Euthanasia advocates often assert a distinction between dying with dignity (good) and suicide (bad), drawing on the community’s twin commitment to both permitting euthanasia in some circumstances, and preventing suicide. But rather than being distinct, euthanasia and suicide are points on a continuum of death decisions, that overlap uncomfortably where intractable mental suffering is asserted as grounds for assisted dying.
The tension between the two was played out this week in the Northern Territory, where the local Civil and Administrative Tribunal is considering whether to uphold the Medical Board of Australia’s suspension of Philip Nitschke’s medical licence after a three-day hearing.
The suspension came after Nitschke discussed assisted suicide with 45-year-old Perth man Nigel Brayley even though he knew Brayley did not have a terminal illness. Brayley reportedly told Nitschke in an email that he was “suffering” in the sense that he was deeply unhappy in his life. Nitschke did not refer to him to a psychiatrist or offer any other help.
More complex than it appears
Nitschke’s actions have been roundly criticised, particularly by other euthanasia advocates, who seek to distance themselves from existential justifications for assisted suicide. However the idea that euthanasia should not be offered for mental suffering is not universally agreed, and requires some further consideration.
In the Netherlands and Belgium where euthanasia is legal, assisted dying for emotional suffering is permitted. Approval will only be granted where where applicants are of age, mentally competent and their suffering constitutes an “incurable condition” that causes continuous and unbearable anguish.
I accept this is controversial and understand if some want it removed. I would be very wary about this as being in an acute state of distress isn’t usually a permanent state of affairs , with help people can get better to a smaller or larger extent.
My husband and I had a brief conversation about this the other day. I was telling him about a young woman who had moved to a certain state that allowed euthanasia as she was suffering from a terminal disease and wanted the choice to end her life with dignity before the disease took her life.
I have sometimes briefly thought: If this is what my son really wants who am I to stop him?
Emotional suffering can get better with the right treatment.
A long time ago at 18 I thought I was ordered to die.
…
Then later I suffered at other schools and was told to die many times in my life.
But I felt that had been saved for some strange reason and so I would tell them NO.
I was going to spite those that tortured me by REFUSING to submit to their demands.
…
It took many years to heal but I’m in a better place.
I did get married to another and his blood diluted my toxic brew.
We have a son that had many problems like many do at 16-20 years old.
But he is alive and happy and I am too.
So should I have been allowed to die as I was definitely told to do?
I think it should be a legit option once all others are exhausted. Like that one in Australia wasn’t even referred to a pdoc before the assisted suicide.
I have been doing a lot of deep thinking on death and dying lately. I am in the middle of my life - well a bit further realistically. If I was faced with an illness like terminal cancer, I would probably refuse all treatment.
I would rather spend the little time I had free from the suffering the cancer treatments would bring on me.
I mean I would make my last days on Earth memorable - I would choose to die on my terms - I would not spend my dying days chained to a hospital bed treated like some medical lab rat. No harsh chemicals pumped into my system, no invasive surgeries
I’ve had a lot of bouts with telling the voices, (I give up if I’m that bad give me the lethal injection). But they never do, I dunno if I deserve to die yet sometimes I feel things may be better. Truthfully, it’s the most destructive way of thinking I think there is a reason for people to live.
Nobody should be allowed to die. Life is precious.
How does one measure mental suffering? Mental suffering isn’t permanent, things change. Letting someone die because they feel bad now removes the chance for them to feel ok later.
Yes. As for measure, I think once treatment resistance has been established, yes, definitely. But just generally all persons should have the right to leave without interference.
I feel the same way about cancer.
Just naturally die pumped up with morphine if needed surrounded by family.
God gave me this life and it is His to take.
You don’t need a doctor to give you a pill, there are other ways.
Doctors should be reserved for helping the ill.
People that are sick with sz should be given the opportunity to be well
before they are given the choice to end it all.
But its a free world and healing takes a long time, so some skip that part.
it’s difficult. when contemplating suicide you wouldn’t be in your right mind anyway so anyone who assists you imo would be guilty of murder. i had a boyfriend once who committed suicide who was obviously very ill at the time. things can and for some do get better. who knows what’s around the corner huh? why top yourself when you may have a bright future ahead of you?
Do you know anything about cancer? You would suffer dying from cancer even without treatment. You wouldn’t be “making my last days on Earth memorable”, that’s ridiculous. I can’t believe how many people think that it’s the treatments that cause suffering when dying from cancer. I watched my mother suffer and die without treatment. It wasn’t a pretty site seeing her confined to a bed in agony.
If I have terminal cancer without any chance of surviving - again … IF no surgeries would help me, IF the chemo would not save me … I would probably choose to die on my terms… thats just me - My father in law died from complications due to the toxic chemicals being pumped into him, the chemo therapy. I dont know if I would choose that road.
If there was a chance that the chemo would save me, I then would probably take it.
I do know that chemo can help and so does radiation treatments, but at a big cost - I would take this road if there was a good chance of saving me. I too value life
I would eat a few last meals, spend some time with family, smoke alot, drink lots of coffee, and then run as fast as i could to the clinic and drink it up like it was juice.
God i need to die but i don’t really have a good way to do it yet.
I agree that life is horrible but I’m sort of against any traumatic way of ending one’s own life. Getting old and dying doesn’t take that long, particularly if you have meds to help. I’m also hopeful about the future.
This brings up a lot of emotions. I’ve been thinking deeply about this all day.
I recognize that this is such a personal topic as well.
On one hand, who am I? Who am I to take that decision out of the hands of someone else? Who am I to judge or measure someone’s suffering as bearable or unbearable?
But in my heart, I can’t help but react negatively to my loved one choosing to die without trying everything else. I wouldn’t be able to allow them to die.
I admit, I could be motivated by my own selfish fear of loosing someone I love. But I already know that deep within myself, I couldn’t stand by and abide my loved ones wishes to let them pass.
I have a feeling this is one of those answers that only comes to someone clearly when they have to face it head on.
Thank you for your patience and for letting me post.
Same here. I’m not going to ever think it’s ok for people I love to kill themselves.
The worst of this is the idea that the government would put such a low value on life to allow this. Nobody can stop someone if they really want to do it but saying it’s ok and helping out is a horrible idea.