FT26 founder (Shawn's mom) testifies against proposed assisted-suicide bill for terminal illnesses in Massachusetts

[Looooser]

Assisted suicide here in Oregon is legal for terminal illness. You can get a pill by prescription from your doctor. A friend of mine got one for terminal cancer and took it when the pain got really bad. It was a nice peaceful death. I've heard it cost 500 bucks but some pharmacies refuse to give it out. Not sure how true that is. I'd love to ask my doctor for the script but I'm sure he'll say no for mental health issues even though I consider it terminal.

Update: I guess cost more like 2,000-3000 now

 

[lostundead]

Is she really religious or something? I don't understand the argument against euthanasia at all.

There is no rational argument against it that can stand up to scrutiny, especially when it comes to terminal illness. It just goes to show that she is incapable of putting herself in the shoes of someome who is suffering so horribly. She only sees the pain that her daughter's ctb has caused her and is seemingly numb to everything else.

Reading through the article, it looks like the root of the opposition lies in the belief that human life has an infinite value, whereas suffering doesn't weigh much to them. Words like 'pain' are just words to them. They cannot understand let alone imagine what people with terminal and/or chronic illnesses are going through, in the same way blind people cannot imagine colors because they've never seen them. Why do they think they can have a voice in this matter when they have no clue about what's at stake? Shame on them.

 

[Pluto]

Just to recap, I will now be forced to endure decades of pain with no way out, all because of someone named Bieber. Or, in other words, I am Stuck With U.

 

[MG_39]

She clearly doesn't understand what living a life with either of these is like. Selfish bitch.

I think she do. She lost her daughter, and I'm quite certain she suffer a lot mentally from this. A lot of people blame themselves when they loose someone to suicide, they ask themselves if they could have done anything to avoid it and help that person they love, other people blame other people or laws, governments.

Her way to try to cope with this is to try to stop ALL suicides.

People in this thread that answer with hate towards her should maybe think a little bit more about how you express yourself.

Suicide and assisted suicide is quite complicated in most cases except for terminal illness. Assisted suicide should in my opinion be available for anyone with a terminal illness, but should anyone be able to end their lives in a quick simple way like just call a doctor and get the drugs needed? now things start to get more complicated. In one way I think every adult should be able to decide over their destiny themselves. but how about people who make rushed decisions, how about ill people who feel like they are a burden to relatives, they want to live but feel forced to end it. A lot of people have gone through hard times in life when they where young and it felt like there is no solution and they just want to die, but life have improved, an easy way to end their lives would cause a lot of suffering to people close to them.

So what is my opinion?

Assisted suicide for terminal illness should be available and free for everyone. In other cases to be honest I don't have a good answer. I suffer to a level where I can't cope and there are no cure for me, and of course it would feel good to just be able to go to the doctor and get a prescription for a "ctb pill" and knowing I can end it peacefully anytime I want. And a lot of people here are in a similar situation like mine. But that doesn't mean it's the best solution, because we also have people here where there is hope, and a lot of people would die in rushed decisions, or because they feel forced to do it.

 

[Pluto]

Assisted suicide for terminal illness should be available and free for everyone. In other cases to be honest I don't have a good answer.

The good answer is to have a process of evaluation. Here in Victoria we already have this for terminally ill euthanasia requests, with dozens of safeguards to prevent coercion or abuse and a minimum period of 18 months. It's a bit over the top, but proves that complexity is manageable and need not stop progressive ideas being implemented sensibly.

Your other point is valid, too, but the lesson to be learned is that coping with grief should be a separate process to political activism, as emotionally charged people will rarely possess the rationality needed to attain agreeable outcomes.

 

[MG_39]

The good answer is to have a process of evaluation. Here in Victoria we already have this for terminally ill euthanasia requests, with dozens of safeguards to prevent coercion or abuse and a minimum period of 18 months. It's a bit over the top, but proves that complexity is manageable and need not stop progressive ideas being implemented sensibly.

Your other point is valid, too, but the lesson to be learned is that coping with grief should be a separate process to political activism, as emotionally charged people will rarely possess the rationality needed to attain agreeable outcomes.

Yes, I agree. If she really want to change something when it comes to suicides I think she should focus more on the fact that a lot of people doesn't get the help they need. A lot of people who struggle with physical illness doesn't doesn't get help even when there are solutions, and instead they are told it's mental (at least common where I live) when in fact the mental part is a product of physical illness. And when it comes to mental illness it seems common around the world to start with antidepressants, therapy should be the first treatment option. "Oh patient is depressed, it's a chemical imbalance, let's give him/her antidepressants and it will get better" a cheap option. How about spending some time to figure out WHY that person might be depressed first.

 

[Pluto]

How about spending some time to figure out WHY that person might be depressed first.

