Discussion Should Assisted Suicide be legal for people under the age of 18?

[ImSoTired]

In Oregon, you have to be at least 18 years of age to make that end of life decision.

What do you think?

 

[Backwood_tilt]

I'm ok with that. On average the brain doesn't stop developing until you are 25. The prefrontal cortex is the last to fully develop, and thats where you have the executive control over impulses (like suicide, etc.)

I think it's worth waiting. Some folks from great trauma can be come great inspirations for others in their lives. Worth a chance.

 

[Farmmaa]

Sorry, but there's a reason that minors are not allotted the same 'rights' as those over 18 - because their brains have not fully matured yet.
In fact, rational thinking and reasoning is not fully developed until your early 20's.

 

[HereToday]

I don't think so, unless they have a terminal illness. In cases of mental illnesses, they should try therapy and/or wait it out until they're able to choose at 18

 

[WhyIsLife56]

People under 18 are still human beings aren't they? It should be a human right.

 

[TAW122]

If there was an option that was in between yes and no, I'd vote for it. In my opinion, is that given that someone who is under 18 (legally speaking, a minor) it would really depend on the circumstances (terminal illness and/or other severe condition). This includes the parents' decision along with the minor, and also going through a more thorough check to ensure that the person is really sure about death. I don't like to gate keep, but in terms of age, it's a very gray area (both legally and ethically), so again, I couldn't give a definite yes/no, there are just many factors and variables to consider before making such a decision. Now obviously, if the patient is really terminally ill and in such a grave condition that death is very likely, then I would in that instance, support assisted suicide for the patient as it's very clear that the patient won't (likely) get better and will just suffer through until death. I don't believe in sudden miracles either (without definite proof) but that's another topic altogether.

 

[Mizzmini45]

I don't feel much different then I have since I was 16 so I vote yes

 

[Flume]

Atleast wait until your 25. And even then it's on a case to case basis. Dying is the last option, you should only do it if all possibilities of recovery has gone to shit.

But... if you're termanily ill that's another thing, in that case it's the parents call.

 

[nonamegirl]

Under the age of 18? No.

 

[WhyIsLife56]

"This shouldn't even be a question. Humans claim to be intelligent but they don't think at all. Like at all. This should already be legal and it should be a right but the fact that it's not explains how humans and humanity as a whole are actually in fact stupid.
Why do humans have a brain in the first place? Do they think it's some kind of decoration for their head or something?"


All these comments just don't understand anything about compassion. Think of the children. The children that still contemplate suicide all over the world. Kids still commit suicide all over the world. Do you really want them to go through abuse and torture until the age of 18 or something? This is why humanity deserves to rot.
Humanity deserves to suffer if they have no compassion.
Even on a suicide forum people are still delusional.

Again, this shouldn't be a question.

 

[elizabeth.luck]

Honestly, I'm going to say yes but I do so hesitantly. I wanted to die at 14 but different reasons than I want to die now at 25.

 

[HereToday]

"This shouldn't even be a question. Humans claim to be intelligent but they don't think at all. Like at all. This should already be legal and it should be a right but the fact that it's not explains how humans and humanity as a whole are actually in fact stupid.
Why do humans have a brain in the first place? Do they think it's some kind of decoration for their head or something?"


All these comments just don't understand anything about compassion. Think of the children. The children that still contemplate suicide all over the world. Kids still commit suicide all over the world. Do you really want them to go through abuse and torture until the age of 18 or something? This is why humanity deserves to rot.
Humanity deserves to suffer if they have no compassion.
Even on a suicide forum people are still delusional.

Again, this shouldn't be a question.

You seem very intolerant of people having different opinions to yours. You talk about compassion but say 'humanity deserves to rot' and 'humanity deserves to suffer'. Some people just aren't capable of having a civilised discussion I guess

 

[Jean4]

In certain circumstances yes for example terminal illness.

 

[WhyIsLife56]

You seem very intolerant of people having different opinions to yours. You talk about compassion but say 'humanity deserves to rot' and 'humanity deserves to suffer'. Some people just aren't capable of having a civilised discussion I guess

In the grand scheme of things, opinions don't matter. We'll all die in the end.

 

[TheGoodGuy]

As I have said a thousand times before "No one asked to be born so everyone have the right to die" and then it doesn´t matter if that person is 12 or 18

 

[WhyIsLife56]

You seem very intolerant of people having different opinions to yours. You talk about compassion but say 'humanity deserves to rot' and 'humanity deserves to suffer'. Some people just aren't capable of having a civilised discussion I guess

Plus, antinatalism and efilism are the two most compassionate philosophies. So who's the one being compassionate here?

 

[Soul]

In fact, rational thinking and reasoning is not fully developed until your early 20's.

The articles I've read say our synapses aren't fully operational & properly synched until we're around 27. It's interesting to ponder the implications of that.

As for the OP's question, I believe it should be decided on an individual basis. So yes, it should be legal, but not automatically guaranteed.

 

[WhyIsLife56]

Realistically, I don't think it's ever going to become legal for everyone regardless of age because of the way society doesn't want it to become legal.
It's better if people just try to end it on their own terms.

