Right to Die in Michigan, where does it stand?

[Canadian Visitor]

In light of Canada introducing 'right to die' legislation today; and much coverage of this in the U.S. press.

I thought I would inquire on where folks in this forum feel this issues is in Michigan?

Future ballot issue?

http://www.freep.com/story/news/nati...cans/83026450/

[jmarie]

I support it. If an animal is suffering, you put it to sleep. Why do we make humans go through the suffering, for years sometimes?
One of my grandfathers had a long battle with lung cancer. He suffered for a long time [[several years). At 6 foot tall, he was around 90 pounds when he died. One of my grandmothers also fought cancer. Her battle was less than a year, but the cancer kept spreading. It eventually moved to her brain. Not only was she in pain, but she was blind for the last few weeks of her life and she was not aware of anything.
If you are terminally ill and suffering, I think it is the humane thing to do.

[Zacha341]

I am ok with it so long as it does not evolve into an 'obligation to die'.

[Scottathew]

I was raised to feel hate toward Dr. Kovorkian. But as time goes on, and I'm exposed to more opinions...

I don't see an issue with someone who has made the decision that they no longer wish to be here. It's sad, but often times medical conditions can make life not worth living for some.

There's no reason why my morality should be imposed on others when the decision affects them, not me.

[jackie5275]

I am ok with it so long as it does not evolve into an 'obligation to die'.

Agreed! That's the scary side of this argument. Hopefully, it will prompt folks to be more diligent about getting a living will/advance directives in place too.

[EastsideAl]

There's no reason why my morality should be imposed on others when the decision affects them, not me.

Exactly. Which is why I've never understood the big fight over this issue, or many others [[such as the current fuss over gay marriage, etc.). And I've really grown to resent the other side on these issues, which seem not so much bent on addressing the real human questions involved, but just on imposing their own religious views on the rest of us.

[Ray1936]

Hey, I'm 79, and not much concerned with a future colony on Mars. But the thought of a long, painful death doesn't make me very happy. Canada has the right idea.

On the other hand, I plan on living to 113. So there.

[G-DDT]

I'm rather split on this one.

I have witnessed some amazing incidents of folks who could persevere through much [[had a beautiful neighbor in Rosedale who suffered with Cancer for 11 years to the bitter end). Can't say I'm one for persevering without complaint myself [[but sometimes I surprise myself, thank God above). Remember there is a difference between "suicidal" and "death wish" [[and I can cite six godly men from scripture who broke down and prayed to God to end their life).

I still don't believe anyone of us should be "masters of our own deaths" [[as many authors believed-be they macho ones like London or Hemingway-and we trust that Twain did "naturally" go "out with the comet". Yet, I'm reminded of that scene from the independent film Sleeping Beauty in which the paid comatose prostitute traumatically wakes up to find that one of her rich johns had planned an assisted suicide for himself.). For our time is God's call.

Regarding Kevorkian, I still maintain he was a better artist than a "doctor" [[some of his paintings can be found in Watertwon, MA at the Armenian Museum of Americahttp://archive.boston.com/yourtown/w...E1K/story.html-one of a few ties-along with the Romneys-we have with Massachusetts).

As a legal diversion, I just found out [[from Heavy) that one of those that had [[fairly?) prosecuted Kevorkian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBzOmWMv_DEwas the husband of that horrible judge, Lisa Gorcyca....Remember her? She was so nasty towards children that wanted to stay with their pediatric doctor mom and repeatedly said the father was abusive and wanted nothing to do with him. She talked down to them, called them crazy, handcuffed them, and she lied about investigations into her behavior.http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/c...used/77365840/ and just when you thought decent justice would prevail in this country for a change...http://patch.com/michigan/bloomfield...-gorcycas-back- guess she has a lot of powerful allies. http://www.commdiginews.com/life/fam...il-time-57804/So, she's back at it on the bench. [[wonder if I will get gagged for bringing all this up?-interesting to see what friction to be had of this). What a nightmare for the kids, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hope-l...b_8724060.htmland to be put through some "camp" [[be it privatized and run by God knows who and with what agenda-be it pharmaceutical, religious, political, or otherwise).

Interesting that we live in the "land of the free", which makes it "free" for others more powerful than us to strip us of our freedoms and engineer every aspect of our lives and, of course, our eventual deaths.... ... .. .

[compn]

assisted death is probably not legal with bill "the crusader" schuette at the helm of the AG office.

dr k is cool in my book. people want to die, thats their right. their body, their right.

http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/th...nt?oid=2318609

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/L...ge-2562269.php

[G-DDT]

people want to die, thats their right. their body, their right.

http://www.reactiongifs.us/suicide-b...-use-futurama/

[G-DDT]

I stumbled across an article [[of all things in a New Yorker-ugh-from November of 2009) about the "Politics of Death". It mostly used the case of Karen Ann Quinlan as a focal point for all the arguments. Of course, Schiavo was brought up [[who ended up in her case from extreme potassium loss and various bulimic states that caused her cardiac arrest; the husband claimed she would not have wanted this prolonging of life. Regardless, it was turned into an ugly circus and many who wanted to "take back America" used her as a human shield. They really didn't want to "save" her. If they had, their demonstrations would have involved something truly effective-the ultimate American consumer sacrifice-hunger strikes-like the kind Chavez and Gandhi used. Instead they "bravely" dragged their kids out to these functions and used them also as human shields by sending them with "food to feed her"-yeah, the kid is going to properly apply the right techniques to get it down her throat-knowing they are going to get turned away or detainedhttp://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/24/Ta...heads_to.shtml) and all the trumpeting shrillness connected to that. By similar formula, it talked about how Palin was using Obama's Health Care Plan to state that it would create a "death panel" that would screen and phase out those who are "defective" or on life support [[it'd be interesting to compile every strained and over-reached verbal contortion used by Republicans all during the times the Clintons and Obama tried to implement their Health Plans).

What struck me as interesting was how the author cited how the Quinlan parents and their priests had been guided by the "Prolongation of Life," a statement issued by Pope Pius XII in 1957. It obligated Catholics to use only ordinary means, rather than extraordinary means, to extend life. Meaning, what Quinlan had keeping her alive, her folks felt was altogether extraordinary.

This was a similar issue that came up when the topic of sustaining my dad while he was in a multi-cancer-induced braindead coma at Jokewood Hospital was called into questioned. A representative from a nearby church claimed it would be deemed extraordinary, thus it was an implement that could be removed [[and let "nature run it's course"). Watching him slowly dwindle off [[took over five hours to do) was painful and drawn out. Yet, looking back, it was better than inhumanely prolonging his life.

[Jimaz]

Lately I've been wondering whether we're on the cusp of biological immortality.

I wouldn't want to become immortal myself, but the possibility that others could choose that fate does raise some novel societal questions.

Immortality doesn't seem as far fetched today [[as it once was) given recent biotech advances like the discovery of the HeLa immortal cell line and DNA sequencing.

Up to this point in time, no other species has been able to genetically engineer its own genome. This will become a big thing.

Considering the improbability of life forming from a dead, hostile universe, now heap onto that the improbability that some part of that life could possibly grant itself immortality.... This could literally become a universal gamechanger. <brain cramp>

You Earthlings are so epic.

[G-DDT]

Nope, I still believe "death is life's great reward."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tcHruDCyg

[G-DDT]

^^^and playing on that theme here is this little chestnut.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BP7IwY8bMs