Comments on: Kevorkian Will Not Assist In Any Suicides
After More Than 8 Years In Prison, Kevorkian Says Assisted Suicide "Should Be Legal"
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- Well, Agnim, I'd have to say that you are one of the most callous people I've read.
Anyone who says 'You don't need a doctor to commit suicide. Just do it yourself' is essentially saying 'You don't need a doctor to perform an abortion. Just do it yourself.'
Such an attitude is callous and inhumane. Why should people be limited to jumping in front of a train, off a building, shooting themselves, cutting their wrists, bringing a toaster into the bath, or a combination of these methods, among many others, to kill themselves?.
Now, they certainly can't tell their family or friends about their plans, because that could leave them open to charges: 'Why didn't you stop them?' And when they come back and see their loved one with a plastic bag over their head, or blood all over the room, they are shocked and scarred, possibly for life. And on top of this, they can't even *be* with their loved one during their final moments.
As for 'do no harm', please refer to my previous post on this topic. - Reply to this comment
- There often comes a point in time when medical intervention is no longer prolonging life but rather prolonging death. Think about it.
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- to:mikealford3
That was my question, "what is enjoyable about suffering"?
I don't understand this guy's comments... - Reply to this comment
- Does it all come down to money, greed? A profit for doctors and hospitals to keep the suffering patient alive?? How about the pharmaceutical companies prescibing the many expensive drugs just for the sake of being alive, yet miserable and in severe pain. That is what I think. Money, the bottom line, the root of all evil!!!
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- Dr Kevorkian has no reason for regrets. He is a compassionate person who only wanted to help people in need. He did what the patient and their families wanted. It was never his idea or decision. To imply that he thinks that all people who have Lou Gehrigs disease should be killed or that he is a murderer is ridiculous! If you are looking for a murderer, our President is responsible for the murder of many innocent people and I am certain that neither they, nor their families asked for it. They were not terminally ill and their lives were still precious and rewarding. Yet the president has the power to make decisions that affect their lives and no one questions his motives. Everything Dr K did was purely unselfish and had nothing to do with ego. And as if he hadn't been insulted enough, Mike told everyone on national tv how much income he would get and asked him how he would live! I applaud Dr K for handling the interview with grace and dignity. I would like to see an interview with President Bush asking those same questions. I would also like to see Mike Wallace apologize to Dr K for the insulting interview.
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- If a guy CAN REMAIN ALIVE ON HIS OWN; but just doesn't like his quality of life, then why can't he take his own life if he really want to die that badly? No real doctor will support killing such a 'coward', when he can just do it himself.
Posted by Agnim at 08:20 PM : Jun 04, 2007
Have you ever seen an ALS patient. If so you would know the horrible effects. You would also know that a person afflictted severely with ALS is physically not capable of inducing his/her own death.
You call people "cowards" because they are tired of suffering and being sick, how sad that you have that opinion. I just don't know what else to say, anyway most of it could not be published. - Reply to this comment
- (1). "If a guy CAN REMAIN ALIVE ON HIS OWN; but just doesn't like his quality of life, then why can't he take his own life if he really want to die that badly?"
(2). "It is far better for the society that a few terminally ill patient 'enjoy' a bit of extended suffering before death, than to start promoting doctors for the role of executioners."
Posted by Agnim at 08:20 PM : Jun 04, 2007
(1). Try this on for size. You are completely paralyzed and can only see straight ahead, you are deaf and cannot feel anything but the burning pain in your eyes from not being able to blink or close your eyes. now "cut your own throat, or shoot yourself in the head. Maybe you could OD on painkillers or even pick up the phone to call "Dr. Death" as you call him, if you could move that is. Hmmm, guess you'll just have to suffer in silence.
(2). While you are 'enjoying' your extended bit of suffering just remember, if you can have a Proctologist, Optometrist, Dermatologist, that you call on when needed, why not have a 'Terminologist' for those 'Special Occasions'? - Reply to this comment
- It is far better for the society that a few terminally ill patient 'enjoy' a bit of extended suffering before death, than to start promoting doctors for the role of executioners.
Who would trust a doctor who doesn't mind dishing out death every once in a while?
Posted by Agnim at 08:20 PM : Jun 04, 2007
Agnim
Obviously you have never suffered. Just what is enjoyable about suffering?
I would trust a doctor who is willing to end a patients suffering. It's called compassion and I don't think you understand because you have never been there. - Reply to this comment
- If you wind up as a vegetable, then it wouldn't matter to you THEN!
So you can go right ahead and commit our suicide; but somehow we believe that it is more the case that you are afraid of dying.
Posted by Agnim at 08:27 PM : Jun 04, 2007
Agnim, you obviously have never been faced with a terrible disease and the suffering that comes with it. You appear to be young enough where you have not had your dreams crushed by an injury or illness. You obviously don't understand the desire NOT to become a vegatable is so that the family is not burdened with having to take care of you and you are caught is a horrible state.
You should also understand that in all the cases of Kevorkian assisting suicide, he actually injected only the last man and that's why he went to prison. Every other case Kevorkian only supplied the chemicals and the appratus and the patients pushed the button to get the chemicals flowing. - Reply to this comment
- "I would be afraid to commit suicide just because it might turn out wrong, then I could possible end of as a vegetable; that would be even worse.
Posted by bequialife at 04:59 PM : Jun 04, 2007"
LOL
You are too funny.
If you wind up as a vegetable, then it wouldn't matter to you THEN!
