But, while people – politicians, ethicists, and just about everyone – debate it, others are finding themselves in the position of having to make that decision, with or without legal blessing. This is what Sir Edward Downes, a renowned conductor, and his wife Joan did after traveling from their home in the United Kingdom to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland.

Sir Edward was almost blind and deaf and Mrs. Downes had terminal cancer. The couple had been married for 54 years. They ended their lives, dying hand-in-hand with their adult children at their side.

The Downes’ and their family had to make the trip because assisted suicide, the way they chose to end their lives, is not legal in the United Kingdom. You can read the story of their  in this article, Musician and wife commit suicide.

What do you think? Should it be legal? Do you think it’s a good idea? Or is it a slippery slope to who knows what?

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.Image courtesy PhotoXpress.com

Post from: Blisstree

UK Couple Commit Assisted Suicide

Assisted dying, on the other hand, is helping someone who has chosen to die – to die. In other words, assisted suicide. However, since suicide is technically illegal in most places, assisting in a suicide is also illegal. That’s why there’s been a push in many countries to allow people to assist someone who wants to die.

In the United Kingdom, this issue has come up again. Right now, in Britain, people have been going out of the country to die and those who are helping them leave the country are considered to be assisting them in dying. These “helpers” could be prosecuted (BBC: Assisted dying law to be debated).

Is prosecuting someone for helping a loved one leave the country to die where it is allowed going too far? After all, helping make arrangements to leave the country, from finding a place to go to arranging transport takes much more forethought and planning than helping someone commit suicide in their own home.

What do you think?

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Image: MorgueFile.com

Post from: Blisstree

UK Debating Assisted Dying Again

According to this article, Washington state to enact assisted suicide law , written earlier this year, this law allows for “aided dying,” not “euthanasia” or “assisted suicide”:

“Aided dying is neither euthanasia nor suicide,” said Terry Barnett, president of the Washington branch of Compassion & Choices advocacy group.

“It’s not euthanasia because euthanasia implies action by a physician to end a patient’s life. It’s not suicide because people who choose aid in dying are not choosing to end their lives.

“They don’t want to die — they’re choosing to end suffering that cannot be relieved and suffering that they are experiencing that is worse than death.”

The law is called the Death With Dignity Act .

The person at the center of this, the first one to die under this new law, is Linda Fleming, a 66-year-old who had been living with late-stage, terminal, pancreatic cancer. She made this choice when she was still able to with a clear mind and the ability to make her wishes known.

Death under these circumstances is rarely easy and for those who fear that people who believe in laws like this are rejoicing – I doubt it. While they may be grateful that Ms Fleming was given this opportunity, it’s never a good thing to see someone die.

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Image: iStock

Post from: Blisstree

1st To Die in New WA State Suicide Law

Fleming said the increased pain medications she took affected her mind and alertness. She said, “I am a very spiritual person, and it was very important to me to be conscious, clear-minded and alert at the time of my death.”

I’m not sure how I feel about assisted suicide. I’ll like to believe that if you’re terminally ill, you should be able to make that choice. I don’t think people should suffer. But I also trust faith to lead us to our end. How do you feel about assisted suicide?

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

Washington Woman: First Assisted Suicide