If a person feels that their quality of life is not worth continuing should they be forced to live?

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I Desire Peace and Justice, Jim Scott (Mod-Ret.)

In Certain countries and the state of Oregon No

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

The trick is many folks that feel that way cannot afford the travel or the service.

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I Desire Peace and Justice, Jim Scott (Mod-Ret.)

I would say no BUT they should go before a panel of 7 to 10 doctors before their life can be taken. The panel should consist of psychologists, psychiatrists, experts in pain control and experts in degenerative conditions. The function of the panel would not be to change the mind of the person but would be to ensure that no other options are available to the person. If no options can be found, then the person would be allowed to take their life.

I see no reason why a person should be force to live with pain that can't be controlled and makes life not worth living.

An additional note, I knew a man who's wife had uncontrollable back pain. Over time she talked him into taking a trip without her then she put her plan into action. She had saved up a bunch of pain pills and took them all at once. When she started feeling them take effect, she unloaded a gun into the Femoral artery in her leg. Death was quick, and this would have happened one way or another. Wouldn't it be better for the husband to have time to say goodbye and to have another group of doctors take a final look?

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When the pain gets to a certain level you no longer are capable of rational thought.

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Ya Know...I'm sure glad I've got a serious addiction to Oxygen. 8-]

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I Desire Peace and Justice, Jim Scott (Mod-Ret.)

I would say no BUT they should go before a panel of 7 to 10 doctors before their life can be taken. The panel should consist of psychologists, psychiatrists, experts in pain control and experts in degenerative conditions. The function of the panel would not be to change the mind of the person but would be to ensure that no other options are available to the person. If no options can be found, then the person would be allowed to take their life.

I sincerely hope that - at a time of MY choosing - I have a doctor with the compassion to simply turn off the limiter on my med dispenser and walk out of the room.

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Join the PACK!

I would also recommend the DNR (do not resuscitate) request for your elderly parents or grand parents. Many do want extreme measures at the end of life and wind up living unconscious on a ventilator for weeks or months before they succumb to their illnesses. My grandfather discussed this with my mother and did not want any heroic measures. He only wanted to be comfortable as he passed. I am certain I will also have this talk with my aging parents eventually

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope