Brittany Maynard has ended her life.

a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.

originally posted by: tavi45
a reply to: thesmokingman

Euthanasia and homosexuality are quite similar in that regard. If there weren't so many people screaming about how awful they are and legislating against them no one would have to stand up for the issue.

Isn't your screaming about how they should shut up just as bad? Such a weak hypocritical argument. The only reason either issue is an issue is because Christians just keep butting their heads into everything.

So do you also dislike Christians when they scream about their rights?

Most religions of the world disapprove of both homosexuality and euthanasia so why is it only Christians you mention?

Islam categorically forbids all forms of suicide and any action that may help another to kill themselves.

en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: Char-Lee

Because Muslims don't set policy in America......

originally posted by: tavi45
a reply to: thesmokingman

Euthanasia and homosexuality are quite similar in that regard. If there weren't so many people screaming about how awful they are and legislating against them no one would have to stand up for the issue.

Isn't your screaming about how they should shut up just as bad? Such a weak hypocritical argument. The only reason either issue is an issue is because Christians just keep butting their heads into everything.

So do you also dislike Christians when they scream about their rights?

Who is screaming against homosexuality?
There is a thing called HUMAN RIGHTS. They are not for only a select few.

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.

Others DO have a choice. Like I said there are plenty of folks that choose to end their own life every year.....they just do it though, without garnering attention to themselves.

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: sarra1833

She was very brave. I have known two people whose husband and wife died slowly and painfully of cancer, neither of them can remember their loved one except the months of cancer eating them away in monstrous pain. I will never do that to my husband I want him to have good healthy fun memories of me if this should happen.

Besides the last months of seeing their loved ones covered in growing sores and unable to rest a second both lost everything due to the money involved with the months and months of slow death. The one man a retired IBM computer specialist lost their home and was on the street until he was taken in by a religious organization. The woman a loan officer lost everything and had to take a job in another town she lost their So. CA home with swimming pool and her job staying with her husband while he slowly died before her eyes.

Im sorry, but I respectfully disagree that she was brave...she chose to take herself away from the people that loved her, and that is not brave. Brave, is trying to battle through the disease. Its kind of like saying that I should kill myself, because I am afraid of dying of lung cancer, or getting in an automobile accident. Im sorry, but I dont think this was a courageous act, I think it was much like everyone else trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. Remember, just a few days ago she had said she "changed her mind" and was not going through with it...Tell you what, go to the pediatric cancer ward and look at those poor children that are battling the same ailment or even worse, and look at the smiles on their faces. Then tell me this woman was courageous.

originally posted by: thesmokingman

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.

Others DO have a choice. Like I said there are plenty of folks that choose to end their own life every year.....they just do it though, without garnering attention to themselves.

But you see that is not possible with any surety. Without a Dr involved you may simply go through more pain. The whole fight is to be given a sure and painless way with the help of those who know how things will effect the patient not a haphazard try that leads to fear and mistakes.

a reply to: thesmokingman

she chose to take herself away from the people that loved her

Did you read my post on page one about the two couples i know who went through this? If so and you feel as you do I guess we'll just have to peacefully disagree.

originally posted by: Char-Lee

originally posted by: thesmokingman

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.

Others DO have a choice. Like I said there are plenty of folks that choose to end their own life every year.....they just do it though, without garnering attention to themselves.

But you see that is not possible with any surety. Without a Dr involved you may simply go through more pain. The whole fight is to be given a sure and painless way with the help of those who know how things will effect the patient not a haphazard try that leads to fear and mistakes.

There are ways of ending your life with no pain and suffering.

a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.
Others DO have a choice. Like I said there are plenty of folks that choose to end their own life every year.....they just do it though, without garnering attention to themselves.

But you see that is not possible with any surety. Without a Dr involved you may simply go through more pain. The whole fight is to be given a sure and painless way with the help of those who know how things will effect the patient not a haphazard try that leads to fear and mistakes.
There are ways of ending your life with no pain and suffering.

Look up failed suicide attempts, people don't know how and it causes fear, when Dr Kevorkian tried to help people he made them feel like they should at the end.
www.washingtonpost.com...
en.wikipedia.org...

This is ATS right?? Where's the conspiracy chat??? I'm loaded up and ready to take a shot. Government propaganda to end your life before government ran insurance has to pay for your treatment in cancer cases!!! We are glorifying this to a point where a 50/50 shot of survival means a lethal dose of downers. I can totally see this becoming the go to cure for expensive illness. "Here take these and die with dignity peasant".

a reply to: sarra1833

I am awaiting a diagnoses that I am hoping will be an auto-immune disease instead of a degenerative disease. I've started having health issues in 2007 and more symptoms have been popping up since than.

