I recently read an article about euthanasia that caused me to delve even deeper into this topic to more fully understand it. I wanted to do this in order to be able to think critically and objectively about it instead of being emotional and biased. Those of you that know me, know that I tend to be pretty emotional and think with my heart about most things. So when someone talks about actively or passively killing someone in the name of medicine....just tugs at my heartstrings. I immediately think that's not okay. But reading the literature about it and hearing all these stories about people who chose to have a physician-assisted suicide really changed my stance on it. It still breaks my heart to hear about people wanting to die, but I've realized that's not my place to tell them what's worth living and fighting for and what isn't.
Before reading the literature, I didn't know what the stipulations or prerequisites there were for people who wanted to receive physician-assisted suicide. They probably are suffering from a chronic, degenerative illness and will most likely die anyway. They will also go through an in-depth analysis of their soundness of mind and to make 100% sure that's what the person wants. One story I read about was a lady who's husband and friends had all died, and she didn't have any children, and simply did not want to live any longer. After a few months of discussing it with her doctor, he agreed to go through with the assisted suicide. Personally, I think she should have tried harder to want to live or have found something or someone that would make her happy again. But again, that's not my place to decide what someone else's quality of life is.
Then again, if someone I know comes to me and tells me they want to me to help them kill themselves... I'll probably say Hell No. Though, if someone wants to die badly enough, they'll do it. They'll find a way, with or without your help. Might as well respect their right to self-determination.
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