TAW122
Emissary of the right to die.
- Aug 30, 2018
- 6,813
Note: I am not a quadriplegic, but this is just for discussion purposes.
I have read many stories of people becoming quadriplegic (whether due to accident, illness, disasters, tragedies (man/nature made), etc.) and their quality of life, both objectively and subjective really suck. I do wonder that if someone becomes a quadriplegic (let's say without use of ANY of their limbs, maybe very, very limited arm movement but besides that nothing else works (not even sex organs (male and female), can't poop/pee without assistance, other things that non-physically disabled people take for granted they struggle to do even with aid) and they are confined to a bed/wheelchair, need a caretaker for 24/7 and likely to live like that for decades to come. Also, said person is in his/her 20's (maybe early 30's at the oldest) and would likely spend 20-30 years living in that state.
So here are some questions for discussion:
1) What would you do if you found yourself in that predicament?
2) Assuming you had no dependents (children, people who depend on you, not legally or otherwise obligated to care for them) and nothing to lose, what would you do?
3) Also, assuming you had no advance directive/living will/DNR, or whatever legal and medical document for plans or actions when you become incapacitated, (also assume your family is selfish and pro-life/anti-suicide/anti-euthanasia) what are your options, both medically and legally? Also, you are living in a place where assisted suicide/euthanasia is either illegal or is so difficult to qualify for it may as well be non-existent.
4) If you are forced to live and cannot easily die (until many years later due to natural causes and otherwise painful, undignified end), what would you do in the meantime (while you are suffering through the remainder of your years).
So this is what I would do if I were in such a situation (see below):
Scenario A: For me, if I were in such a predicament, the first thing I'd do is to make sure if I had an advance directive and/or living will, to immediately enforce and activate it. My directive and will would state that if I were in such a predicament and state in life, then I'd wish to die. Assuming that euthanasia and assisted suicide isn't legal and medical professionals would not do so, then I would choose the path that would still be legal (protect the healthcare professionals from legal and/or other actions taken against them), yet still able to best fulfill my goal, even if it means drawn out death through sedation, starvation, and then passing away that way. It sure sucks to have a drawn out death, but if that's the best option in such a predicament, then so be it. If the current healthcare professionals wouldn't or could not honor it, I would find a way to switch doctors until I find one that respects and would be willing to allow me to die (within the law) and with the least amount of troubles.
Scenario B: Now suppose euthanasia isn't legal and/or that I couldn't die and am forced to live like that. I would make sure that those people who opposed my right to die and choice to die with dignity be shunned and maybe raise some hell. After all, if I couldn't die regardless of the reason, circumstance, and/or situation, I really got nothing to lose. I would not take out my anger on the ones that side with me and/or don't project their pro-life views onto me and respectfully disagree with me. However, for those who wish to push their pro-life, anti-euthanasia views, then I have no mercy for them. Regardless of the situation, I feel like I have nothing to lose and really don't care about consequences because either way, I'm still forced to live (do the right thing, appease others = forced to live vs. make things hard for people, treat dissidents like shit = forced to live). I mean, at that stage in life, the point of being a moral person or being a civil person has long passed. Call me an asshole, but if I were in such a predicament, there is nothing to be gained in my situation and the result is just the same. I don't see why I shouldn't be an asshole, especially to those who reject my choice and right to die a dignified death, but would rather drag out my natural life until natural death just so they don't feel bad. They are the selfish ones and I don't believe in the two wrongs don't make a right though that is a totally different topic.
So in short, what would you do if you are in the same predicament. Would you do what I did or not? If so (or not), why and explain your reasoning.
I have read many stories of people becoming quadriplegic (whether due to accident, illness, disasters, tragedies (man/nature made), etc.) and their quality of life, both objectively and subjective really suck. I do wonder that if someone becomes a quadriplegic (let's say without use of ANY of their limbs, maybe very, very limited arm movement but besides that nothing else works (not even sex organs (male and female), can't poop/pee without assistance, other things that non-physically disabled people take for granted they struggle to do even with aid) and they are confined to a bed/wheelchair, need a caretaker for 24/7 and likely to live like that for decades to come. Also, said person is in his/her 20's (maybe early 30's at the oldest) and would likely spend 20-30 years living in that state.
So here are some questions for discussion:
1) What would you do if you found yourself in that predicament?
2) Assuming you had no dependents (children, people who depend on you, not legally or otherwise obligated to care for them) and nothing to lose, what would you do?
3) Also, assuming you had no advance directive/living will/DNR, or whatever legal and medical document for plans or actions when you become incapacitated, (also assume your family is selfish and pro-life/anti-suicide/anti-euthanasia) what are your options, both medically and legally? Also, you are living in a place where assisted suicide/euthanasia is either illegal or is so difficult to qualify for it may as well be non-existent.
4) If you are forced to live and cannot easily die (until many years later due to natural causes and otherwise painful, undignified end), what would you do in the meantime (while you are suffering through the remainder of your years).
So this is what I would do if I were in such a situation (see below):
Scenario A: For me, if I were in such a predicament, the first thing I'd do is to make sure if I had an advance directive and/or living will, to immediately enforce and activate it. My directive and will would state that if I were in such a predicament and state in life, then I'd wish to die. Assuming that euthanasia and assisted suicide isn't legal and medical professionals would not do so, then I would choose the path that would still be legal (protect the healthcare professionals from legal and/or other actions taken against them), yet still able to best fulfill my goal, even if it means drawn out death through sedation, starvation, and then passing away that way. It sure sucks to have a drawn out death, but if that's the best option in such a predicament, then so be it. If the current healthcare professionals wouldn't or could not honor it, I would find a way to switch doctors until I find one that respects and would be willing to allow me to die (within the law) and with the least amount of troubles.
Scenario B: Now suppose euthanasia isn't legal and/or that I couldn't die and am forced to live like that. I would make sure that those people who opposed my right to die and choice to die with dignity be shunned and maybe raise some hell. After all, if I couldn't die regardless of the reason, circumstance, and/or situation, I really got nothing to lose. I would not take out my anger on the ones that side with me and/or don't project their pro-life views onto me and respectfully disagree with me. However, for those who wish to push their pro-life, anti-euthanasia views, then I have no mercy for them. Regardless of the situation, I feel like I have nothing to lose and really don't care about consequences because either way, I'm still forced to live (do the right thing, appease others = forced to live vs. make things hard for people, treat dissidents like shit = forced to live). I mean, at that stage in life, the point of being a moral person or being a civil person has long passed. Call me an asshole, but if I were in such a predicament, there is nothing to be gained in my situation and the result is just the same. I don't see why I shouldn't be an asshole, especially to those who reject my choice and right to die a dignified death, but would rather drag out my natural life until natural death just so they don't feel bad. They are the selfish ones and I don't believe in the two wrongs don't make a right though that is a totally different topic.
So in short, what would you do if you are in the same predicament. Would you do what I did or not? If so (or not), why and explain your reasoning.
