Right to die: Belgian doctors rule depressed 24-year-old woman has right to end her l

[royalscot]

Right to die: Belgian doctors rule depressed 24-year-old woman has right to end her life - People - News - The Independent


Doctors in Belgium have granted a medically depressed woman the right to end her own life.

The 24-year-old woman, named only as ‘Laura’, told doctors she had suffered from depression since she was a child and wished to end her life, local newspaper De Morgen reported.
Laura, who entered a psychiatric facility when she was 21, told the publication: “life, that’s not for me.”

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

So she has Dysthymia, or Persistant Depressive Disorder, has had since she was a child, and now they're going to let her kill herself? Have they decided that persistant long term depression doesn't affect reasoning? This doesn't even make sense.

There's no consistency in the worldwide judiciary pool. The U.S. has ruled that the mentally ill or handicapped cannot be executed. But Belgium is going to let this woman off herself? Is this even remotely rational?

 

[crossnote]

Depression?
gee, that's going to blow open wide thousands of doors...sad.

 

[Nautilus]

to be fair if people don't want to be alive, I don't see a reason to force them to do so. Sure it's a terrible choice, but doing it through medicine from doctors is probably less traumatic for family and loved ones than if she jumped in front of a train or something.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Age 24? Depression? This breaks new barriers - a new low and a very worrying trend. Once we begin to cast aside the sanctity of life we lose all moral standing. First abortion, then the terminally ill, now depression in the young. Where will it all end? Will medical staff be advising this in the not-too-distant future? Will doctors think of the cost of keeping the sick alive? Will families be thinking financial gain?

It's the same with the gay marriage debate. Now we have crossed a barrier, what next multiple partner marriages? Under age marriages? The list is endless and to be honest I'd prefer not to go there.

 

[skipp]

to be fair if people don't want to be alive, I don't see a reason to force them to do so. Sure it's a terrible choice, but doing it through medicine from doctors is probably less traumatic for family and loved ones than if she jumped in front of a train or something.

So basically you are okay with giving up on vulnerable, mentally ill people.

I guess it's easier to basically kill them (with their "consent", because we all know that mentally ill depressed people are thinking clearly) than to give these people healing and support. It's all part of the growing culture of death that is becoming prevalent in the decaying western culture. A baby is too much trouble? Have an abortion and kill it off. Grandma is too much trouble? Guilt trip her into agreeing to let herself get killed off. The handicapped and depressed surely aren't living high quality lives and are suffering. The kindest thing is to just kill them off and put them out of their suffering.

I've known so many people who suffer from depression and say that they were thankful that in their darkest moments they were not able to go through with suicide because their friends talked them out of it, or they weren't able to get the materials, or they survived the attempt. To let a young woman in the prime of her life kill herself is despicable.

 

[skipp]

Age 24? Depression? This breaks new barriers - a new low and a very worrying trend. Once we begin to cast aside the sanctity of life we lose all moral standing. First abortion, then the terminally ill, now depression in the young. Where will it all end? Will medical staff be advising this in the not-too-distant future? Will doctors think of the cost of keeping the sick alive? Will families be thinking financial gain?

It's the same with the gay marriage debate. Now we have crossed a barrier, what next multiple partner marriages? Under age marriages? The list is endless and to be honest I'd prefer not to go there.

Medical staff are already advising it. There was a New York Times article recently about euthanasia in Belgium, about a woman with depression who had been killed off and it mentioned that she was advised to do so by her new doctor. The thought of medical doctors advising vulnerable, trusting patients to commit suicide is just horrifying. I suppose it's cheaper and easier than to try to actually heal them.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

to be fair if people don't want to be alive, I don't see a reason to force them to do so. Sure it's a terrible choice, but doing it through medicine from doctors is probably less traumatic for family and loved ones than if she jumped in front of a train or something.

She wants to die because she's depressed. That's no reason to die. In fact, it is absolutely the worst possible mental health condition to be in and make that decision. It is unconscionable that a court would say she is in any way, shape, or form of "sound mind" to make such a drastic decision.

The worst part is, suffering from dysthymia, she is difficult, but not impossible, to treat. She needs to keep fighting, looking for the right therapist, the right medication, the right lifestyle changes, and she'll not only be functional, she can even be happy.

 

[Utah]

Medical staff are already advising it. There was a New York Times article recently about euthanasia in Belgium, about a woman with depression who had been killed off and it mentioned that she was advised to do so by her new doctor. The thought of medical doctors advising vulnerable, trusting patients to commit suicide is just horrifying. I suppose it's cheaper and easier than to try to actually heal them.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but a thought came to mind when reading your post. There is no money to be made with healthy people or dead people. There needs to be a "happy balance" of living, yet sick people in order for the medical industry to make money.

 

[skipp]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but a thought came to mind when reading your post. There is no money to be made with healthy people or dead people. There needs to be a "happy balance" of living, yet sick people in order for the medical industry to make money.

It depends on the Belguim healthcare system and how expensive it is for the state when it comes to treatment of the mentally ill.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Medical staff are already advising it. There was a New York Times article recently about euthanasia in Belgium, about a woman with depression who had been killed off and it mentioned that she was advised to do so by her new doctor. The thought of medical doctors advising vulnerable, trusting patients to commit suicide is just horrifying. I suppose it's cheaper and easier than to try to actually heal them.

How terribly sad...

You know the more I see and hear about this world the more I no longer feel part of it. The world has lost it's way, it lost it's way when we began to walk away from God.

