like the quality of life in these times is so appalling that death is beginning to seem more appealing as each day passes is... well it's just irresponsible to suggest that to anyone who may be having mental issues.

We need to be really careful with our assumptions on how all this works. No ethical medical professional is ever going to suggest "death" to someone. Even doctors who deal primarily with patients who are going to die (Cancer, for example) don't ever suggest to a patient that they should make that choice. They talk about end of life care and stuff like that.

It is the patient who is asking those questions and looking for what options they have. My wife never met a medical practitioner (and she saw I would ballpark it around 70 or so different doctors in her lifetime) who EVER broached that subject. She did the research on the MAID program here in Canada, she looked up how to follow through on it, and took the steps as the law required.

I can only speak for the program here in Canada, but you have to wait 3 months from the start of the process before you can get the procedure done. It's not as if in a moment of desperation you just walk to a doctor and get to pass away. You need to go through quite a rigorous process and prove that you have done everything possible to be treated for what is going on and multiple doctors need to agree that you have done that as well as the fact your condition is to a point that it would be cruel and unusual to continue to decline.

I know that we are terrified of our loved ones dying. As much as I supported my wife through her decision and got her to her finish line of her life, it made me incredibly sad and hurt me dearly. But who is ANYONE on this planet to try and force them to live through whatever it is that is putting them in the position where medically assisted suicide is what they truly want?