I feel that this is precisely the gaping flaw in her position. "Just take away their N and their support website and problem solved." At the very least if there was an effort made to steer people towards genuinely promising solutions for healing, there would be some sense to it. But even then, if people were achieving successful recoveries en masse, 'suicide prevention' would happen by itself and her position would still be invalid.

 

[bad luck]

They are the kind of people who oppose abortion, but if the baby is born sick, they don't care. They are moralistic people to a toxic degree

 

[ayb]

bump. needs more attention

 

[omoidarui]

Shawn's mom Jackie isn't actually the founder of FT26 (although she does campaign for the site's closure). I do remember that very early into said campaign, Jackie said she "would understand if [SS] were helping terminally ill people who were in pain to die, but the site is open for everyone to see" [hence her objection to it]. So the fact she's apparently done a u-turn on a previously made sentiment, in addition to her daughter's death in no way being relevant to this makes me question her inclusion in the article at all, it's like did she even say this or did the journalists warp something she said elsewhere considering how untrustworthy they have proven to be

and even if she did say this, I wouldn't say it makes her an evil person per se since the concept of evil is only relative to the good or bad of intention, which in this case she perceives to be the former because she believes that life is infinite precious. That doesn't make her an evil person, it just means that she holds a dated view that makes her believe that no'one of well mind could truly desire death, and her moral outlook, which she thinks is "good", reflects this.

Not evil, just misguided.

Imagine how hard that is to watch for the families of the afflicted as well. Having to witness your loved one suffer so profoundly.

She said in a fairly recent interview that her mother-in-law passed in this way (terminal illness). I wonder if the circumstances around the death contributed to a change of opinion, as she could, at one stage, "understand" assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

Is she really religious or something? I don't understand the argument against euthanasia at all.

yes

 

[TotallyIsolated]

"Its everyone else's fault that my son's cries for help were ignored"

 

[BeautifulMosaics]

What makes her think that she's even qualified to oppose such a bill? Her daughter (RIP) was not terminally ill and even so, Jackie, is not terminally ill so how dare she try to stop those suffering from being relieved of their pain?

I truly just don't understand the mentality and selfishness. She is just waging a war on everything suicide related and just seems to be a vengeful person who is trying to destroy whatever she can as her heart has been broken. I'm sorry for her pain, but this is just cruel.

 

[Ethereal Knight]

don't wanna sound like a broken record, but it goes back to that thing we repeated many times:

if you ban peaceful methods, you'll only push people towards violent and inhumane ones.

they'll kill themselves anyway.

you're not helping anybody.

you're just virtue signaling and trying to take away something that you cannot take: our freedom.

 

[deleted]

does she think she's saving the world? does she think her son would be happy with these decisions she's been making? I would never forgive my mother if after my suicide she did all this theater

 

[Sherri]

That woman doesn't stop. Let people who are really sick go to sleep without enduring years of pain!! These people are so selfish!

does she think she's saving the world? does she think her son would be happy with these decisions she's been making? I would never forgive my mother if after my suicide she did all this theater

She became such a snob ! Really, get a life, why should a person with terminal cancer that is full of pain and is bed ridden wish to go peacefully can't because some women testify. Don't they say the world is overpopulated? Then give us a chance if we want to go with dignity and peace.
I dont wish anyone hate or harm, I would just like her to think and see the suffering that goes in hospitals at the chemo department. Instead of going to bla bla bla about poor me. Take a trip to the chemo dept. That's what I would tell her in parliament.

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

What a cruel wench.

I watched someone die slowly from end stage cancer .
The last weeks were comatose and came at huge cost to society

 

[PDAnnie2610]

I wish she knew what living with incurable physical pain felt like. Then she'd beg to die.

 

[clown_17]

Imagine suffering the torture of a terminal illness and the only thing you want is relief from pain and to be able to hold onto your dignity. To perhaps spend your last day making memories with family instead of barely conscious in a hospital bed, lying in your own shit.

But then some woman is projecting her own experiences with her kid who died of mental illness, something way different from your condition, and she's trying to make it so you can get the relief you deserve because she can't handle her emotions.

It's sick

 

[ayb]

Bump

 

[diyCTB]

This is about pro-lifers who oppose assisted suicide bill:

 

[waitingforrest]

We have the right to live, but not the right to die? The hypocrisy of pro-lifers. I get that euthanasia is a sensitive subject for some. But not even letting the terminally ill rest with dignity and forcing the pro-life values on the terminally ill is cruel.

It's the sad fact that terminal illnesses will end in death, some people just want the peace to know exactly when it is time instead of wondering when their last day will be.

With enough pain and suffering, even death can seem like the best choice.

I can't really hate on her, grief can make people do things to try cope. I hope she just starts to focus a bit more on herself rather than trying to change others.

 

[diyCTB]

I can't really hate on her, grief can make people do things to try cope. I hope she just starts to focus a bit more on herself rather than trying to change others.

