Assisted Suicide for the Mentally Ill.
Assisted suicide in general is a controversial issue but even more heated of an issue is suicide assistance for people suffering not physically, but mentally.
This is not something we do in the states but the number of people choosing assisted suicide for mental health reasons is on the rise in the Netherlands. Recently, a woman in her 20's whose name was not disclosed chose to end her life after dealing with the mental after-math of being sexually abused for years. She suffered from depression, and C-PTSD. She had suffered from these issues for over 15 years before choosing to end her life.
Being a person suffering a similar mental burden I am completely in favor of assisted suicide and if I am being honest would probably be dead if I lived in a place that would allow me this opportunity. I have enough failed, messy attempts under my belt and that is the main reason I stopped trying. Failure can lead to life long consequences and also loved ones or strangers finding the body would be traumatizing for them. If I were allowed to prepare, say goodbye to loved ones, and die with dignity in a hospital bed I would be all for it.
Or would I?
Another woman in Belgium who spent many years preparing for assisted suicide due to life-long chronic depression changed her mind at the last minute. Deciding that she actually wanted to stay alive for her friends. She said her depression did not improve but she wanted to stick around regardless.
The controversy around this practice.
There is endless controversy around this issue. One of the arguments is that a depressed person in not in a sound state of mind. But what if you have never been in any state of mind other than depression? Many people think that, given more time, the people may snap out of their depression or find the right treatment and live a fulfilling life.
Wildly varying requirements around the world.
In the United Stated assisted suicide is legal in only a handful of states and under the specification that the person has no longer than 6 months to live. One woman from Utah is intending to take a trip to the Netherlands to get assisted suicide -even as a non citizen- because of her diagnosis of microvascular disease, a cousin of Alzheimer's. She is not depressed. She simply knows that by the time her death is imminent she will have lost her mind.
In Holland and Belgium the criteria for qualifying to get assisted suicide is much more lenient. You can potentially get assisted suicide for alcoholism, depression, and even anorexia. Many religious groups, physicians, and disability rights activists are worried by how broad of an expansion these places have taken. They wonder where the line will be drawn.
There was another notable case in Belgium where two deaf twin brothers took their own lives because they were losing their eyesight. They did not want to live a life without the senses of either vision of hearing. However in Belgium there have also been cases where people took their own lives due to chronic fatigue, autism, depression, and bipolar disorder. So, it is indeed a slippery slope. I carry the belief that any adult should hold the right to end their own life. This is not exactly the most popular opinion. However, I completely can understand the controversy and reasons for people on the opposite side of this debate.
One thing to consider is that many of these individuals will still commit suicide. Just in a more painful, less dignified manner that is more traumatizing for the loved ones.
Where do you stand? Are you for or against assisted suicide being offered for mental health conditions and non lethal diseases?
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/health/assisted-suicide-mental-disorders.html?_r=0
All images from Pixabay
Depression was the most widely recognized determination, yet forlornness was likewise a regular topic. Maladjustment is more typical in individuals whose blood relatives additionally have a dysfunctional behavior. Certain qualities may expand your danger of building up an emotional sickness, and your life circumstance may trigger it.
This is truly a mind-bending conversation being discussed within the medical community quite heavily right now. For religious reasons I disagree, but I don't feel I have the right to inflict my religious standards upon others. Additionally, I do wonder if some situations it would be more humane to allow someone to make this choice. I am on the fence a lot when I think of this issue.
I struggle with people who have debilitating diseases that leave them in frequent pain. In my early twenties, I had an uncle-in-law who was dying from prostate cancer and contemplating assisted suicide. He confided in me this thought and actually asked me if I would help him if he decided to go this route.
This was over a decade ago and before the discussion of assisted suicide became more of a mainstream topic. I, of course, politely declined. He passed away less than two weeks later and I've always wondered if he went ahead with the act by himself by overdosing on pain medication.
In regard to mental illness. Hmmm. That's a tough one also. The pain of mental pain can be as painful as physical pain. It may even cause destruction to others around you(some examples: Alcoholism, Bi-polar mood swings, and PTSD). I can see how causing destruction and pain to others around you could cause someone to contemplate assisted suicide to ease the burden of others around them.
What a very thought provoking subject @lauralemons. A subject that makes me struggle with my religious reasons when you contemplate the morality in comparison. Thanks for the post.
I actually suffer from constant debilitating physical pain myself that has reduced my quality of life to an abhorrent level. Yet, when I discuss the possibility that if for many more years I get no relief or change I will possibly commit suicide it is met with outrage.
Indeed it is a sticky subject. I also understand how religious reasons would make it that much more complex. I do personally feel it is the right of the individual but not without years of evaluation.
Definitely a lot of sides to consider and I am sympathetic to all the differing opinions. There is clear reason why this is such a debate.
Thank you for the thoughtful response. :)