Got in trouble once a long time ago at the ER after bring a suicidal person in who was really just trying to get attention. She had done this several times. I told the nurse they should make a booklet on how to cut their wrist int he proper fashion. She was not amused and I got an ass chewing after she told my Sgt at the time.
Pat
Meh.
I think someone can commit suicide for attention though just to spite people. My grandpa on my dad’s side did it after my grandma died, and felt like people weren’t paying him enough attention. He was an ass, and shit on everyone anytime he could. Us grandkids, my mom, aunt, uncle, ect.
No great loss in his taking his own life.
I do respect people who try to talk people out of it like bridge jumpers. If they can be talked down, and get help then great. If they jump…go about your business and don’t feel like you failed them.
The medical assisted suicide is a difficult topic, and I don’t think a person should be made to suffer a hard death just because but not an otherwise healthy person. Or at least not make it a medical thing where a doc can get in trouble for NOT assisting. So unless I’m missing something simply being blind is not a medical reason. If that’s all it is then that is just the top layer of that onion, and they’re really doing it for other reasons.
I am with Pat on this. Want to kill yourself, go for it. Doesnt sound like the doctor or medical system initiated the suicide, but rather the guys in question. I’m ok with that.
That’s kind of unusual, at least in my neck of the woods, because when I worked as a RN most of the staff had a pretty dark sense of humor and patient handouts like “Suicide: Getting It Right the First Time” were a running gag.
She was a traveling nurse and your right most do have a good dark sense of humor but this one did not. I think she was from the east coast but I can’t remember.
Pat
I wish more people held this sentiment.
There is a bit of a chill in this thread…:sad:
The first to mention this. They were not terminal or in pain and only 45 years old.
I wonder if those Belgian physicians remember this . . .
Hippocratic Oath
I do solemnly vow, to that which I value and hold most dear:
That I will honor the Profession of Medicine, be just and generous to its members, and help sustain them in their service to humanity;
That just as I have learned from those who preceded me, so will I instruct those who follow me in the science and the art of medicine;
That I will recognize the limits of my knowledge and pursue lifelong learning to better care for the sick and to prevent illness;
That I will seek the counsel of others when they are more expert so as to fulfill my obligation to those who are entrusted to my care;
That I will not withdraw from my patients in their time of need;
That I will lead my life and practice my art with integrity and honor, using my power wisely;
That whatsoever I shall see or hear of the lives of my patients that is not fitting tobe spoken, I will keep in confidence;
That into whatever house I shall enter, it shall be for the good of the sick;
That I will maintain this sacred trust, holding myself far aloof from wrong, from
corrupting, from the tempting of others to vice;That above all else I will serve the highest interests of my patients through thepractice of my science and my art;
That I will be an advocate for patients in need and strive for justice in the care of the sick.
I now turn to my calling, promising to preserve its finest traditions, with the reward of a long experience in the joy of healing.
I make this vow freely and upon my honor.
When we have a beloved pet that is suffering the “humane” thing to do is put them down without causing them any discomfort or pain. People on the other hand we keep them hooked up to all sorts of apparatuses and medications coursing through their veins to prolong their suffering. So which one is really humane?
I’m totally with you on that one.
I’ve seen people I know parade suicide more than once as a means to get attention. In my opinion, most people who want to commit suicide won’t tell anybody.
I’m not sure anybody has the right to deny anybody else suicide.
Actually, the person I mentioned earlier. She didn’t tell anybody she was going to attempt suicide, my mom just kind of walked in on it.
I agree as far as legality, but I’m concerned on 2 other fronts:
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Slippery slope - once it’s OK for state-sanctioned euthanasia, could this lead to state-mandated euthanasia?
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There is just enough Roman Catholic left in me to wonder if killing oneself is not the only mortal sin you can commit with NO possibility of confession / forgiveness. Purely an internal argument, but…
Provided that the patient is of sound mind, I’m cool with physician-assisted suicide where the MD only helps the patient administer their own “treatment.” An example is where a MD sets up a mask with carbon monoxide, the patient puts in on, and begins to inhale under their own free will.
