Euthanasia - What's your opinion about it?

I don't think that anyone who recommends or is "for" euthanasia would feel that a handicapped person should be "put out of his misery" or that the elderly should be given a shove over to the other side. Yes, it is God's place to decide when your time has come. That being said, do you think that God recommends for a person who is only alive because machines are breathing for them and tubes are running down their nose to feed them to be kept alive this way? If they are removed from these artificial means, isn't that up to God to then take them, when he is ready? This is very close to my heart because last year my sister and I were faced with just such a decision with my mother. She had left written instructions that she was not to be kept alive artificially. She went into the hospital after having a stroke. She was 86 years old, and had been telling us for several years that she was worn out and ready to "go." After being in the hospital for about a week, she contracted c. diff. colitis, a very insidious bacteria that causes, among other things, uncontrolled bowels. It caused her kidneys to shut down, but they got them working again. She was in a coma, and had to have not only a catheter from her bladder, but also one from her bowels, so that her waste went into a plastic bag. She would have been absolutely mortified if she could have seen the condition she was in. They had also discovered during various testing and x-rays that she had lung cancer. After talking with her doctor and the hospice representative from the hospital, we made the decision to remove her from the breathing machine and to stop tube feeding. I specifically asked if we were killing our mother. That was really bothering me. I was assured by both of them that we were not. We were simply honoring her request not to be kept alive by artificial means. She was removed from life support, and passed away the next morning, quietly in her "sleep," just the way she wanted to go. Do I feel guilty for being a part of that decision? Absolutely not! I knew my mother, and I'm sure that we did just what she wanted us to do. That is one of the reasons why I believe in euthanasia.

I understand your point, spalladino, but if this person is just alive because machines are helping his/her, are we getting into "God's way"? I mean, if it weren't for the machines, the person would die. And if the person that is suffering wants that things happen this way, do you think that it should be considered? I'm not demanding that you think other way, I just want to make a healthy discussiion, ok? =) Thanks for your comment!

Hey, bbjwlsn, thanks for your report. I was touched by your story.. I don't know if I'd do the same, but just a person that it's living the situation know how it really is. Again, thanks for sharing us a story that's only yours. I felt REALLY honored of reading it. Thanks for your comment!

Hello, misty99. Again, I see a situation where's there's only a way of doing the things.. Unfortunately, sometimes we have no choice but to let it go. And I think the person who've been passing for all of this didn't wanted that the family suffer because of him also. Thank you very much for posting!

Hello, metschica25. ^^ You know, I analised the case that you just proposed, and I got this: I don't know how it is where you live, but here in Brazil there is something called SUS (which I think that's equivalent to your HMOs).. SUS pays some kind of surgeries and so, then people who can't afford for it can take a place in the line and wait for it's time. Well, if you think by the same way, I don't know nothing that even looks like to SUS, but for animals. Then, I think that, when you come to this, you must think what's better to the animal, in first place. In your case, it was doing the surgery, but you couldn't afford it and there was nothing that could pay it for you. The most wise choice, then, was to put your pet down. At least, this way, he would suffer less. =) Thank you very much for sharing part of your life and thanks for your comment!

Yeah, I really know how bad is seeing somebody that you love suffering.. But it's still a difficult question.. There are a lot of moral topics to be discussed and so.. But one thing I consider as almost sure: we'll never reach a definitive conclusion. Even knowing that, I appreciate so much seeing your different point of views, 'cause it makes me learn a bit for each comment of you. Thank you for posting!

Yeah, to deal with human lifes is a very difficult question.. We ask ourselves: do I have the right to do it? Surely, there's still a lot for me to think before reaching into a conclusion, and I thank you for helping me do that. Thank you for posting!

Sucint, but objective. Your answer express what most people in the world agree, I think. But, as "most people" isn't "all the people", I'll keep on listening to what people have to say. I have a lot to learn yet. ^^ Thank you very much for your posting!

Hmm.. I didn't really get what you meant, but if it's about an address of some place that makes euthanasia, sorry, I don't have it. The info I've posted here (about the countries that practices euthanasia) is only what I've got after researching a little bit about it. Sorry. =/

I need to think about this one, I have husband and daughter, she is the one that worries me, I would need to talk and talk to her. I really do not want to hurt her or place a burden on her shoulders either. And Your welcome, thanks as well for the discussion.

No problem, ShellyB. =) And thank you again for joining this discussion!

Indeed, that's a reasoable way of thinking, ShellyB. And what about you? If something happened to you, how would you like it to be? Would you let "pre-announced", or would let that somebody decided for you? Thanks for your comment!

Hey, bbjwlsn, I'm okay, and you? Yeah, I also think that everything can have a good and a bad side.. It's just a point of view. I don't know this for sure now, but I think that I wouldn't want to keep suffering, if I knew that there is "no way back" for me. And I know that, even if my relatives didn't admit it, they would be suffering because of me too. So, maybe I would take the same decision as you did.. But I want to REALLY think about it before achieving a conclusion. Again, thanks for sharing with us your story, and thanks for posting!

Hello, angusthethird! I'd like to propose to you a "situation", and I just would like to hear what's your opinion about it, ok? What if the sick person were you? Would you like that your relatives decide to take the pain away for you? Or then, if you had the right to do so, wouldn't you do it? Again, I'm not fighting with people or something like that.. I just want to discuss about this topic. It's a very polemic one, but I want it to keep this discussion very calm, ok? =) Thanks for you comment!

What if the sick person were you? Would you like that your relatives decide to take the pain away for you? Or then, if you had the right to do so, wouldn't you do it? I hope you don't mind if I respond to your question since I'm here. If the sick person was me I would not like for my family to make the decision to end my life...to take it...and I would not take it myself. It is a sin, it goes against my beliefs, so, no I would hope that with medication I would not suffer too much until God decides that it's my time to go.

I understand it, and I have nothing to disagree with you after the incredible post that you made that I just read. Thank you for sharing your point of view with us. Believe me, its was very important. ^^

Yeah, eztuner.. Either with the supervise of a doctor, Euthanasia still is and will be a very controverse acting.. Some agree with it, others in a parcial way and others completely are against it. Thank you very much for your answer!