[Article] Rebuttal to “legal euthanasia is the failure of the State to it’s citizens”

[TAW122]

While I don't deny that there are situations where solutions to problems and progress are ignored or failed to be addressed and that death/euthanasia/assisted suicide is a way out instead, it is still a poor argument to use to oppose voluntary euthanasia.

In this Reddit thread, one of the users u/cnxd said:

"this is why I would never be able to get behind "euthanasia should be just available for everyone", because having euthanasia being paraded as an option (unduly) is sort of a failure of the state. for a faceless dehumanizing state-machine, it's way too much of an easy way to cut losses and to not have to continue to care for someone, or even try. "

I do not agree with the user's statement because it ignores the fact that there are still many more people who will still seek life over death as well as those who continue to strive despite the many hardships and difficulties that one faces. In other words, while some people may choose to CTB, there are many more people that will choose the path of recovery when they know that the option of legal euthanasia is there for them to access, even if at a later point in their lives. There is no shortage of volunteers and those who WANT to live. Therefore, for those that do voluntarily choose to stay and seek recovery, cures, or a solution for whatever problem they may have, the State and society can help those people, which is more than enough for researchers, doctors, medical experts, and such to work with.

Now I know opponents of MAID and voluntary euthanasia will like to claim that if the State fosters a culture and attitude of accepting legal voluntary euthanasia for it's citizens, then (over time) this would discourage people who otherwise may have had a willingness to fight and recover to what is a meaningful life (for the individual). This is demonstrably false as within the countries that have legalized assisted suicide, right to die, and death with dignity laws (speaking for Canada, some countries in Western Europe) do not have an uptick in CTB's nor people who apply for them. It allows the people who really don't wish to live to have a peaceful, dignified exit rather than resorting to violent, brutal, and less reliable means that carries unnecessary risk, trauma to the first responders, and/or high risk of failure resulting in a worse predicament for the individual (including but not limited to vegetative state, coma, and/or severe physical/psychological disabilities).

Therefore, in conclusion, I think it is possible to work towards finding a solution to the problems in society and also simultaneously leaving the option of voluntary euthanasia open for those who have decided to give up on recovery or even living. Instead of investing time, effort, and resources to demonizing, harassing, and violating the rights of citizens who have decided that life is not worth it as well as banning and restricting peaceful means, and trying to censor, dismiss, deplatform various safe spaces like SaSu and what not, they could use those resources to ACTUALLY fix the systemic issues in a dysfunctional and broken society. That alone would already improve quality enough for quite a few people to not imminently want to CTB or be in dread. Then just by having a legalized pathway towards voluntary euthanasia for all legal adults of sound mind, that would allow those who truly wish to leave to be able to leave peaceful, safely, and with minimal trauma to their loved ones, first responders, and other third parties.

@RainAndSadness @FuneralCry @Forever Sleep

 

[FuneralCry]

To me there is no valid reason to deny people the option of euthanasia as anyway nobody is obligated to delay the inevitable and there is just the fact that some people don't want to stay here. The person in the reddit thread clearly lacks compassion for the suffering that people experience as leaving people with no choice but to resort to risky and brutal methods is inhumane. Legalising euthanasia would prevent so much unnecessary torture and it also just gives people the choice to leave without the risks and complications of planning a method.

 

[unnormal9]

In this Reddit thread, one of the users u/cnxd said:



I do not agree with the user's statement

First, stop quoting shit from the decrepit site of degenerates: reddit; and taking shit there at blunt face value.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I do agree with you. I believe that there are differences between people who want to continue living- despite their ilnesses and people who would rather call it a day. I don't think- just because assisted suicide is available- that it will be everyone's prefered solution.

I suppose the concern is money at the end of the day. Say someone is believed to be in the late stages of cancer by the doctors and their medication is extremely expensive. WILL the doctor at some point withdraw the treatment because of the cost? Would that be easier for them to do if assisted suicide were available? Not to say they will push them in that direction- I expect that would be illegal. I just wonder if it will be something that happens organically.

I have no doubt that some of the worst afflicted people in our societies don't receive enough support. They're struggling as it is to get the meagre support they do get. If assisted suicide was available to them- would it not be easier for them to just go for that- rather than to keep fighting? I suppose I can see what that Reddit person was on about there.

Still- like you say- if less money were spent on forcing people to live- who REALLY don't want to- that could surely be better allocated providing better support to those who actually want it. I've admired your economic models before- that- ok- more people CTB would mean less jobs in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Still- those jobs would be transfered to people staffing assisted dieing clinics and assesment procedures.

 

[TAW122]

To me there is no valid reason to deny people the option of euthanasia as anyway nobody is obligated to delay the inevitable and there is just the fact that some people don't want to stay here. The person in the reddit thread clearly lacks compassion for the suffering that people experience as leaving people with no choice but to resort to risky and brutal methods is inhumane. Legalising euthanasia would prevent so much unnecessary torture and it also just gives people the choice to leave without the risks and complications of planning a method.

Indeed, and sadly, the consequence of the prohibitionist society and masses is people getting desperate that they choose, violent, risky, and brutal methods that not only have a higher risk of failure as well as permanent damage to the person, but also leaves a gruesome aftermath (especially if very violent and gory).

Still- like you say- if less money were spent on forcing people to live- who REALLY don't want to- that could surely be better allocated providing better support to those who actually want it. I've admired your economic models before- that- ok- more people CTB would mean less jobs in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Still- those jobs would be transfered to people staffing assisted dieing clinics and assesment procedures.

Absolutely on point. Just imagine how much the world would be like if say, even in the last several decades voluntary euthanasia was legalized and the taboo, stigma, and roadblocks were not there. Furthermore, instead of draconic, cart blanche suicide prevention measures and efforts used for that, we make programs and initiates that will help the welfare of the citizens in shitty predicaments, improve their quality of life and fix many systemic issues in our society, which would help those people who may otherwise wish to CTB to not CTB. The current treatment of all people to be forced to continue to live, even those who otherwise don't wish to is not only a waste of money and resources, but also results in those who really want to die to resort to brutal, risky methods, thus causing a net negative in all areas of society.