RE: The Questions Contest #48 | Should euthanasia be legal? | Reply and win SBD & Smartcash!
I believe that yes, euthanasia should be legal.
Many people would call it "selfish" choosing to end your own life. I beg to differ... I think the selfish are those who are demanding that the terminally ill patient be forced to live in pain for as long as they can possibly extend it.
I don't believe in euthanasia for those who are depressed and suicidal. Having been depressed and suicidal myself in the past, I likely would not have dared ask for such a thing even if it were an available option. Depression is private and something that one faces alone; the despair would not drive you to a doctor to ask for assisted suicide, in my opinion.
But I do believe that for those who are suffering - their pain, their agony, and their lives dragged out when they could finally be at peace - that there should be a way to end that suffering, at a time and place of their choosing with their loved ones by their side, and not interfering with the choice.
Well said!
I hope that if I ever find myself seriously depressed for a prolonged period of time and contemplating suicide, I would try every option available to me to change my life for the better.If all fails, ending ones life should remain an option. We have little choice in arriving in this world but we sure should have the authority to end it!
That sounds lovely :) but many depressed people wouldn't be able to do those things.
When I was deeply depressed it was hard enough to simply get out of bed in the morning. You don't want to do anything, not even shower. Your mind feels like it has been zombied, you are in your own haze-filled world and it's so hard to focus. Sitting in the living room, your gaze constantly wonders over to the kitchen towards the chemicals hidden beneath the sink; there is bleach, cleaner, pesticides, etc under there. And the only thing stopping you from doing the deed, so to speak, is the fear of failure. Of waking up in hospital, your internal organs now ruined for life, because someone dared save you when you wanted it to end.
In that scenario - which I admit was my own though I never attempted to follow through - I supposed euthanasia would truly be a lovely option. Peace at last. But I'm not entirely sure a suicidal person could physically take themselves to the doctor and request their end. It's a huge feat just to finally request anti-depressants (which make you feel just as zombied, but numbs the other stuff)
(Sorry, this unexpectedly turned into a giant ramble! It's morning where I am and fesh-morning-caffeine has attacked my posting) :D
((Also; just want to clarify that I'm not longer depressed, but at ease with talking about the past))
Hi and good morning to you!
Depression indeed has a paralyzing effect. It's really terrible and I'm sorry you had to go through that. I'm also glad to read you'r no longer depressed.What factor or factors finally helped you out of your depressed stupor?
Good morning! :D
Honestly... I don't remember. I don't remember much of that time period at all. I've been sitting here trying to recall what helped, and I can't quite place a specific factor.
Actually... I think it was the birth control pill. That's when it all started. And when I stopped taking it, my hormones and emotions reverted to a normal human cycle, and things became clear again. Ten years of controlling medication designed to help the woman // Ten years of depression that increased in severity every year until I literally could cope no longer.
((But I've kind of digressed from the original topic, haha.))
But it goes to show that depression can be caused by any number of things, whether it's a chemical imbalance, a terrible burden in one's life, a medication that one may be taking, etc. And there is likely something that can be done to help relieve it/fix it without resorting to euthanasia in that instance.
It's interesting you mention birth control.
A lot of woman start taking birth control pills on a young age and you are not the first one I've heard say that it is a world of difference if you use them or not. It especially seems to be terrible for the libido. For some woman I've talked to it was quite te revelation as they could barely remember a time before taking them.
It doesn't seem to be common knowledge however. But maybe it just seems that way to me, being a man.