 

[Fragile]

this should 100% be a case by case basis question, when i was volunteering at a children's foundation i saw some very unfortunate kids with illnesses that simply had no hope of recovery, not only they were terminally or chronically ill, some of them had no parents or family that could take care of them. one girl of only 8 years old told me that she just wanted to die and that broke my hearth, why keep them suffering through intensive palliative care? this only prolonged their pain.

the thing about the brain not being fully developed until your mid 20's may be true, but this is just an argument that can be used to prolong the suffering of many people under that age, and one thing that most of use know all too well is suffering, and pain is something that doesn't wait until your brain is fully developed. this is to me some pro-lifer level argument to be completely honest. i agree that some people should give life another chance or at least wait, but i strongly believe that it's entirely up to them to decide, it's their life and they didn't ask to be born, the right to die should be taken way more seriously and people should stop the endless gatekeeping on other people's death.

besides, the age of majority is a completely arbitrary concept. we like to believe that everyone is different in many ways and some are more mature than others at different ages, but when it comes to 18 years old everyone is apparently the same. some countries state that a person is an adult at 15 and others countries go as far as 21 years of age, so 6 years of difference depending on where you were born to start making decisions about your own life.

 

[WhyIsLife56]

The kids brain may not necessarily be fully developed but they can still have the desire to die. Isn't that enough for them?
I wanted to commit suicide when I was 9.
There are a lot more kids out there that want to commit suicide. It will only increase due to modern world and the fact that the world is becoming more complex.
Just because euthanasia is illegal isn't going to stop them. They'll always find a way out. Kids in South Korea are already commiting suicide by jumping over the building. It's actually quite common.
If one's determine, they'll find a way. They always will.

 

[Secrets1]

"All these comments just don't understand anything about compassion. Think of the children. The children that still contemplate suicide all over the world. Kids still commit suicide all over the world. Do you really want them to go through abuse and torture until the age of 18 or something?

No one wants that. If they are being abused or tortured removal from the situation is certainly > assisted suicide. To a certain degree kids only get the opportunity to know the world through their caregiver. They lack necessary tools to make an informed decision in numerous ways. Human beings are resilient, life is resilient, early adulthood is often where life trajectories shift dramatically.

Humanity may be inherently stupid and this contribution is appreciated :D

 

[WhyIsLife56]

No one wants that. If they are being abused or tortured removal from the situation is certainly > assisted suicide. To a certain degree kids only get the opportunity to know the world through their caregiver. They lack necessary tools to make an informed decision in numerous ways. Human beings are resilient, life is resilient, early adulthood is often where life trajectories shift dramatically.

Humanity may be inherently stupid and this contribution is appreciated :D

Kids are smarter than you think. And plus what with the internet kids are learn through the internet rather than through their "caregivers"
Life is meaningless.
If humans were resilient, they wouldn't be committing suicide every 40-60 seconds :)

 

[Secrets1]

If humans were resilient, they wouldn't be committing suicide every 40-60 seconds :)

[ ] true
[x] false

 

[WhyIsLife56]

[ ] true
[x] false

Be delusional if you want. Whatever floats your boat :)

 

[Elbarado]

Simply no, except they have a terminal illnes.

In your teen age even a rejected love from a boy/girl u like can throw you in cruel feelings.
Teens simply dont have the experience to solve problems or to deal with certain feelings. They need a guide who helps them and show them how to handle it.

 

[WhyIsLife56]

[ ] true
[x] false

"Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is a global phenomenon and occurs throughout the lifespan. Effective and evidence-based interventions can be implemented at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. There are indications that for each adult who died by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide."

From the World Health Organization website.

 

[Secrets1]

"Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Suicide is a global phenomenon and occurs throughout the lifespan. Effective and evidence-based interventions can be implemented at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and suicide attempts. There are indications that for each adult who died by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide."

From the World Health Organization website.

That's not the part of the quote I disagreed with. I don't wish to argue further. We agree to disagree :D

 

[Egddios]

Oooooh, 50/50 poll results so far.

As far as those who are under 18 receiving means to die/euthanasia, I don't think it should be banned outright. I've been deeply depressed for nearly my whole life (I'm 36 now) and distinctly remember being in elementary school when it dawned on me that being dead would mean I'd suffer no longer. To this day, know I have a choice (frowned upon or not) to end my life at a time of my choosing. Right to die would allow people a peaceful way of dying, and we should all have that right.

For those 18 and under, I imagine it would be difficult to access what is essentially a human right, and that's a shame

 

[Moonicide]

No, unless it is terminal illness, like many have said here. You're so young, you're not fully developed mentally to make a rational decision. I remember what it was like when I was a teenager and I was impulsive as fuck. I made some poor decisions. I would never encourage someone so young to die unless it was absolutely necessary. When you are an adult you can make that decision on your own, and hopefully with a much more rational mindset. Experience life, grow, and see through all the opportunities that are brought your way before ctbing.

 

[Yuqani]

I am absolutely appalled at the amount of people condoning minors making such grave decisions when every relevant scientific field has consensus on the still developing nature of the brain in that age range - which has huge implications for decision making.

Antinatalists... pshhh

edit: typo