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.