General Discussion

forestpath

(3,102 posts)

48. Rest in peace. I completely understand.

Reply to Little Star (Original post)

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 10:50 PM

Jan 2013

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

82 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Euthanasia. Twins born deaf and sought euthanasia after finding that they would also soon go blind. [View all] Little Star Jan 2013 OP

This one really saddens me... but in this country, without a lot of personal resources... hlthe2b Jan 2013 #1

It's heartbreaking. Little Star Jan 2013 #11

They made a personal choice in a country that allows such humanity tavalon Jan 2013 #22

Yes... as much as I am conflicted on this one, I agree on that basic point hlthe2b Jan 2013 #23

This would not be even close to legal under the Oregon law, just fyi. Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #2

So sad. dipsydoodle Jan 2013 #3

agreed... GETTINGTIRED Jan 2013 #8

Slippery slope marions ghost Jan 2013 #4

Yes, people will find a way to die if they really want to... Little Star Jan 2013 #9

For me the issue is marions ghost Jan 2013 #14

And therein lies the problem. Little Star Jan 2013 #15

Other than on an episode of Law and Order, I think the likelihood of that happening is very slight. progressoid Jan 2013 #18

Happens more than you think marions ghost Jan 2013 #19

How do you know? progressoid Jan 2013 #21

Let's just say marions ghost Jan 2013 #25

OK progressoid Jan 2013 #28

Sometimes marions ghost Jan 2013 #41

This isn't a case of depression though, wickerwoman Jan 2013 #54

That's my thought tavalon Jan 2013 #24

Right marions ghost Jan 2013 #26

I don't want *any* state assistance in suicide, period. Very slippery slope, especially in these HiPointDem Jan 2013 #65

We agree marions ghost Jan 2013 #68

i don't like it. & oregon isn't really very progressive. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #82

i'm not sure... smackd Jan 2013 #5

I could imagine that losing both my hearing and my eyesight would be a deal killer tavalon Jan 2013 #27

You speak for me too. Auntie Bush Jan 2013 #32

Deafblind people use sign language KamaAina Jan 2013 #42

+1 Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #44

Yes, there's an extended family in Louisiana that has a genetic disease in which Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #61

This is so very sad. WinkyDink Jan 2013 #6

What a heart-wrenching story. polly7 Jan 2013 #7

People that want to die theKed Jan 2013 #10

Everything you said is why I am so torn about this & why I voted in favor of this law for MA. n/t Little Star Jan 2013 #12

You won't get an argument from me on the comparison tavalon Jan 2013 #29

I wonder if they believed in the afterlife. sadbear Jan 2013 #13

Why do you wonder? (It's likely not; the Dutch are pretty secular.) WinkyDink Jan 2013 #35

Being secular has absolutely nothing to do with spiritual beliefs. It only means people don't belong KittyWampus Jan 2013 #37

These guys were Belgian. sadbear Jan 2013 #40

I don't, and I would end it. RedCappedBandit Jan 2013 #62

You would end it if you were blind and deaf? sadbear Jan 2013 #71

There are things worse than death. siligut Jan 2013 #16

The only point I would want to know is how much time they were given to rethink their decision. randome Jan 2013 #17

I think Helen Keller showed that being blind and deaf doesnt have to mean a bad life. She had stevenleser Jan 2013 #20

I don't think mine would and especially if I was going to lose the other in midlife tavalon Jan 2013 #30

But Helen Keller was very young when she went deaf and blind JI7 Jan 2013 #52

I think the opposite. JimDandy Jan 2013 #58

No, Keller had it way harder than these guys. JVS Jan 2013 #63

Good points. n/t ChazII Jan 2013 #75

Easier, but not impossible Gormy Cuss Jan 2013 #76

Pretty simple. Their lives, their decision. That's how a truly civilized society must see it. dmallind Jan 2013 #31

+1000 I was going to post the exact same, "Their lives, their decsion". sinkingfeeling Jan 2013 #33

actually, no it's not that simple. cali Jan 2013 #34

Not necessarily, unless you include very tangential involvement. dmallind Jan 2013 #36

Want to shuffle of the mortal coil? You have my blessing. go for it. cali Jan 2013 #70

Why should "society" have a voice? dmallind Jan 2013 #81

agree completely Budgies Revenge Jan 2013 #46

While not really that simple, still a good rule-of-thumb. Hoyt Jan 2013 #56

They made their choice Aerows Jan 2013 #38

If I were in their shoes I might be inclined to follow the same path. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #39

neighborhood woman is deaf & blind, lives a full life, participates at board meetings Liberal_in_LA Jan 2013 #49

The neighborhood and daily interactions would have to be right. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #50

This is downright scary to people who live with significant disabilities KamaAina Jan 2013 #43

Possibly that's true, wickerwoman Jan 2013 #55

Yes. And such laws are a very slippery slope, imo. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #66

I agree. The lower the bar gets set for euthanasia, the more it becomes expected that the... JVS Jan 2013 #67

Agree with your comments ChazII Jan 2013 #78

Why do we say they were "euthanized" rather than saying that got help Bonobo Jan 2013 #45

Yep. There's one side of the coin. Little Star Jan 2013 #47

Rest in peace. I completely understand. forestpath Jan 2013 #48

They were in control of their lives to the end. Deep13 Jan 2013 #51

This was wrong JimDandy Jan 2013 #53

The law shouldn't require people to be heroic. wickerwoman Jan 2013 #57

The law can, JimDandy Jan 2013 #60

What judgmental bullshit! forestpath Jan 2013 #73

One of my very dear friends chose assisted suicide in 2007 HeiressofBickworth Jan 2013 #59

I am sorry for the loss of your friend. LisaLynne Jan 2013 #72

ALS is truly horrible. I'm glad that your friend had the choice of assisted suicide... Little Star Jan 2013 #74

I can't see myself losing that much independence RedCappedBandit Jan 2013 #64

Ultimately I agree but they still had each other Puzzledtraveller Jan 2013 #69

Wisdom, strength, courage, opportunity DreamGypsy Jan 2013 #77

I hope they got a second and third opinion ecstatic Jan 2013 #79

When someone without a disability expresses a wish to die, we offer them counseling KamaAina Jan 2013 #80