Boer: I was wrong — Euthanasia has a slippery slope

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-ma...ity/#Simon2005

9/10 people in this study contemplated suicide for less than one day. That is impulse behaviour in my mind.


I believe at the bare minimum a psychiatric intervention is required before we assist suicide. However, due to the impulsive nature, I don't see those 9/10 making an appointment before acting. PsYcHnEt is flat out wrong here

This is why I would think that in the case of assisted suicide for physically healthy people, that they would have to go through a certain amount of treatment before they are deemed the assistance. It would likely rule out most of these impulsive people. But that doesn't mean that people wouldn't still take their own lives without seeking help. Really that is up to them.

But it is quite a bit different from euthanization of very sick people with very little to no hope of recovery. If someone decides they don't want to spend the remainder of their lives in hospital care, as a burdern to their families (even if the families won't admit it) and a burden to the healthcare system overall. That is their choice and, honestly, I think an admirable one. But I still think that, for those who are still self aware, counselling should be compelted first and if they still want to take their life, let them.

[Dion]

Only one in five doctors in Canada would be willing to perform euthanasia if physician-assisted dying were legalized in this country, a survey by the nation’s largest doctors’ group shows.

The Canadian Medical Association poll, completed by more than 2,000 doctors, found that only 20 per cent of MDs surveyed said they would be willing to perform euthanasia, while twice as many — 42 per cent — would refuse to do so, according to an article to be published online by the CMA and obtained by Postmedia News.

Twenty-three per cent of doctors surveyed said they were not sure how they would respond to a request for euthanasia; 15 per cent didn’t answer.

The CMA defines euthanasia as “knowingly and intentionally performing an act that is explicitly intended to end another person’s life” in cases of incurable illness “and the act is undertaken with empathy and compassion.”

The survey also found that nearly half of physicians — 44 per cent — would refuse a request for doctor-assisted suicide.

The results of the CMA survey contrast sharply with public opinion. A poll published in 2011 found that a majority of Canadians — 67 per cent — are in favour of legalizing medically assisted suicide. Yet the very people who would be expected to help carry out this most difficult decision — doctors themselves — are far more uncomfortable with the idea.

http://www.canada.com/news/Only+cent...308/story.html