> On the other hand, this should not be available to someone who has "hearing loss"
Why? Should they jump off a bridge instead?
> and is possibly not in a position to make good decisions.
Who are you to tell?
Why? Should they jump off a bridge instead?
> and is possibly not in a position to make good decisions.
Who are you to tell?
This idea that "one's mind is sovereign over their destiny" is unsustainable in practice. There are many versions of it floating around, for example related to gun control issues. You just can't create policies that ignore the reality that a large portion of people are not rational a large fraction of time.
You can't ignore downsides just 'cause you see upsides.
Wanting to die, and appreciating the expression of love in your direction, are not opposites.
At least then there will be less lingering suspicion that he was pressured into it for being a cost point. And unlike in the usual AS hypotheticals, (but like most actual assisted suicides), he was perfectly capable of it. He didn't need assistance.
If you say, "my life is not worth living", maybe that's your call to make. But I think it would be very, very, wrong of me to answer, "Yes, your life is not worth living". Especially if I was your doctor.
Involving other people in your suicide, trying to get them to validate your decision, is deeply wrong. It's far worse than things like "emotional burden on your family" like suicidees are often accused of inflicting. It's no wonder that after this has been law for a while, doctor's moral sentiments are sufficiently sabotaged that they start encouraging it for people they see as a burden.
That's is _not_ what is being asked of the doctors. They are being asked to determine whether the patient truly believes their life isn't worth living. They are trying to determine if the patient is clear of mind in his or her decision-making. It would be unprofessional and _wrong_ of a doctor to somehow make this decision about them.
Frankly I think you have it entirely backwards. The patients are trying to remove the state's prerogative to block their suicide. They aren't asking you to validate their decision; they are trying to remove you from the equation entirely. They want to be allowed to make decisions about their bodies and their lives _themselves_.
I honestly find your position exceedingly selfish and callous. Your personal feelings of suicide simply do not matter when it comes to others' choices about how they'd like their lives you end.
My personal feelings about suicide become relevant when others start involving me in their suicide. I can't just "get out of the way" when I am put in that position. (The state has already gotten out of the way, as long as suicide is legal, which ofc. it should be)
The elephant in the room is that most assisted suicides, including the one in this article, happen with people who would be capable of doing it on their own.
I'm really confused. I mean I assume you must be a doctor right? If not, literally none of this makes any sense since you're not being included in anything.
Regardless, your job as a doctor would be to determine whether a terminal patient making a decision to end his or her life is clear of mind. That is it. You wouldn't be approving of their suicide.
Your position is basically the epitome of selfishness. You are taking something that is not about you and making it about you. Your emotions simply do not matter. Grow up and understand that the world doesn't revolve around you. People shouldn't have to go through unnecessary suffering because you for some reason take their own entirely personal decisions about their own lives and make it somehow about you.
How? Sure, the doctor probably didn't actively recommend it. But medical costs could very well be a significant factor in such an action.