I've had time to think about what I would do if I was diagnosed with a degenerative disease or other possible diagnoses. I am pretty sure, especially after watching my Aunty & my cousins go through the horrible experience of watching my Uncle die from ALS, that I would want to end my life on my own terms if I had a degenerative disease. As much as I don't want to die, I don't want my fiance and my family to have to go through the horrible experience of watching me waste away into nothingness, especially because some people have to suffer years.

a reply to: thesmokingman

There are ways to end life painlessly. They are illegal in most places. The right to die is not considered a right.

You're right. Human Rights are for everyone. Why exclude homosexuals?

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

I do not however believe it was necessary for her to make it a public issue.

It may work toward making others have a choice.

This is nothing like any other issue as it affects all people everywhere.

Others DO have a choice. Like I said there are plenty of folks that choose to end their own life every year.....they just do it though, without garnering attention to themselves.



I did read your post. I agree, that is hard to do. I have watched a few loves ones die from cancer, and much worse cancer than this woman had. It was horrible. Look, I am not against her taking her own life, just could have been done without alerting the media...by the way, who did alert the media in her case? Also, to your point about failed suicide attempts, I have seen them firsthand, not pretty. However, there are ways that are certain to get the job done without pain and suffering. Did you read my post about the smiling children dying of cancer that are the truly courageous ones?

a reply to: thesmokingman

Did you read my post about the smiling children dying of cancer that are the truly courageous ones?

I wonder if it because they don't have the understanding of it all, like if they knew how hard it was for their parents to watch them die slowly would they feel the same? Also I am pretty sure the smiling does not continue when the pain gets bad enough, I think most people try to deal well and smile for their loved ones through part of the illness.

PS if you have a foolproof method that does not deal with getting illegal things and is painfree I certainly would like to know ..in case.

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

Did you read my post about the smiling children dying of cancer that are the truly courageous ones?

I wonder if it because they don't have the understanding of it all, like if they knew how hard it was for their parents to watch them die slowly would they feel the same? Also I am pretty sure the smiling does not continue when the pain gets bad enough, I think most people try to deal well and smile for their loved ones through part of the illness.

PS if you have a foolproof method that does not deal with getting illegal things and is painfree I certainly would like to know ..in case.

Its said that the survival rate of children>adults with cancer is higher because their attitude and positive thinking going along way in helping the body to fight the disease. Adults hear cancer, they automatically think death sentence. I have heard of a lot of people killing themselves with a hose in the garage with the car running. Not illegal and no suffering.

originally posted by: thesmokingman

originally posted by: Char-Lee
a reply to: thesmokingman

Did you read my post about the smiling children dying of cancer that are the truly courageous ones?

I wonder if it because they don't have the understanding of it all, like if they knew how hard it was for their parents to watch them die slowly would they feel the same? Also I am pretty sure the smiling does not continue when the pain gets bad enough, I think most people try to deal well and smile for their loved ones through part of the illness.

PS if you have a foolproof method that does not deal with getting illegal things and is painfree I certainly would like to know ..in case.

Its said that the survival rate of children>adults with cancer is higher because their attitude and positive thinking going along way in helping the body to fight the disease. Adults hear cancer, they automatically think death sentence. I have heard of a lot of people killing themselves with a hose in the garage with the car running. Not illegal and no suffering.

I have heard that too but also some being found and "rescued in time for brain damage.

You are right we have a coworker whose brother was diagnosed with cancer they gave him a few months to a year and all he wanted was to die and get it overwith. He died last week don't know how his brother does not seem to want to talk about it.

RIP, what a beautiful person inside and out. Am happy that the discussion has went viral throughout. It needs to go beyond the rather controversial Kevorkian discussions on the topic, usually ending in he was a monster. If she was the chosen face for-willing as we see, so be it, it needs to be discussed.

Been very hard for me to comment on, due to it being personal because of numerous losses in life. Overall if they only had the option of comfort presented in Death With Dignity. Family and the ones who had cancer/etc., wouldn't have had so much distress brought to them on top of what was already there knowing the inevitable.

I know a lot of people are worried that it can spark it to be used as spur of the-moment suicides and for death panels, but there are strict guidelines enforced at the very least(US states, OR, WA,).

a reply to: Metallicus

That is quite an asinine statement, not everyone will die a horrible debilitating & humiliating death. Not everyone will end losing control over their entire body so they are essentially just a shell.

The worst thing about dying from a horrible debilitating & humiliating disease is that sometime it can take years.

At the end of the day this debate illuminates the fundamental flaw with America. If our goal is individual liberty then isn't the decision of whether you want your life to continue or end about as clear cut as it gets. It's your life and your decision.

The only basis for denying the right to die is a religious one. So can you get your religion out of my liberty?