Article: Master athlete euthanised at 95

[porchrat]

Aww damn, for a moment there I thought that in the foreseeable future we would be rid of your wise-ass-crack-comments.

EDIT: Goes without saying ... just kidding.

LOL @ "wise-ass-crack-comments"

Whenever you post I read it in my head with Patrick Stewart's voice. Hearing him say that, even if just in my imagination, has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience

Everyone that consents to euthanasia are mentally unfit.

Or in an incredible amount of pain with it only about to get worse with no hope of a cure whatsoever. I could understand someone wanting to end rather than go through that. Shame on you for expecting them to suffer pointlessly.

 

[Nicodeamus]

the Afrikaans "pleeg" (which generally translates as commit but there is a nuance) works quite well in my mind

Hy pleeg genadedood? >_< okay..

ontopic:

I support legalising euthanasia, however I do have to admit that it will feel wierd to tell all my friends at a part that tomorrow I am going to inject myself (if I am reasonably fit). I do not know if I will have the guys to go through with it.

 

[ponder]

I do not know if I will have the guys to go through with it.

You're gonna come out of the closet just before you off yourself?

 

[Alan]

Everyone that consents to euthanasia are mentally unfit.

Why? I take it you have suffered severe illness before?

 

[Celine]

it was his choice who are we to make that decision for him or even comment on it.

 

[Garson007]

Why? I take it you have suffered severe illness before?

Someone who is in such immense pain that he just wants to end it, is rendered mentally unfit by the pain.

 

[Paul Hjul]

Someone who is in such immense pain that he just wants to end it, is rendered mentally unfit by the pain.

by what standard of competency?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Anyone watched the Terry Pratchett documentary on euthanasia? It certainly puts things into perspective. Basically it comes down to the fact that it is your decision as it is your life.

 

[Garson007]

by what standard of competency?

By the standards of mind-body dichotomy.

 

[Paul Hjul]

By a half attempt at assuming a mind-body dichotomy.

ftfy

 

[ShaunSA]

In Belgium, euthanasia is legal for people over age 18 and over 1,400 people a year choose the option to die peacefully.

We need more of this in the world.

 

[Garson007]

ftfy

On the contrary, I assume that no real dichotomy exists. The mind is however in its clearest state when it's most disconnected from the body. This is why somebody who's in a lot of physical pain is not clear of mind.

 

[copacetic]

I am not in any physical pain, and am of sound mind.

At this point, I am absolutely certain that I would rather go quickly and peacefully in the event of some awful, expensive, painful and debilitating illness in my future.

The decision is already made.

 

[DJ...]

So Garson, people who are in constant pain are not sound of mind, is that what you're saying?

 

[Garson007]

So Garson, people who are in constant pain are not sound of mind, is that what you're saying?

Yes. It's obviously not black and white, but a scale. However the less disconnected the mind becomes of the body, the less sound that mind is.

 

[Nick333]

This is why I don't agree with euthanasia, where do you draw the line? So many people could make the wrong decision and off themselves out of fear of the disease.

So what? What gives you the right to decide for what reasons someone should live or die?

 

[porchrat]

On the contrary, I assume that no real dichotomy exists. The mind is however in its clearest state when it's most disconnected from the body. This is why somebody who's in a lot of physical pain is not clear of mind.

What of someone who is not yet in pain but has been diagnosed with an incurable disease that is going to result in a lot of pain and an unavoidable death very soon... Still not of sound mind?

 

[Nick333]

On the contrary, I assume that no real dichotomy exists. The mind is however in its clearest state when it's most disconnected from the body. This is why somebody who's in a lot of physical pain is not clear of mind.

So, no one is entirely of sound mind unless they are dead or astral travelling or something?

 

[DJ...]

Yes. It's obviously not black and white, but a scale. However the less disconnected the mind becomes of the body, the less sound that mind is.

So Stephen Hawking, Robert Hensel, Anne McDonald, John Hockenberry, Gilbert Gaul, Christy Brown, Janice Brunstrom, Jerry Traylor, Woody Guthrie, Miles Davis, John F Kennedy, Charles Darwin, and a whole host of other people living and dead, were, or are not of sound mind?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

What of someone who is not yet in pain but has been diagnosed with an incurable disease that is going to result in a lot of pain and an unavoidable death very soon... Still not of sound mind?

Already had this discussion with him. He's of the opinion that existence trumps everything, and that an "eternity of hell" is preferable to euthanasia. And to worsen matters he believes people shouldn't be allowed to choose whether or not to endure aforementioned "eternity of hell". So effectively, he's in favour of not only keeping people alive in such horrible torment, but also that those very people shouldn't be allowed to have a say in the matter at all.