Short survey

[Moss]

it says "end their suffering"

I wouldn't consider comatose to be suffering, but it might be better to actually ask a comatose person

[Howie Roary]

it might be better to actually ask a comatose person

pardon my lazy generalization of all forms of long term illness that would not allow them to voice their wishes, and I'll pardon your willful obtuseness at the obvious implication

the point stands that the questions don't say anything about the wishes of the patient. If someone is a vegetable and in chronic pain, if someone is so progressed into alzheimer's or aphasia that they cannot speak a coherent statement, if someone has had their speech centers knocked out by a grand mal seizure etc etc

[Outlaw]

Because if that's what they want, why would you say no and make them suffer? That's really fucking selfish.

/sigh I knew I shouldn't have opened my big mouth. So it wouldn't bother you, even a little to say, kill your own mother? Also the question didn't say, "If they asked you too."

Yeah, I would rather hear someone's explanation for NOT pulling the plug.

Because maybe I love them too much and just don't have the heart to do it. Is that so wrong?

because jesus

I'm not some crazy christian fundimentalist either.

[Kohan]

the questions speak nothing of the patient's desires, I'm going with comatose state

Also the question didn't say, "If they asked you too."

The poll specifies "terminal illness." What else do you really need to know? If you're dreaming of someone in a coma waking up and going on to live a full, healthy life, you're not reading the poll correctly.

Further, if you're given the option to "end their suffering," this is authorized beforehand wherever it's actually legal, as the patient specified it in a living will. The practice of euthanasia is specifically related to ending one's suffering, and it is illegal to do it without the patient's authorization.

Edit:

Because maybe I love them too much and just don't have the heart to do it. Is that so wrong?

So long as you don't think less of others for being willing to do so, no.

[Outlaw]

Further, if you're given the option to "end their suffering," this is authorized beforehand wherever it's actually legal, as the patient specified it in a living will. The practice of euthanasia is specifically related to ending one's suffering, and it is illegal to do it without the patient's authorization.

Point taken. It would also depend on the circumstances. If there was absolutely no way they would recover and I was the only one that could decide.. Everybody has heard of cases where the doctors told them just to give up, the percentages are so small, blah, blah but they recovered. If there was still any chance I wouldn't.

So long as you don't think less of others for being willing to do so, no.

No, I don't.

[hey]

the questions speak nothing of the patient's desires, I'm going with comatose state here and no input from patient until the questions specify otherwise

Well sure it does, unless you think it's asking if we support murder. First of all, comatose means there's no suffering, so there's no suffering to end. Second, a coma isn't a terminal illness. Either consent has been given, or we're talking about murder.

/sigh I knew I shouldn't have opened my big mouth. So it wouldn't bother you, even a little to say, kill your own mother?

Then why the hell did you ask? If that's what she really wanted, and i knew she had a good reason for wanting it (ie she was going to die anyway), then uh...yeah, it'd bother me. A lot. However, i'm not a selfish asshole, so i wouldn't watch my mother suffer just to make myself feel better.

Because maybe I love them too much and just don't have the heart to do it. Is that so wrong?

A little, yes, i would say so. It's understandable though.

[Meresgi]

Which is your generation?
1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers


Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or No to someone else doing the deed?

Yes

Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed?

Yes

Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course?

No

Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO?

Yes

Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO?

Yes

Are You a Male or Female?

Male

Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO?

No

[Ksandra]

Which is your generation?
1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers (though tbh, I was born in 1980 and everyone my year has always referred ourselves as still part of genX, I think it varies)

Circle yes or no for these next few questions
Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or no to someone else doing the deed?
No.
Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed?
No.
Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course?
Yes.
Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO?
Yes.
Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO?
Yes.
Are You a Male or Female?
Female.
Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO?
Yes.

[Silenka]

Which is your generation?

1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers

Circle yes or no for these next few questions

Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or NO to someone else doing the deed?

