It is time to remove the taboo of death

[NormaJeane]

Human life should be extended but not shortened. If we are sick we can ask the doctor to extend our life, but if we ask the doctor to the contrary - to shorten our life because we want to avoid years of meaningless suffering - legal and moral problems will arise.

If we talk about death and suicide with people, even with our relatives, who should help us throught life, most of them will avoid us and refuse to talk about death. But do they want to be treated the same way at the end of their own life?

Then we will be alone with our suicidal thoughts, we will be alone when we need help like never before, we will be alone the most important day of our life, we will be alone when we have to overcome our survival instict, the most difficult thing to do, and we will end up on a suicide discussion, we will read about death and suicide in books and on the Internet.

We live in a world where death and suicide is taboo, but only human death. If our pets become seriously ill or disabled, they are put to death at the vet. Only the human animal is forced to live, no matter how life turns out, but no one can escape death.

Euthanasia should exist in all civilized countries - no one should have to travel to Switzerland to get help to die. It is time for the politicians to change the law - allow the doctors to provide euthanasia for anyone who wants it. We all have the right to decide how long we want to live - no one should have to commit suicide. Humans should not be treated worse than our pets.

 

[OrcWitch]

I agree, euthanasia should be a human right. Right to die is necessary, no matter the circumstances leading to it. But I can't blame friends for having a difficult time speaking about suicide as this matter of fact discussion the way we do here. They are entitled to their emotions and it is an emotionally heavy subject to know someone you care about could possibly die. This is why I won't speak about it to any of them, no matter how close I am to buying a tank of nitrogen and a turkey bag. It is not their burden or responsibility to hear about it. Abusive people use threats of suicide as a manipulation tactic because we are so sensitive to it.

I am fine with being alone with this feeling towards the end of my life, I can't expect people to just stop being human. I can expect them to morally respect someone's autonomy over their body and choice to die, no matter how much it hurts them. And to respect our right to speak to each other about it. I think this taboo will always exist, even if we are in a society entirely tolerant of euthanasia. It will still be a taboo topic for people.

Doctors absolutely should be like veterinarians and consider euthanizing patients as a part of their job. It makes my skin crawl to imagine a life where I am physically incapable of leaving a bed, and the world forces me to stay. Euthanasia should be seen as medical necessity and a right of every person to choose.

 

[Chiisai]

True. It seems animals have better access to healthcare than humans. I believe we also need to have the option of euthanasia.

 

[Apricity]

Religion is the main reason so many are opposed. Even people that are atheist are conditioned by a society that still carries many mores from the time when religion literally ruled the world.

 

[FuneralCry]

Yes, I agree. The life expectancy is too long and it is cruel how society expects us to suffer for decades. Life is pointless anyway, and staying alive is just delaying the inevitable. Our only purpose is to die, so it shouldn't be such a taboo.

We should be the ones to decide when enough is enough as only we are experiencing what we are going through. There is no limit as to how much we can suffer. We never asked to exist, so it isn't as though we have any obligations to stay alive. We deserve an option of a peaceful exit. If there was euthanasia, people would not have to resort to unpleasant methods that could possibly go wrong and leave them with consequences.

 

[slyna]

Human life should be extended but not shortened. If we are sick we can ask the doctor to extend our life, but if we ask the doctor to the contrary - to shorten our life because we want to avoid years of meaningless suffering - legal and moral problems will arise.

If we talk about death and suicide with people, even with our relatives, who should help us throught life, most of them will avoid us and refuse to talk about death. But do they want to be treated the same way at the end of their own life?

Then we will be alone with our suicidal thoughts, we will be alone when we need help like never before, we will be alone the most important day of our life, we will be alone when we have to overcome our survival instict, the most difficult thing to do, and we will end up on a suicide discussion, we will read about death and suicide in books and on the Internet.

We live in a world where death and suicide is taboo, but only human death. If our pets become seriously ill or disabled, they are put to death at the vet. Only the human animal is forced to live, no matter how life turns out, but no one can escape death.

Euthanasia should exist in all civilized countries - no one should have to travel to Switzerland to get help to die. It is time for the politicians to change the law - allow the doctors to provide euthanasia for anyone who wants it. We all have the right to decide how long we want to live - no one should have to commit suicide. Humans should not be treated worse than our pets.

I'ves said this countless times before ...

People avoid suicidal people because it SCARES them SHITLESS.

They REFUSE to talk about suicide because that ENDANGERS their OWN survival.

People are 100% Selfish because biology wouldn't exist if it wasn't so.

There is your real answer.

If you would understand how big part of the emotion FEAR is playing in peoples lives you wouldn't be here now. it's actually that pathetic.

 

[binturong]

People change, before they were afraid of fire, now it is commonplace, if you are afraid to tame, comprehend, this is inherent in human nature. Intellect gives people the opportunity to overcome primitive fear, in ancient Greece, suicide was legal, now there is eutonasia in Switzerland, the world is changing and perhaps over time more and more people will understand the rationality of choice.

Maybe I'm wrong, I'm always not sure, that's just my opinion.

 

[Lost Magic]

Agreed. I also read a lot of fascinating posts on Quora about this issue, that's worth a look.

Why is suicide considered taboo?

Answer (1 of 8): The people who think that suicide is taboo: * are afraid of death * have never been in excruciating and enduring emotional pain * are so identified with the body that they can't conceive of the desire to destroy it * are self-absorbed - they want everybody to do what they're...

www.quora.com