She has absolutely no authority to determine the destiny and violate the will of people who are terminally ill that want to die peacefully based on what happened in her life.

 

[Ironweed]

For those who don't know, the Boston pilot is a newsletter of the Catholic archdiocese of Boston. There is a chance they're spinning what she said to fit into Catholic doctrine. Not that I have any sympathy for what this vile woman is trying to do generally, I assure you I do not, it is just that this is definitely a proceed with question source.

 

[Whale_bones]

For those who don't know, the Boston pilot is a newsletter of the Catholic archdiocese of Boston. There is a chance they're spinning what she said to fit into Catholic doctrine. Not that I have any sympathy for what this vile woman is trying to do generally, I assure you I do not, it is just that this is definitely a proceed with question source.

That's a good point; I didn't know this until you mentioned it but I already felt the article was very biased, much more so than you would find in most stories covering this topic. It gave tons of quotes and talking points from opponents of the bill, while barely skimming over the points of the supporters. The opponents were clearly given space to explain their feelings in an emotional way, while supporters' thoughts were summed up in a few quick words that lacked any detail. It was definitely meant to sway people towards being against the bill, rather than genuinely reporting on what was said and honestly presenting both sides.

 

[waitingforrest]

She has absolutely no authority to determine the destiny and violate the will of people who are terminally ill that want to die peacefully based on what happened in her life.

Yeah you are right, her grief doesn't make her less accountable for her actions. Actions that are causing people more pain by harassing and treating us like outsiders.

Her actions are not helping, but instead making more people suffer. Making suicidal people attempt more dangerous methods.

I just really have mixed feelings about her. It's like the pro-lifers try to help but in they way that they think will "help" us. And when it obviously doesn't work, they punish us or treat us as dangerous.

I guess I just don't like her I guess, the mental gymnastics that she does to believe she is in the right is absurd. Even with her life experiences.

 

[diyCTB]

It was definitely meant to sway people towards being against the bill, rather than genuinely reporting on what was said and honestly presenting both sides.

Can nobody represent us? If nobody will stand for our rights they will make suffering of terminally ill people worse. They will push their rights back to a "medieval age" where they have no say. Heck these people are capable of taking it so far that even talking about suicidality would mean punishment.

I just really have mixed feelings about her. It's like the pro-lifers try to help but in they way that they think will "help" us. And when it obviously doesn't work, they punish us or treat us as dangerous.

They are helping themselves by violationg people's free will whether they realize it or not.

 

[Whale_bones]

Can nobody represent us? If nobody will stand for our rights they will make suffering of terminally ill people worse. They will push their rights back to a "medieval age" where they have no say. Heck these people are capable of taking it so far that even talking about suicidality would mean punishment.

There were terminally ill people at this meeting who spoke in support of the bill, along with friends, family members and other supporters who spoke about the reasons it needs to be passed. The author of this article chose to barely convey that, and instead focused on the people who are against it and what they had to say. A major factor in why it's so hard to make progress in this area is because people with severe illnesses, people who are close to death, DON'T often have the energy and ability to compile and write speeches, physically travel to a meeting, and present them in front of the necessary government figures.

Yet that's exactly what has to be done in order for anything to change. The people who do have the time and energy are those who aren't living day in, day out with debilitating illnesses, and they choose to use that time and energy to speak on something that they have no clue what it's like to live through. It's sickening and so frustrating to me. I have a progressive muscle wasting disease and it's downright disgusting when someone who hasn't lived with this for a single day has the gall to tell me I have to continue to suffer indefinitely until every last bit of my dignity is gone. They would never say that's okay for themselves, yet they declare it's just fine for me.

When lawmakers are trying to take the tiniest step forward, just to allow people a peaceful death when they're already within *six months* of a certain and cruel death, they FIGHT it. It's a deep lack of empathy and thinking they know better about other people's lives and experiences than the people who are actually living and experiencing it.

 

[diyCTB]

When lawmakers are trying to take the tiniest step forward, just to allow people a peaceful death when they're already within *six months* of a certain and cruel death, they FIGHT it. It's a deep lack of empathy and thinking they know better about other people's lives and experiences than the people who are actually living and experiencing it.

As long as it doesn't involve them and they don't suffer it's okay for them. They are hypocrites who support pain and suffering. They are minions of this hell without realizing it. They are modern day inquisitors who torture their victims and when you oppose their views you are condemned for supporting children suicide.
Just as they blame us we can blame them.

Lawmakers? Lawyers? They don't care unless there is money in it. Governments? They need people who are suffering to extract the last bit they have. Nobody cares about homeless people who live in suffering.

 

[Symbiote]

Jackie Bieber herself is a giant tumor on humanity. Whenever she gets terminal cancer, I hope she is denied a peaceful death since she's trying to ruin it for others.

 

[diyCTB]

@A Hole Just as we suffer they will suffer. Maybe then they wil understand. Unless they are sociopaths.