Would you apply for assisted suicide if you had to fulfill the following conditions?

[noname223]

So the conditions had to be fulfilled to get access to N.

Why am I asking? I think it is an interesting question. Many here (including me) are in favor of assisted suicide. Though especially for people with mental illness they have higher criteria. There are some restrictions. I have to admit I don't know the official criteria. I think in my country it is not clearly regulated. But I think people with mental illness need to get the approval of two different psychiatrists which is pretty difficult. Also due to the fact so many psychiatrists oppose assisted suicide for mentally ill.

I know many here already have done a lot of therapy others have made negative experiences which turned them sceptical. So maybe some have inner principles not to accept such a deal. Personally for me I had no problem to go through such a process.

Here the fictional (I don't know the reality it probably depends on the country) criteria:

1. Taking two different medication - for a certain time to evaluate whether they work. You decide whether they work.
2. Making a therapy for a couple of months - it probably depends on the problems which one should be done
3. Having an appointment with a counselor for example to discuss financials, to discuss alternatives to suicide
4. Assuring during a period of 6 months that your wish to die is persistent


In my opinion the process should be for free and cost 0 euros. And if you fulfill the criteria you will get N.

I think this scenario is not necessarily realistic. I am no expert but I think there are more restrictions usually.

I think it is an interesting thought experiment.

I think in order to get the right to die there will have to be made compromises.
So for me if I had an offical not illegal and secure way to get access to N this would be relief. I am highly anxious to do something illegal and if I am doing it on my own I think I might end up damaged. These are two of my biggest fears. So I would clearly go for it. I think I would now postpone it (because I try to fight) but I think there would be a time when I would accept this process.

And for the people who are sceptical about suicide there would be reassurance that people would have gone through a process. And it would be clear the person had persisting suicidal thoughts and thought it through.

I could imagine there will be many replies who will be sceptical about such a process. Some have certain philosophical arguments why they would not want such a treatment.
Some are sceptical about medication and their influence. It is not clear how many people had to do such a process. Some people here are not mentally ill. But this would make it even more complicated.

There will be of course people who say. There should be no compromises in order to get the right to die because it is a human right.
I can understand that though I think in the political discussion (realistically) they will demand compromises and concessions.

Personally I would be okay with this solution. I had no problem to fulfill these criteria. An official way to die would be a huge relief. The concessions would not be that bad for me because I already fulfilled the criteria. And if I had to fulfill them a second time I would still go for it.

However there are even people who don't care about such an official process. They don't care about assisted suicide. I am certainly not one of them. But for example these people might consider such a solution as unnecessary.

So what is your take on it?

 

[TAW122]

Given the following conditions that you have stated in your thread, I will say, yes. Of course, this is speaking for myself and my predicament. If I know that at the end I will be guaranteed access the right to die, voluntary euthanasia, or assisted suicide, under a reasonable timeframe and after having passed the proper protocol (including safeguards and red tape), then I am willing to endure that length of time to access it. It may even change my mind (highly unlikely as I've made up my mind) to postpone my CTB a little bit (though for this example, I will keep it simple and for discussion purposes).

I will add that during the interim process and the entire process itself, I will make sure that at every step it is documented and that there is nothing that is ambiguous so that nobody can try to falsely claim that the timer didn't start until x step or whatever, or try to reset time. The last thing I want is for people to misrepresent the details of the process and/or manipulate the data so that they can keep me in the process indefinitely. That would not be tolerated and I would certainly ensure it doesn't happen under the threat of legal action against any medical professional, third party, individual(s), entity that tries to pull such a trick.

 

[DaatiSimi]

I like your idea. Hopefully the day comes when we can choose death as a viable option

 

[locked*n*loaded]

I don't like the idea of medication being forced upon me in order to qualify. Basically, I'd have to give up a right (not to take medications) in order to gain another right? I don't like that part of it. I don't take any meds now and don't want to.