No

Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed?

No

Would You say YES or NO to letting nature take its course?

Yes

Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO?

No

Would You want the option to make this decision YES or NO?

Yes

Are You a Male or Female?

Female

Do you have kids of your own YES or NO?

No

I honestly don't think I'll know the real answers to these questions unless I am actually in this situation someday. But thinking about it right now I'd like to let nature take its course unless the family member requested to be taken off life support (assuming they were in a conscious state, if not, idk what I'd do). Tough stuff.

[Moss]

The situation should have been more clearly stated because everyone is making different assumptions and it is affecting their answers.

I answered assuming the suffering family member wants it to end. Not sure why anyone would pull the plug on a suffering family member that still wants to live.

[hey]

The situation should have been more clearly stated because everyone is making different assumptions and it is affecting their answers.

I answered assuming the suffering family member wants it to end. Not sure why anyone would pull the plug on a suffering family member that still wants to live.

I also don't think we're really talking about pulling a plug, either. Killing someone who is alive and can survive on their own (even if only for a short time) isn't really comparable to turning off life support for someone who cannot survive otherwise. In the latter case there's often no remaining chance for them, and there is generally no benefit in prolonging their life. In that case, they can't really give consent, so unless you want to keep them on life support forever, a decision needs to be made by someone else.

However if someone is suffering from a fatal illness, this is not the case. Prolonging life will cause suffering, but at the same time, they can also potentially still enjoy the remainder of their life, being with family, etc. It's always up to them to decide when the benefits of being alive are outweighed by the suffering, since no no else can judge either of these things. Not to mention deciding to kill someone against their will is murder, which i'm fairly confident none of us support. Unfortunately, in this case it's also a lot harder to do. You're not just removing their support, and letting whatever happens happen. You are actually killing them yourself (or helping them commit suicide). But if that is what they decide is best, and are really sure, it needs to be done, no matter how difficult.

[BaneTheBrawler]

This is why I said context is important and my answers were meaningless without specifics.

[Brill Weave]

Which is your generation?
1965-1979 - Generation X


Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or No to someone else doing the deed? - Yes
Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed? - Yes
Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course? - No
Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO? - Yes
Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO? - Yes
Are You a Male or Female? - Male
Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO? - No

[Timwakefield]

These same answers.

1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers

Circle yes or no for these next few questions
Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or No to someone else doing the deed?
Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed?
Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course?
Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO?
Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO?
Are You a Male or Female?
Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO?

[WrenDraco]

Born in 1981 so I guess that squeaks me into the Millennials.

1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers

Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or No to someone else doing the deed? - Yes, assuming there's no reasonable doubt that they aren't going to recover and that they're suffering.

Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed? - I don't think I could. I've never killed anything bigger than the pest-mice that kept getting into our old apartment.

Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course? - Usually there isn't any other option, euthanasia isn't terribly popular in Canada, so generally that's a YES. If there's a 'do not resuscitate' order, then when things start to go bad I'd just let them go. In fact that's what happened with the most recent death of a grandparent, she got blood poisoning after being in the hospital yet again, and she went quietly 'away' under the effects of a lot of painkillers.

Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO? - YES. More than one grandparent.

Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO? - YES

Are You a Male or Female? - Female

Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO? - NO but I will probably within the next few years.

[Melena]

1965-1979 - Generation X

Circle yes or no for these next few questions
Hypothetically, You have a terminally ill family member and you are given the option to end their suffering. Would you say YES or No to someone else doing the deed? YES
Would you say YES or NO if You did the deed? NO
Would You say YES or No to letting nature take it’s course? NO
Have you ever lost a loved one to a long term illness or accident YES or NO? YES
Would You want the option to make this decision Yes or NO? YES
Are You a Male or Female? MALE
Do you have kids of your own Yes or NO? NO

[Omniyoji]

1980-2000 - Millennials or New Baby Boomers

YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
MALE
NO