Discussion If voluntary euthanasia was legalized, then...

[TAW122]

There would be less people choosing the riskier methods of suicide, traumatizing others or involving others in their attempt (jumping in front of a train, jumping off a tall place/overpass, forcing others to kill them, etc.), and also, less risk of trying methods that may fail (OD'ing, cutting wrists, suffocation, vehicular crash, etc.) as well as less violent deaths (e.g. dying peacefully and methodically in a clinical setting - similar to Dignitas or other euthanasia organizations).

I remember there was a redditor (now presumed dead - he went out via jumping iirc) by the name of xnoneofyourbusinessx who once posted an really great topic on r/SS subreddit. It was about that ugly, riskier methods of suicide, public suicide (as well as those that involve others) are the result of a sick society that doesn't legalize voluntary euthanasia. I agree with him and my two cents on this is that while it is better to not involve others in one's suicide, sometimes it is the inevitable result of a sick society that doesn't allow those that wish to go, to be able to legally and peacefully exit without consequences.

Instead, our sick, twisted society decides that locking up those who don't agree with the status quo, pro-life values, or want to die, and also labels those who are pro-choice, pro-right-to-die as mentally ill, irrational. So I am thinking that if most people are given the choice, not only would suicide rates drop a bit (when people know they have a way out, they don't feel as trapped and hopeless with no exit) and also impulsive suicides, ugly methods (violent way to go, or those that involve others) would decrease due to the fact that people can be reliably and comfortably end their suffering. Of course, there would be safeguards and many checks to prevent abuse but that's another topic though.

 

[Trashcan]

So true. The stigma of suicide would eventually be removed hopefully, or at least significantly go down. It would be hopefully easier on loved ones. There are just so many advantages to it.

In the US, firearms are the most common suicide method, which is obviously very violent and gory. That was my original method due to the lethality, but I ended up choosing a different method just because of how violent it is. But for someone who doesn't have the luxury of having access to other methods (such as they could be found in time if they hanged themselves), a firearm would be appealing. There was also a 16 year old user on here who jumped in front a train. They didn't really have any other options because they didn't have money, their parents were in the house all the time, but there were train tracks near their house.

With physician assisted suicide, people would know they could get a peaceful death and it would work. They could be surrounded by loved ones and friends. And, as you said, they wouldn't have their brain matter everywhere or traumatize a train driver. It's also an accessible method. So no one would have to figure out anything complicated, have technical knowledge, or go through the trouble of learning something and finding reliable sources. N is appealing, but it's not accessible to those of us who cannot afford it. A lot of people promote the exit bag on here as well. Great method, but not everyone can easily access all the materials for it (whether it be money, laws, or something else), know how to put it together, or want to go through the trouble of learning. But I'm happy for those of you who are able to use the exit bag or N, those two have got to be the most peaceful methods there are.

People need to accept suicide won't go away as long as humans are around. It would be better to let these people die peacefully, without consequences, and in a non-violent manner. If they want suicide rates to go down, there needs to be some serious changes. I wish we could both have physician assisted suicide being available but also having effective help for those who want it.

 

[worldexploder]

Then we would have a truly just society!

 

[Schopenhauer]

The absolute number of deaths by suicide would also increase. A lot of us are alive only because of these draconian restrictions on our freedom. And suicide is deemed a "public health" problem, that must be prevented. What's the point of keeping alive miserable people who want to die?

 

[About_to_Go]

 

[TAW122]

This is a really, really great video! I wished I would have found it sooner as it really shares my arguments and sentiments regarding why ctb is a good solution as well as helping society as a whole. I think there are others' out there who share my views, but more importantly, be able to present them in an even stronger argument.

I would however, not feel safe or comfortable in sharing this video with anyone IRL. At best, most people will write it off as negative, or pro-suicide, pro-death, without even watching the video, or even (deliberately) misinterpret what the person said. (Mostly pro-lifers and super religious people, religious apologists, etc.)

There was a guy that I used to be friends with in the past, and when the discussion about the right to die came up, his position was just based on willful ignorance, cherry picking, and just brutal imposition of his views, beliefs, and what not. He ignored all logic, committed many logical fallacies, and even tried to whitewash the Bible. I am an atheist and I actually look at the Bible more literally and take it for what it is, rather than cherry-picking or trying to whitewash scripture. He, OTOH, is a devout Christian and tries to justify how life is good and how he suddenly has moral superiority and the authority to impose his will on others as well as me. Seriously, fuck that guy and as soon as he said that, I've pretty much cut off contact with him.

 

[Merseymike]

Common sense, but the nonsense that life is precious and we should always want to take that option is so dominant though those who think so can't explain why in any rational sense

 

[TAW122]

Bumping this topic, and I had another idea. If voluntary euthanasia was legalized, there could be lots of potential jobs in the mortality sector of society, especially 'screeners' for candidates and people who apply to get assisted suicide. This new position would be to make sure that the people who are requesting voluntary euthanasia services are of sound mind, actually making the decision for themselves (and not coerced or being pressured into doing so), and are really sure of it. There would of course, be a short waiting period as well as some other checks involved to ensure that ethics, protocol, and laws are followed throughout the whole process. Also, there would be an nationwide or international organization that oversees the screeners and make sure that the laws are being followed and that patients are treated with dignity (similar to a patient's rights advocate).

A few common rebuttal by pro-lifers, disability advocates, the medical industry, and general public are: "But wouldn't that discourage doctors and medical professionals from finding a cure or getting (better) treatment for the patients?" "wouldn't that hurt the hospice business?", "What's going to stop people from abusing the system and taking advantage of vulnerable (elderly, mentally disabled, physically disabled, etc.) people?" and similar rebuts like that. To those rebuttals and claims, my counter arguments to them are that people who already want to die and wish to do so in a dignified manner would not be going through hospice nor wishing to find a cure. It would be presumptuous to assume otherwise. Usually the people who actually WANT to get better would be seeking those options. As for hospice, there will be many more people out there who wish to live out their lives until natural death and in a controlled environment, therefore, they would be offered hospice care by the healthcare workers just like it always have been. Nothing there really changes. As far as abuse is concerned, this is WHY there are screeners AS WELL AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES the screeners to ensure that they follow appropriate laws, protocol, and other codes of ethics to ensure that patient rights and wishes are respected and honored. They will also pick out the bad apples and deal with them appropriately (whether by legal action, civil action, or even just disbarring them from the practice/revoking their license to screen, practice, etc.).

In short, having voluntary euthanasia would not only open up new avenues of jobs and positions as well as new kinds of employment, it would also bring about more freedom and dignity for the people who wish to die and be able to do so in a dignified manner, with minimal to no collateral damage to others. By having a legal means to exit, it may also give people the ability to attempt to recover because they know they are not trapped and that they have a way out, if they should ever want and need it. It would not negatively impact existing positions and services as those existing positions and services are already tailored towards a different group of clients and patients.

 

[Proto]

yeah i'm not government property i am my own human being and i want to have the RIGHT to die humanely.

 

[TAW122]

yeah i'm not government property i am my own human being and i want to have the RIGHT to die humanely.

Agreed and also, no human being alive today has ever consciously "consented" to being born let alone signed a social contract consciously.