So, some of you know that I spent last weekend at a "colloque de bioéthique". I had been very excited to go, getting ready to discuss cloning, messing with DNA, and who knows what else, and see varied points of view with different argumentations, so I could build my own opinion !
That is not what happened.
Instead, it was a bunch of very conservative religious people talking about how contraception is wrong, and abortion is wrong, and marriage equality is wrong, and no discussion at all. It was plainly about explaining the traditional christian view and bashing all the rest. So, for most topics I wasn't listening to what they were saying, but paying attention to how they were saying it and how they did it so anyone who didn't have a strong opposing opinion on the subject would agree with them (it was by not giving them time to think and announcing everything as truths - that should remind a few of you of something !). However, before I figured that out, I went to a seminar about euthanasia, which I haven't ever really questioned. So, since I hadn't figured out the way they supported their ideas, I started to wonder if what they were saying, that euthanasia, really, was always bad and a cry for help was true.
Here are some arguments :
1. People who ask to be euthanised only end up going through the procedure in 0.1% of the cases
2. You can't know for sure the person is going to die soon
3. The person could feel like a burden and ask for euthanasia for that reason, whereas death is not really wanted, unlike the support of families/friends
And these arguments are getting weaker and weaker, and anyways I was too busy fighting getting brainwashed to really try to understand any of them. On the other hand, I asked a friend of mine what he thought about it. His answer :
"We do not choose to live, so we should be allowed to choose to die" (but he had really shortened it so this is a very quick sum-up that does not really show the depth of the thought).
My opinion, for now, is still completely undecided. But what do you think ? (also please don't start being too bothered by all these questions, my goal was not to depress you)
Judith
PS : I don't think asking for euthanasia because we have too much work is an option, so we'll all have to just get through it
To me euthanasia is a good thing. Some old people are so old that their children must take care of them like, well.. like children. I think they still love their parents and everything but it must feel very weird. Personally, I want to die before becoming unable to do things.
ReplyDelete+1 (very constructive comment)
Delete++1 (another very constructive comment)
DeleteI agree with you. I think we should be allowed to decide when we want to die. And if a person if very old or/and very sick and is suffering a lot, it is (to me) unhuman to keep this person alive, in agony, if her/his will is to die. I think that we should have the entire right to decide if we want to live or not and if we are not able to do it ourselves and it is our will, I think it should be our right to get help by the doctors for instance. Like an assisted suicide. I see euthanasia as a way to liberate people and free them for the pain. I think it can bring back dignity to people who are dying and suffering. Personally, if I am very old/sick, suffering and not considered as a human anymore (not like a burden, but if I cannot do anything, to me, it’s not a life), I’d rather like to die softly than live in agony. Life would then maybe be seen as a burden. I think it’s more natural to let them go if it is their will than to obstinately want to keep them alive. I think we should listen to the patient’s will, as he/she should be the only one who can decide for his life/death. I can understand that if a person is suffering, feeling like a burden, useless and dependent from everyone else (doctors, family...), she/he wants to end this and I think it should be allowed.
DeleteIt's very messy, I hope it's understandable. :) I don't know if you have heard of this movie but in "Hippocrate", which is about a young doctor who discovers this job, there is an old woman who is extremely sick and the question on euthanasia is very important :)
For me too, it is a very difficult question and I cannot give you a definite answer because I know that not everyone will agree with me but I think that I would hate to be a liability for my children. If I were sick, I would not want my children to remember me as a burden. For my family, it is also very normal and my mum already told me that she wanted to die if she wasn't able to take care of herself and I agree with her on that.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a very important subject and you should of course consider it because it is still controversial in many countries. :)
I agree with like everyone here. I think that at some point you don't really need to stay in a bed, suffering and doing nothing, just waiting for death. Sometimes it's just better to make it faster !
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with the fact that you want to choose when you die, but I think this is more complex than that, there is a thousand different situations when the dying person isn't completely clear, taking medicines for example, or if you just have been told that you were going to die and you're depressed, it may be complicated to say if you want to be euthanasied or not. I would say thet your abillity to think have to be complete.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Hard question to answer!
I totally agree with your friend, if you want to die (only you really want to) you should be able to die. Bacause most of the time sick people are suffering terriblely and at that point life is not a good thing anymore. You should rather die and rest in piece than feeling stuck on earth. This was a deep and relevant article!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very hard question but I think I agree with your friend. In a sense dying is almost a right but at the same time there are so many different situations that could lead to a person wanting this. I feel like it should be authorised but a check up with a doctor and a therapist should be made in order to make sure that it is actually the person's choice and that they are not under any kind of influence or medicine. Because I feel like if someone wants to go they will find a way so it would maybe be better to actually get them to see a dotor, give them the option and having them really thinking it through.
ReplyDelete