[X] My Assistant

[Matdredalia]

This is not about euthanasia. I want to make that perfectly clear right now. This is an ethics debate about whether it is better to live or die in extreme circumstances.

The question being posed is this:

If someone is in a position where they can't take care of themselves very well, they are suffering from an illness, and they will eventually (no certain date) die.......is it more ethical for that person to keep trying to live at the expense of others charity and kindness, or to just let death come?

Now, most people I know have stated they think it's better to just die so they don't have to suffer, be a burden on their families, or be humiliated.

However, most of these people have no physical defects and don't really need to worry about such a future, and never really have.

I, personally, have spent a lot of time thinking about this, as I am physically disabled already. I won't get into all the details. I'm somewhat self sufficient but there are a lot of things I can't do.

And I am looking at facing the proposed future, where I am dependant on those around me and suffering pretty badly.

This makes me hesitant to say it's better if I just die. Because if that is the case, I might be choosing death in my late 30's/early 40's with the way things are heading.

However, even before I got sick, I was hesitant to say I'd choose to pull the plug.

When I was 3 years old, my uncle (who was like my father) died very suddenly. I would give almost anything for one more day with him. This has frequently made me feel that as long as I can still communicate in some manner and am still cohearant on some level, I want to be alive, even if I am suffering unbearably and am being humiliated. If it gives my family one more day with me, how could I not?

I'm curious to see how others look at this issue and what their thoughts are on it.

Commence!

[Lord Raven]

it depends on if there's a tangible shot to get out of extreme circumstances. if not, then i would still rather live.

[Gati]

Personally, I would rather die in that situation.
However, nobody ever knows the actual answer on situations like this, because I know if I had a child on a comma the last thing I would want to do is to pull the plug.

[Matdredalia]

This is more centered around pulling your own plug, so to speak. Basically, making the choice for yourself whether or not you want to live or die.

With a child in a coma, someone else has to make that decision, so it doesn't really pertain to this conversation. Though, I must say I agree with you. I believe in miracles and it would take me a long time to decide to pull the plug.

[Dazmi]

This depends on age, and the illness.

If I'm like...70, and there's not much chance I'll get through it, then I say kill me off.
If I'm like...30, and it's possible that a miracle can occur, then let me stick around for a little longer.

Although, I don't know the true answer to this.
After all, I haven't been in a life or death situation since I was a kid.

[duck]

This depends on age, and the illness.

If I'm like...70, and there's not much chance I'll get through it, then I say kill me off.
If I'm like...30, and it's possible that a miracle can occur, then let me stick around for a little longer.

Although, I don't know the true answer to this.
After all, I haven't been in a life or death situation since I was a kid.

I agree but at the age of 70 I would still try to stay alive so that family and friends have a chance to say goodbye then finish the treatment