So you can go right ahead and commit our suicide; but somehow we believe that it is more the case that you are afraid of dying.
And you wouldn't have the courage to commit suicide, so you have someone suffer the consequence of murdering you? How selfish! - Reply to this comment
- "So, Agnim, an ethical doctor should instead prolong the intense suffering, even if the patients end up begging to die, because the people who aren't feeling the pain know that life is so precious and eventually there might be a cure?
How compassionate of you.
Posted by WiccanTexan at 03:43 PM : Jun 04, 2007"
First of all you have no idea what the word compassion means and when it applies.
Second, this old murdering and delusional fool is not about prolonging life.
Prolonging life is when you hook up a person to a machine, say, to keep him alive.
No doctor should be compelled to do so if the patient and family do not want ARTIFICIAL prolonging of life. That is a different situation.
If a guy CAN REMAIN ALIVE ON HIS OWN; but just doesn't like his quality of life, then why can't he take his own life if he really want to die that badly? No real doctor will support killing such a 'coward', when he can just do it himself.
This Kevorkian clown is not a real doctor. They should put him back in the can if he should utter one word about promoting his murder.
It is far better for the society that a few terminally ill patient 'enjoy' a bit of extended suffering before death, than to start promoting doctors for the role of executioners.
Who would trust a doctor who doesn't mind dishing out death every once in a while?
Doctors should be the kind of professional of whom patients think as GIVING LIFE NOT TAKING LIFE! - Reply to this comment
- Only those who deal with death on a daily basis understand and then one can only empathize. One signs a DNR (Do not Resuscitate) but did not sign a DNI (Do Not Intubate). Guess what ...the doctor intubates. It's not as easy as it sounds. A suffering person should have the option because suffering can be so prolonged. Dr. Kevorkian had sympathy for his patients and should have been commended not placed in jail. Chances are when men curse you, God blesses you; and he does Dr. Kevorkian. I don't believe he was trying to play God.
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- It is not necessary to suffer forever;please see the post about "googling natural or plant poisons"on the web.
Posted by dorothydenim at 10:33 PM : Jun 03, 2007
Most people already know 'how' to die, what most of us are afraid of is "BOTCHING" the job and ending up a living hunk of flesh with no vote on how the next 5 minutes turns out. Give me a person with the forsight and love of Dr. Kevorkian if I should need him and I will live as long as I can still function productively, and I don't mean going out and working either. - Reply to this comment
- I hope there is someone around like Dr. Kevorkian when I am at a stage where I can't take any pain, and/or burdening my friends/family, or need to be in a diaper. I would be afraid to commit suicide just because it might turn out wrong, then I could possible end of as a vegetable; that would be even worse.
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- If Heaven is the wonderful place that you believe it to be and earth can be the hatfull, painfull place that it is, WHAT'S WRONG WITH DIEING AND GOING TO HEAVEN?
Posted by mikealford3 at 04:17 PM : Jun 04, 2007
Thank you! So often the idea that "life is God's gift" is distorted to justify in the minds of family members that prolonging the life of a terminally ill, profoundly suffering person is the right way to go. If Heaven and reunion with God is truly a good thing, why are they fighting the journey? Now THAT's what I would call "playing God," rather than saying that the doctor who would help the patient end the suffering is doing so. - Reply to this comment
- A person can sign a statement to the fact that under certain circumstances, they prefer to be unplugged.
Posted by AverJane at 03:59 PM : Jun 04, 2007
Those documents are called "Living Wills". They are done by a person who is or is at risk for becoming terminally ill or who is having very touchy surgery. I have one and it is very clear that it is my desire that is life support is the only means by which I will remain alive, please allow me to die.
I also hope you never have to see a loved one suffer so badly that death is truely a gift. Unfortunately I have seen that. I have brain cancer and it is very likely that I will become very sick before I die. I do not wish for my parents to have to witness my suffering from the effects of this cancer. All is stable for now, but I believe I should have the choice to live or die.
Apparently you believe in God and Heaven. If Heaven is the wonderful place that you believe it to be and earth can be the hatfull, painfull place that it is, WHAT'S WRONG WITH DIEING AND GOING TO HEAVEN? - Reply to this comment
- connapa.....just like we did abortion, huh? A person can sign a statement to the fact that under certain circumstances, they prefer to be unplugged. If they believe this is the way they would want to be treated then they need to take care of the paperwork before something happens and they don't get a chance to speak for themselves again. I don't think anyone has the right to convince someone to choose death. It seems like they are playing God. I know it's a hard thing to watch and I hope I never have to see a love one go through it, but I leave death to the person's legal directives or God. Afterall, they will be the one who has to answer for "their" actions. Families should discuss these issues before it's too late, including my family.
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- So, Agnim, an ethical doctor should instead prolong the intense suffering, even if the patients end up begging to die, because the people who aren't feeling the pain know that life is so precious and eventually there might be a cure?
How compassionate of you. - Reply to this comment
- No so-called doctor has any business killing anyone. NONE!
The old fool is a failure; not so much because of his push to killing patients he can't cure; but for not accepting that cures can be out of his reach, and it is better to just accept the failure to cure. For killing someone IS NOT a cure of anything. - Reply to this comment
- After reading these posts, liberals are definitely pro-death... Posted by processor2 at 12:15 PM : Jun 04, 2007
It's always fascinating to me how "anti-suffering" gets twisted around to this. - Reply to this comment
