Suicide Tourism???

[ST911]

I have watched a number of people fight long, hard battles with terminal illnesses. I have been with some at the moment they died. I spend quite a bit of time with those who are fighting every day to not be terminal.

I count them among the very bravest warriors I know.

There are those who would choose another option if available to them. While I don't agree with that idea, I would not dare count them as cowards.

I know a man who was declared terminally ill, and given six months to live...a year ago. I know a woman who was declared terminally ill and given a year to live...15 years ago. The fight in them is strong.

Statistically, we know that most of us at some point in time will either be cancer patients of some sort, and if not, will have a family member who is. It's' best to reserve judgement on matters such as these until you've been down those roads. Until then, sure, you might imagine, you might speculate, you might plan, but you will not understand.

[skyugo]

I guess my faith prevents me from supporting this in any way.

separation of church and state.
if you want to end your life that is between you and God.

[Georgie Boy]

You've obviously never watched somebody you love die a difficult death. And it is because we place such a high value on human life that we wouldn't wish that on somebody we actually care about.

I do hope you come to learn why one day.

My grandfather died three years ago after being bedridden for his last five or so. He was another story about the doctors underestimating someone. Most of that time he was fed through a tube that went through his abdomen and into his stomach. Before he got the feeding machine, the tube was capped and wound up, and when it was feeding time, one or two of us in the family would uncap it and pour ensure down it using a large syringe as a funnel. Life basically sucked for him so sorry dude... not dwelling on that. Point is, he died at the ripe old age of 96, and those years he was in bed, he had a .38 in the night stand drawer... and surprise... he had what it took to not suck on the business end. Because he didn't, I sat around with him and learned more about him those last few years than I had ever known before. My grandmother's death was similar about a year ago, minus the .38. So yes, I have watched a loved one die, and yes, suicide is a cowards way out. And please explain how your love of life can lead you to give your's up just because things got rough?

I do hope one day you find enough happiness in life to make it last as long as possible.

[batgeek]

The idea that the government has a place at all in something like this is offensive and disturbing.

this is the story. not the personal implications of suicide.

but on that note, sometimes when you're done...you're done. who are you to judge that decision?

[SteyrAUG]

My grandfather died three years ago after being bedridden for his last five or so. He was another story about the doctors underestimating someone. Most of that time he was fed through a tube that went through his abdomen and into his stomach. Before he got the feeding machine, the tube was capped and wound up, and when it was feeding time, one or two of us in the family would uncap it and pour ensure down it using a large syringe as a funnel. Life basically sucked for him so sorry dude... not dwelling on that. Point is, he died at the ripe old age of 96, and those years he was in bed, he had a .38 in the night stand drawer... and surprise... he had what it took to not suck on the business end. Because he didn't, I sat around with him and learned more about him those last few years than I had ever known before. My grandmother's death was similar about a year ago, minus the .38. So yes, I have watched a loved one die, and yes, suicide is a cowards way out. And please explain how your love of life can lead you to give your's up just because things got rough?

I do hope one day you find enough happiness in life to make it last as long as possible.

I'm not talking bed ridden, I'm not talking about been fed by tube. That is fairly typical of being old and dying. I'm talking about shit you obviously do not understand. I'm talking about being in so much pain even if you did have a gun you couldn't operate it.

I wish everyone a long life, except for those in so much agony that being alive is punishment. There are very few people I'd wish that experience on. I certainly wouldn't want anyone I love to endure it, especially for my own selfish wants and needs. And a person who would want somebody to endure it for their own benefit is somebody and something far worse than a coward.

[QuietShootr]

I'm not talking bed ridden, I'm not talking about been fed by tube. That is fairly typical of being old and dying. I'm talking about shit you obviously do not understand. I'm talking about being in so much pain even if you did have a gun you couldn't operate it.

I wish everyone a long life, except for those in so much agony that being alive is punishment. There are very few people I'd wish that experience on. I certainly wouldn't want anyone I love to endure it, especially for my own selfish wants and needs. And a person who would want somebody to endure it for their own benefit is somebody and something far worse than a coward.

Anyone in that condition is in no shape to arrange a flight to Zurich, a consent form, and a 9,000 euro payment. If you can withstand that, you aren't on your last leg yet.

[SteyrAUG]

Anyone in that condition is in no shape to arrange a flight to Zurich, a consent form, and a 9,000 euro payment. If you can withstand that, you aren't on your last leg yet.

Perhaps some of them are going before they arrive at that point in order to ensure they will have certain options when the time comes.

There are simply a few personal decisions where nobody, not government, not family...nobody has a right to decide for you. The decision to live or die is one of them.

[Terry]

"assisted suicide" is what I have a problem with.
If you want to check out for whatever reason, I would counsel against it, but do it yourself.
Yes I know, easier said than done, tough!

[Belmont31R]

"assisted suicide" is what I have a problem with.
If you want to check out for whatever reason, I would counsel against it, but do it yourself.
Yes I know, easier said than done, tough!

Its better than finding grandpa with half his head splattered on the wall like what happened with mine. There's also the people that like to go to a range that rents guns and off themselves on the range.

[Selftest]

I have mixed feelings on this.

One: My brother killed himself 2 years ago (the anniversary is tomorrow) and it's extremely painful, and it hurts a lot. But, he didn't have a terminal illness (unless manic depression is terminal... I think it was, but you all don't know my brother) he just didn't know how to cope.

Two: I do not think that anyone has the right to choose life for another person who doesn't want to endure the pain anymore. It is selfish for family members to keep holding onto someone, as they don't know the pain their loved one is going through.

Edited to add: Anyone who thinks that suicide is a "cowardly" way to go is either missing the point entirely, or has never experienced the hell that is depression. My brother was smart, funny, extremely physically attractive, 22 years old, in college. Living the veritable American ****ing Dream. Women we would kill for loved him. He did whatever he wanted, was a talented artist (going to school for Advertising) and lived life about as well as one could hope. He played water polo for 4 years in high school, and swam for three. He had about a million TRUE friends, people who would die for him. The kind of people that some of us can only hope to have in our lives.

He attempted suicide at 17, by eating about 100 Bayer aspirin. He metabolised them all out, went on a 72 hour hold, went through a gamut of psych evals, got diagnosed with manic depression. Went on all sorts of anti-depressants. When he moved away for college (an hour south of us) he went off his meds because they killed his libido. What 21 year old, good looking kid, doesn't want to ****?

So, one day, the day after Halloween, my brother comes home. Now, he NEVER came home without calling, and when he called, I locked up my gun and stuck my keys in my pocket. He didn't call this time. You can see where this is going, so I'll stop there.

This is all to say: We do not know what made him do it. We know he had depression, but he didn't let it show. He had no reason to be depressed. He had life by the ****ing balls, and lived like everyday was his last. That could have been a sign, but monday morning quarterback is an easy role to play.

Suicide sucks more than ANY other form of death for young people. You can blame somebody for everything else. Murder, car accidents, illness, etc. Blame god, blame the murderer, blame the drugs/alcohol/other driver/road conditions. Blame the medics, ER personel, etc. You can't blame anyone for suicide, except for yourself, or the person who took their own life. It ****ing sucks, let me tell you.