Physician directed active euthanasia is whole different ball game. This is where the MD determines that someone is suffering, and ends their life for presumably humanitarian reasons. The physician is the judge and executioner in this sitauation.
I support assisted suicide. For country that so strongly stands for freedom (or did) its sad we do not have this right in our country.
Massachusetts had this on their last ballot, it lost by about 1%. Of everything on that ballot it was the one thing I hoped would pass the most.
Hippocratic Oath. Thats why Doctors can not assist in suicide.
I think most of you are looking past the fact that you dont need help commiting suicide…unless of course you arent too committed.
This will be the ObamaKare Kure for most everything that ails you… only you’ll be REQUIRED to do it… :o
I agree to some extent, Yes in larger context suicide should simply be legal.
But two things,
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Some bed ridden cancer patients and other terminally ill patients are too weak and immobile to commit suicide. They need assistance.
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To clinically commit suicide is a much cleaner affair and done in a setting better equipped to deal with it. It can also be done with less pain and more effectively.
Yes many people are just crying for attention and are not actually trying. But I do think some people are so inept they couldn’t kill them selves if they tried.
I was on a train a few months ago, it got held up because some inconsiderate asshole decided to step in front of the train ahead of us. I got to sit in a train for an extra three hours while they wiped him off the tracks. To say the least it was a mess, and screwed up a whole east coast major train route for the rest of the day, if not longer. It also cost tax payers as they had to pay for all the first police/fire rescue and / emts that were called out. Had it been done in a hospital many less peoples lives would have been effected.
One of my things on suicide is IMO the number one problem we face in the world, and the one that causes the most other problems, is over population. So to me if some one wants to kill them selves they are contributing to the greater good. Also I feel as though if some one is a mental or physical state where they feel compelled to kill themselves I doubt they are able to contribute much to society, if anything they are probably a burden.
Oh I see now…
You’re on the same page as Bill Gates. It makes sense now.
First its the “hey if they’re going to committ suicide, great we’re over populated anyway”. Then the next step is “well he’s 75 years old, he doesnt need that valve replacement. Let him die, we’re over populated anyway you know”. Then the final straw is, “well his IQ and appearence arent what we consider acceptable, so put little jimmy to sleep”.
Somebody has been watching too much TedTv.
(p.s. your b.s. arguement about costing tax payers more money is ridiculous. I get paid the same amout no matter what Im called to, be it a fraud, murder, suicide, or robbery. Although since we now have govt. run healthcare, it will cost us more money to have grandpappy put down by the doc. Guess you’ll have to take him out back like ol’yeller)
Good for them! Hopefully they found the peace that they were searching for.
I would be with you on this one if it was a doctor/system/government initiated decision. In the instance detailed 2 men of sound mind decided it was time to go. The brief description of the law makes it sound like the only people that can initiate the death cycle are patients of sound mind. They are looking at allowing parents AND doctors to make the decision for those incapable of doing so.
Now if someone tries to morph this into a doctor or government initiated system of death then you have problems.
Sir:
I’d maintain that much of that oath is symbolic and some of it is very, shall we say, “negotiable.” In fact, the house of medicine has treated the Oath much like Congress treats the Constituation - a living document that must change with the times. For example, most medical schools omit at least one key phrase. Here it is in its entirety. I’ve bolded the phrases that my medical school ommited when I took the oath at the beginning of my first year of med school and at graduation.
[b]I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him;
To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher’s sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.[/b]
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.
So, you can see that medicine is more than happy to forget the portions that mention polytheism, prohibit abortion, or acknowledge slavery. FWIW, I’ve renounced this oath as a load of bullshit. Fortunately, my state medical board does not require doctors to take the oath to maintain a license.
And then we have this . . .
. . . I was waiting for someone to bring this up as this is where this road will take us.