Topic awaiting preservation: allowed to take their own lives on hospital premises,

Well a step in the right direction I think.... imo of course. =)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4539126.stm

quote:

---

Senior doctors at Lausanne's hospital say the decision was taken after almost three years of consideration and reflects the position of the Swiss Medical Association and the National Committee on Ethics.

Both bodies say that in order to respect the wishes and independence of patients assisted suicide should be permitted in exceptional cases, but that it should never become a routine procedure.

---

Amen!

Stopping your life is simple enough, why would you need to involve a hospital and doctors? That's my number one puzzler with assisted suicide, why does anyone need assistance? Perhaps a website with some ideas for the less creative or psysiologically unaware would suffice?

For the average "my life sucks, I'm gonna jump off a bridge" kind of person, you're right.

For the people in question in this situation, it's a whole different issue. These are people already in the hospital, and terminally ill. Formerly, if they wanted to end their lives of their own accord, they had to leave the hospital and find some probably messy, painful way to do it.

This allows them to remain where they are, remain in (relative) comfort, and avoid the "clean up the splattered body" situation, sparing their loved ones the horror of that memory...

Commiting suicide is "dead simple" for somebody in shape. But for somebody enjailed in its own body because of a severe trauma/disease that's another story. How can you put a term to your "life" when all you can is to blink or slightly move your thumb ? you do need assistance.

That's why you gotta keep a needle and bottle of potassium on you at all times just in case. :/

horrible Christmastime banter here

Merry Christmas!

indeed

Oddly enough I was just thinking about this topic yesterday. I wonder if that will ever happen here (USA). Dr. Death had a cause but I'm not sure he did anything but arm the fanatics against that cause... he certainly didn't go about it in the right fashion. It came to mind because of my mother's statements about just this topic and that, in order to honor her wishes... I would have to go to prison. I find that to be a ridiculous situation to put her or myself into not to mention I'm not sure I could do it. It seems to me that this should just be made part of the living will arrangement that already exists in the US.

I agree... not good Christmas talk.

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!!!

GD