 

[Rairii]

I don't think I could ever do it, not even for my physical conditions even if it is realistic that yes we tried ever option and there is no way you are ever going to get relief from it. Though especially so for my mental illness. I really don't need reassurance or proof that I am so far gone that nothing will ever work to help me and that I just need to die to feel relief. I guess this more has to do with my trauma and having family telling me that I should be dead, encouraging me to kill myself, saying there is no hope for me, that I'll never amount to anything, etc. Which of course there views are not based on reality as these things were said starting from when I was a young child and there was literally nothing wrong with me as a kid other than the problems they inflicted onto me. So I'd just rather not hear again or have it implied that I'm a lost cause. Even if I will be dead and such a thing wouldn't even bother me after.

I will just take things into my own hands once I have come to the conclusion that yes there is nothing else I can do, the suffering is too great. I do not need anyone else's input. While yes assisted suicide may be more pleasant and actually be 100% sure to kill me and more "accepted," like I said, I just can't get over my own hang ups. I have my own method anyway and I am not worried about it, so there's also that.

 

[WorthlessTrash]

No. I can take my sn with the same end result. I wouldn't need to take useless pills, talk to a useless therapist or talk to useless therapist. The right to a peaceful exit shouldn't come with conditions.

 

[stilhavinightmares]

I've done and am doing all those things. That list is very general. Wish it were real. I would do it ASAP.

 

[FuneralCry]

Well, that fictional criteria is literally so ignorant and insulting. Getting access to N should be a human right, as what is so valuable about life to justify having this particular process that someone must go through in order to receive it. People must be seriously deluded if they believe that wishing to die is a mental illness, in fact I believe that not wishing to suffer is the most rational thing, as what is the benefit to being tormented for decades on end just to inevitably cease to exist anyway. It makes sense to want to escape from all this and not want to deteriorate in a world where there is no limit as to how much we can be tortured. Seeing it as being necessary to give all suicidal people medication is the true illness instead. When life itself is the true problem, which it is to me, only death could ever be the solution.

But still, I would for N. If I had the knowledge that soon I would be able to just pass away peacefully it would be such a comfort for me, knowing that the burden that is existence will soon no longer be my concern. Of course N sounds like the most ideal way to ctb to me and having N would mean that I wouldn't have to struggle in finding ways to die and I would no longer feel so trapped here. Those who pass away peacefully are certainly the most lucky people in the world.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think I would be willing to do it for the guarantee of an assisted and clean exit... Except I highly doubt it would be guaranteed...

I'm not convinced I am mentally ill enough to be considered a good candidate for it. I'm not physically that ill either. Plus, I'm a little too young at 42.

At the same time- I'm not convinced therapy or medication would help me to suddenly live a life I felt was worthwhile.

To accept someone like me, I imagine they would have to conceed that some people simply don't want to live in this world for no 'good' reason. (Not good enough I suspect for them anyhow...)

More importantly though- it would mean having to tell my family and I doubt they would support me in the decision. In many ways, it would actually be easier for someone in my position to do it myself. More risky but less opposition.

 

[WhiteRabbit]

I have N, but if I didn't, I would be ok with all of those things. I've done 1. and 2. on the list already.

 

[Seiko]

I would.

 

[Wannagonow]

Yes I would. I met your criteria (and more) many years ago. The stubborn, independent side of me doesn't think we should have to jump thru hoops for assistance and assurance. But the realistic part of me believes the world is one big out of control bureaucracy. They're gonna cover their butt with mandatory hoops for us to jump thru. To ensure it was painless and successful I'd do it.

 

[Pisceslilith]

It seems like a good idea for some who genuinely want to stay but for me personally, I wouldn't want to bothered. I don't want to go to therapy and talk about my feelings and all this other stuff. I just want to die asap. I don't want to "brainwash" myself, pretending that this world is "normal" where everything is sunshine and rainbows. There's absolutely nothing that would change my mind that would make me want to stay in this shithole. If I want to go, I should be able to go.