If medically assisted suicide was available for reliably suicidal people, how would the world change?

[Asiam]

For instance, people who are paid peanuts and work labor intensive jobs would most likely often kill themselves, potentially driving the wage up for these jobs. Just one thought. Reliably, meaning that they have reason to be suicidal and it's not a periodic "reaction", like being in the midst of a panic attack or failing a school test.

 

[beingfree]

For the much much better. Also old people who've had enough of life and their carers, and very ill people.

Not all low paid workers are suicidal. There are people with fervent love for life who wish to keep living despite any circumstances.

 

[Asiam]

For the much much better. Also old people who've had enough of life and their carers, and very ill people.

Not all low paid workers are suicidal. There are people with fervent love for life who wish to keep living despite any circumstances.

When I wrote that, I had in mind the agricultural foreign workers in Canada that are held as slaves with their passports taken away. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Places like that may not exist

 

[jodes2]

There would be fewer suicidal people about

 

[beingfree]

I really REALLY hope that humane suicide will be available soon. Give me the f'n Nembutal, I'll drink it myself, cremate my body, spill my ashes, I'll pay. Done and gone, let whoever is happy be happy, let whoever is not be free.

 

[Superdeterminist]

There should be less suffering in the world, and I don't think there is anything more valuable than reducing suffering.

Those people who claim to suffer but rationalise their pain as being "worthwhile", "no big deal", or even "a good thing", are they really suffering? They don't seem to take their own suffering seriously so why should I? At least, they are certainly not experiencing the same level of pain that someone considering death is.

 

[Meaninglessness]

Human euthanasia will be introduced worldwide in the (distant) future - it is only a matter of time (but I believe that it will take many years). The development is going in that direction - the suicide clinics have increased the latest years. The greatest injustice in the society of today is the absense of human euthanasia and therefore people are suffering. There are people afflicted with ailments for decades and there are patients who are terminally ill for years. There are homeless people and others who are suffering from all sorts of causes. Humans are treated worse than our pets. More people should question this injustice. The politicians shouldn´t have power over volontary euthanasia - they have neither knowledge of it nor interest in it. The state has too much power over the inhabitants of the country. It is my death and my choice. I should have the right to decide over my own life and death. When euthanasia will be introduced; there will be no need for neither unreliable suicide methods nor suicide discussions on the Internet, and hopefully, there will be no more meaningless human suffering.

 

[Scythe]

It might help solve over population, politicians seem to forget it's a legit issue sometimes or at least seem to be ignoring it. Should at least do something about over population in japan majot cities. Other than that, maybe suicide won't be such a taboo topic anymore and maybe it'll be more acceptable.

 

[FuneralCry]

It would mean that there is far less pain, suffering and torment being experienced in this world which to me would be such a wonderful thing. So many endless problems will be prevented and existing would be viewed as a choice rather than something that must be prolonged at all costs and to me that would certainly be for the best. Suicide would no longer be viewed as this stigmatised, taboo subject that is something so shocking, instead it would just be accepted as a part of life just like how animals get euthanised.

People wouldn't have to struggle so much in finding ways to leave, they would exist knowing that the option of a peaceful suicide is there for them and this is the way that the world should be. There is no value in trying to force people to stay here against their wishes and to make suicide as difficult as possible for them. Suicide should be accepted as a rational and acceptable choice as the reality is that there is nothing wrong with leaving behind a life that we never asked for at a time of our own choosing. I find it absolutely horrific how we are denied a peaceful and reliable way to free ourselves from the burden that is existence.

 

[cowie]

Many industrialized countries will age quickly in the coming decades, with larger and larger populations above 65. As insensitive as this may sound, giving suicidal people or seriously ill people the option of a safely administered suicide would cut down on health care costs significantly in the long run. I think it would be very silly to keep someone alive who does not want to live.

 

[Someone123]

One change would be that people who want to murder someone would intimidate them into committing suicide legally, possibly by threatening their families or by other means. This is one of the biggest reasons this just won't happen- I wish there was a practial way to do this, but people abuse everything, and this would be abused to kill people who don't want to die.

 

[BipolarExpress]

One change would be that people who want to murder someone would intimidate them into committing suicide legally, possibly by threatening their families or by other means. This is one of the biggest reasons this just won't happen- I wish there was a practial way to do this, but people abuse everything, and this would be abused to kill people who don't want to die.

Don't forget greedy heirs who want to bump off their parents or other relatives so they can get their money.

Many industrialized countries will age quickly in the coming decades, with larger and larger populations above 65. As insensitive as this may sound, giving suicidal people or seriously ill people the option of a safely administered suicide would cut down on health care costs significantly in the long run. I think it would be very silly to keep someone alive who does not want to live.

I agree that they should have the option to go, but I worry that some people may be pressured into using assisted suicide because they worry about being a burden or costing the health system too much, not because they actually want to die owing to suffering. It's a fine point in bioethics, but one worth considering.

 

[cowie]

I agree, BipolarExpress, I don't want people to feel pressured and I could easily see that becoming a problem. However, there's lots of people on this site and I'm sure in other places looking for a safe assisted suicide without any pressure from a provider. It's a tough needle to thread. Maybe we could forbid doctors from suggesting it as an option unless the patient mentions it first. Maybe it's just unworkable, though.

 

[Enemy of Evolution]

Human euthanasia will be introduced worldwide in the (distant) future - it is only a matter of time (but I believe that it will take many years). The development is going in that direction - the suicide clinics have increased the latest years. The greatest injustice in the society of today is the absense of human euthanasia and therefore people are suffering. There are people afflicted with ailments for decades and there are patients who are terminally ill for years. There are homeless people and others who are suffering from all sorts of causes. Humans are treated worse than our pets. More people should question this injustice. The politicians shouldn´t have power over volontary euthanasia - they have neither knowledge of it nor interest in it. The state has too much power over the inhabitants of the country. It is my death and my choice. I should have the right to decide over my own life and death. When euthanasia will be introduced; there will be no need for neither unreliable suicide methods nor suicide discussions on the Internet, and hopefully, there will be no more meaningless human suffering.

I second that. Very well said.
Let there be true right to choose.

 

[CrappyMJ]

I do not think it would change things alot, if you are suicidal enough you will do so legal or not, sucks that most current methods are painful but still

 

[GlassAlwaysEmpty]

It's a documentary about young women from Belgium who was allowed to have assisted suicide from the state because of her mental suffering.

It's very sad but could relate so much to her story.