Assisted Dying. For or against?

As I have said I am a Christian but would welcome the opportunity of assisted dying. But for anyone who thinks it isn’t a Christian thing to do, what about accepting pain relief in childbirth when the Bible says ‘in pain will you bring forth children’? I was mightily grateful for pain relief, then for the emergency c-section!

Pain relief during childbirth, absolutely GSM and even with it during my first, it was still awful!! Like you, I don't believe that being in favour of assisted dying is against my Christian faith.

Definite yes from me.

Absolute yes from me.

Well the 'yeses' are very trusting in their fellow man is all I can say. I am a Christian,too, and have heard of one or two coming to believe in the Lord right at the last minute. Even just one would be enough to think we are given this life and it is not for us or anyone else to end it. The person who does do that is actually murdering someone and I wouldn't want that for anyone on my behalf, medical person or not. I am not against pain relief of course and I realise that will often hasten death but there is a fine line between deliberately giving something to kill someone and trying to ease suffering.

If it's not for you, then ensure that you make your wishes known, but please please please do not deny others the choice.

Assisted Dying, as proposed, is to be only for those who are terminally ill and of sound mind who make clear, at the time, that they want it.

Good news for those who don't want it.
Less good news for those who fear dementia, or similar, where they will be unable to make the choice.

I am in favour of Assisted Dying for those who want it.

Yes please.

I think it's high time this was organised Greeneyedgirl. I also believe we should be able to express our wishes in advance - in our living wills, with records kept by our GPs.

There's always a potential problem for doctors, who've taken the General Medical Council's 'good medical practice' principles to heart. To 'preserve life at all costs' is downright cruelty. We'd be prosecuted for treating our pets that way - and rightly so.

Having watched several people suffer, so unnecessarily, before they eventually die, I'd like reassurance that it doesn't have to happen to me.

My advance wish is that if I am not in sound mind I should not be given any life-prolonging medication or treatment, only pain medication, as I won't be able to choose Assisted Dying, even if it exists at that time.

highlanddreams

To anyone on this thread who doesn't want assisted dying, if you don't want it fine, don't you apply for it, simple as that. Please don't deny others their choices over their own lives & death if they DO want it. All you have to do is say no for yourself, just let others speak for themselves & make their own choices about their lives too.

works both ways of course.

If you do want it fine! please don't deny others who don't want it there choice.

How does "my" wanting assisted dying for myself deny "you" your choice?

Nobody is suggesting that it becomes compulsory. Is that what you're afraid of?

While fit and well you may at some time have said to your love ones 'don't keep me alive if I get forgetful/infirm' .. Think forward, when you are laying there longing to live on BUT they will remember what you said and want to follow your 'then' wishes......be careful what you wish for while fit and able.

They don't exist, I have no loved ones younger than myself, or likely to be around to make that decision for me.

People who set themselves up as arbiters of the right thing to do should remember that they have no idea of how other people live.

lemsip

While fit and well you may at some time have said to your love ones 'don't keep me alive if I get forgetful/infirm' .. Think forward, when you are laying there longing to live on BUT they will remember what you said and want to follow your 'then' wishes......be careful what you wish for while fit and able.

But this has nothing to do with assisted dying- but with euthanasia. Totally different things. Assisted Dying requires the person to make the decision themselves, and to make it again on the day, clearly and without any outside cohersion.

Yes yes yes from me

lemsip your fears are completely unfounded.

Assisted Dying requires the person to make the decision themselves, and to make it again on the day, clearly and without any outside cohersion.

You are in no danger.

From today's Sunday Times editorial:
"It is reported that the prime minister, with the backing of the health secretary, has decided against supporting any change in the law. If so, that is a terrible mistake. This is not a matter to be decided by the equivalent of a presidential decree but an important issue to be debated calmly and sensibly by those who make our laws. Condemning the terminally ill to die in pain and deep distress when there is an alternative is wrong and inhumane. The government should think again."
Hear hear!

Yes without a doubt

I’m not surprised about Boris Johnson not looking at reform. He isn’t exactly know for good decision making.

Juicywords - he isn't known for any decision making!

Christians who have concerns about assisted dying may be interested in former Archbishop Desmond Tuto’s comments.

“In refusing dying people the right to die with dignity, we fail to demonstrate the compassion that lies at the heart of Christian values. Terminally ill people have control over their lives, so why should they be refused control over their deaths.

For those suffering unbearably and coming to the end of their lives, merely knowing that an assisted death is open to them can provide immeasurable comfort”.

Definitely yes.

Surely the "Christian" position should also be to always refuse to have medication or treatment of any kind, since illnesses must be "God's will for you"?

FarNorth
I agree with your last comment

Definitely against it. When the end of life is near usually doctors/nurses are more than aware on average how long the person has got. I would not ask for any form to try and prolong life but would agree that pain relief medication can be given.
For me it is on religious grounds one either believes or they don't and neither one could change each other's minds.