State assisted suicide (and not just for the elderly/seriously debilitated)

[Love'sReject]

Once I had a long conversation about this. Some lives just aren't worth living so why not help the person if they express clear indication that they want to be put down? We put down animals that suffer; why not those of a predefined legal age and matching a specific criteria? There's just too many problems and ruined lives and some might be better off dead. I know I would be! But why is living basically MANDATORY? Why not truly be given the choice to live or die? I mean, there ought to be a say in the matter and why not provide quick, painless death? I say it's torture just to force certain suffering souls to keep living!

Now yes, one could kill themselves but imagine something goes wrong. The guillotine at times didn't kill, shots to the head misplaced don't kill.

[vashti]

Speaking professionally, there is a big moral difference between allowing someone to die and actively killing them. If you are thinking the medical community should be used to help depressed people die, I think you'd find not many interested parties. Besides, there is a professional obligation to first do no harm. Physically well people should take responsibility for their own suicides. It's not really that hard.

[Indefinable]

But I think you didn't realize of one detail: most of people who want to die are sick. They could be depressed, for example, and because of that they have a distorted image of reality. Surely, with the appropriate medication they would change their mind, and then they wouldn't want to kill theirselves. Doctors must help patients, not kill them. That's a ridicolous idea!

[basilandthyme]

And who would volunteer to kill people who are simply too depressed to bother living?

While I'm all for assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill and cannot function, I would not support helping someone who's simply depressed.

[Love'sReject]

Speaking professionally, there is a big moral difference between allowing someone to die and actively killing them. If you are thinking the medical community should be used to help depressed people die, I think you'd find not many interested parties. Besides, there is a professional obligation to first do no harm. Physically well people should take responsibility for their own suicides. It's not really that hard.

Oh yeah it is. Suicide can easily go wrong and then society is burdened with more useless people who might be apt to go on killing sprees.

[Love'sReject]

And who would volunteer to kill people who are simply too depressed to bother living?

While I'm all for assisted suicide for those who are terminally ill and cannot function, I would not support helping someone who's simply depressed.

I wasn't talking simple depression (not the kind where people get prescriptions for feeling even slightly down every now and then which gets blown up to "You need happy pills cuz you're depressed"): I was talking irredeemably, too far gone depressed.

[basilandthyme]

I wasn't talking simple depression (not the kind where people get prescriptions for feeling even slightly down every now and then which gets blown up to "You need happy pills cuz you're depressed"): I was talking irredeemably, too far gone depressed.

Sure. But even if they are terribly depressed, I still wouldn't kill them. And I doubt many others would either.

[rob1984]

car. close garage door .

[basilandthyme]

And take an OD while you're in the car just to make sure.

[basilandthyme]

A properly tied noose on a strong beam will do it too. Just kick that chair away.

[Love'sReject]

Imagine trying to hang one's self and the roof collapses..

[rob1984]

no one likes a quitter.. get up and try again., DUH

[Love'sReject]

LOL. The humiliation would be so much one would wish one could die....and can't!

[fearoflove]

I agree with you. But also, I think those who are a liability to society (harmful to others, non-productive people wasting a massive amount of resource) should be killed. Hell, if I become a parasite to society, I want someone to kill me too (if I am unable to do that myself). But I am just too smart, talented, bring too much joy to the world with my looks and personality.

[rob1984]

But I am just too smart, talented, bring too much joy to the world with my looks and personality.

haha then you wake up