@Forever Sleep
What would be a proper way to do it then?
But my fantasy foresaw age restrictions and some kind of procedure, I must remind you. Then we could broadcast suicides like we now broadcast financials or covid tests and we could change as a society to make life more about... life. Or we would grow cold and your fault if you don't want to live..hm.. I guess more likely.
Hmm- but is your system all computerized? Simply a booth that ascertains your age and how many times you've been there? Then- green lights you if you comply? How does it ascertain your mental capacity? How does it know whether you are being coerced? Do you think someone with alzheimers could use it without assistance? In which case- WHO is assisting them? Their greedy families who want their inheritance early?
I suppose I envisage something similar to what we already see in places like Switzerland- clinics with trained staff. EXCEPT- allowing more people access to it- anyone of sound mind over 18 to my mind. Plus- cheaper! Personally- I feel like there should be an assessment of their mental capacity to be able to make the decision and a waiting period- maybe up to 6 months. I think the person should be OFFERED (but not forced to accept) treatment in that time.
I think there have been cases where- just the opportunity to be able to be open and talk about suicide with a person in the initial assessment process has been enough for SOME people to realise they weren't quite ready for it but they DID need to talk about it with someone. I'm not so sure that picking options from a drop-down menu or whatever would feel quite as caring.
The concept of suicide booths or nembutal vending machines DOESN'T actually make me think it would bring the subject of suicide out into the open. I just think you'd get people doing what they do now- hiding it from their families and sneaking off to die. Then- you'd likely get outrage and the policy would be overturned. I simply think policies need to be realistic in order to be sustainable.
I think- ideally- it should be encouraged to get families to support the person's decision. They're less likely to sue that way- from a legal perspective. They will get the chance to acclimatise to the decision rather than putting out missing person's reports when their loved one didn't return home and being given the news that they killed themselves. They could even be offered councilling themselves before and after the event.
Does your system allow for loved ones to be present to say goodbye? How is the death automated inside the booth? Wouldn't they be killed also?!! Wouldn't it be nicer if families could be with them to say goodbye?
How would your system deal with organ donation? Surely- that would be a positive change with assisted suicide? Do the bodies drop through some trap door at the bottom into cold storage? What about if the families want to have the body to bury/cremate? I don't know- it just all seems a bit cold and impersonal to me. Like a vending machine almost with options- Would you like to have your loved ones body processed on-site today? You can opt for a pot of ashes or they'll be boxed up in a coffin to collect in a few minutes. Please do consider organ donation. Do we have your permission to remove your loved ones organs now while you wait?
I think- the thing about suicidal people is- many of us don't care about what happens to our bodies. We see life as being cheap. Many couldn't give a damn what happens to them after death. It won't be you that complains though! It will be your families. Do you think they'd be happy to accompany you to one of these booths to say goodbye? Do you suppose they'd like the idea of what (presumably) machines are doing to your body to A.) Kill you and B.) Prepare you for burial/ cremation/ organ donation? People are kind of funny when it comes to respecting dead bodies of loved ones. I'm not sure they'd be keen on the idea of an automated process... Or- MUCH worse- if they don't know about it at all- what happens? They get a pot of ashes through the mail? I don't think they'd be pleased!
I guess- I just think with machines- there's more ways to hoodwink them. It would only take a few minors to get through- or someone their family claims was mentally incompetant to use one and there'd be uproar.
I'm not disagreeing with you that assisted suicide should be a right for more people. It's just the automated fast food approach I'm not keen on! How would that particular approach make our lives any better than just more clinics popping up with fewer restrictions?