 

[royalscot]

mental health, many different reasons, for doing some thing, with different classes , logic changes. (so if you have no money)

if money makes the world go round, ie do good at school, get a good job, and live life with some financial future etc
, and could open door to the next case of different medical reasons to a humane reason to exit the world.

with different classes and different financial outlooks, could also be a fact or someone so young wanting to exit.

for example.

eating disorders ie want to be slim, and starving them selves to look like there fav pop star.


why have phones, next to some bridges, to stop jumpers.ie( goods answer, to trying to help)etc

 

[Miri]

Unfortunately it's not the first time and it is all done under the spurious
Human Rights Act, which does nothing to address the human wrongs.
A lot of wrong is done under the Human Rights Act, but that same act then allows
people to challenge decisions after the fact.

How can one law allow something to be done, but it cannot be challenged
until after the event!

The UK is currently looking at how it can get out of the Human Rights act and
instead have its own Bill of Rights Act, as it causes far to many problems and does
not allow for common sense. It allows terriosts to claim asylum, it prevents
rapists, murders etc from being deported back to their own country.

It even allows prisoners to sue the government for mental distress at being
incarcerated. There has been numerous examples where it has been abused
to play the system. Euthanasia is just another example.

Not meaning to be over dramatic, but it's shocking that Belgium is managing
to legally do what Hitler attempted, ie kill the mentally weak, disabled, elderly, sick.

The article below infers money might have been a factor in that decision.



4 Stories: Woman Euthanized for Depression, State Wants to Let Abused Baby Die, and More

 

[Miri]

For some reason it's not posted the links properly


Belgium euthanasia cases soar by 27 per cent in last year alone | Daily Mail Online


Belgium to allow child euthanasia - World - CBC News


Belgium Approves Measure Allowing Doctors to Euthanize Children | LifeNews.com

 

[Nautilus]

So basically you are okay with giving up on vulnerable, mentally ill people.

I guess it's easier to basically kill them (with their "consent", because we all know that mentally ill depressed people are thinking clearly) than to give these people healing and support. It's all part of the growing culture of death that is becoming prevalent in the decaying western culture. A baby is too much trouble? Have an abortion and kill it off. Grandma is too much trouble? Guilt trip her into agreeing to let herself get killed off. The handicapped and depressed surely aren't living high quality lives and are suffering. The kindest thing is to just kill them off and put them out of their suffering.

I've known so many people who suffer from depression and say that they were thankful that in their darkest moments they were not able to go through with suicide because their friends talked them out of it, or they weren't able to get the materials, or they survived the attempt. To let a young woman in the prime of her life kill herself is despicable.

If someone wants to commit suicide there isn't much to do besides locking them in a padded cell to prevent them actually going through with it. So why force them into something just to fit your own personal beliefs?

 

[crossnote]

Been to Belgium, lived in Belgium...humanism reigns there, God is practically non existent in their minds.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

If someone wants to commit suicide there isn't much to do besides locking them in a padded cell to prevent them actually going through with it. So why force them into something just to fit your own personal beliefs?

Legalized suicide removes the social/spiritual stigma of the act. People who wouldn't commit suicide in an environment that treated it as criminal or socioeconomically and spiritually unacceptable will do so in an environment where it is legal to get assistance in killing one's self.

 

[crossnote]

If someone wants to commit suicide there isn't much to do besides locking them in a padded cell to prevent them actually going through with it. So why force them into something just to fit your own personal beliefs?

Oh, you mean commit self murder? Naww, an overdose of barbituates will do it.

 

[gypsygirl]

i personally have no problem with preventing terminally ill folks access to safe access for euthanasia.

but assisting those who are depressed with the same euthanasia drugs seems very wrong. of course we can't force people to participate in healing, but we can send the message that we care about these people by giving them better access to resources and help, rather than making them even sorrier for expressing their feeling by treating them as anything less than precious and valuable.

one of the most fascinating things i've ever seen is a documentary and additional study done on folks who had taken rather severe efforts to take their own life, but admitted that they regretted these choices shortly after they made them. i'm thinking specifically of one who lept from the golden gate bridge, but regretted it, and survived the fall (quite remarkably). i think these people can have a lot to teach us about how to reach and relate to those who are desperate.

as long as our programs and efforts keep telling our people that their value is diminished, they will be inclined to concur. sadly, i don't know what the answer is, with the exception of all the people whom i see who have no connection or ministry to those outside their little circle. it's frightening to me how few people deliberately make an effort to minister and love people who are around them.

they complain the church, the government, all these "things" should do something. but really, faceless programs will never be as effective as a person who has love for his neighbor and treats him as though he is loved and precious to our savior as well. not a "project" but simply someone in their life, to love and embrace and show them first-hand by our actions and words what Christ looks like.

 

[maxwel]

Holiday in Belgium

"Hello, may I take your order?"

"Yes, I'm depressed and I'd like to die please."

"Would you like fries with that?"

"No, no fries. Just death please.

"We have a 2-for-1 death special, today only, if you have a friend?"

"No, it's just me. I don't have any friends... that's kinda why I'm here."

"Oh dear, that's a miserable way to live. I'd have to kill myself.

"Yes, yes, could we just get on with this please?"

"Would you like some last words, to send a loved one?"

"No, no last words. I'm really in a hurry, so if you don't mind..."

"Oh yes, of course you're in a rush... you poor miserable thing.
Alright, I have one Death-To-Go, no fries or last words.
That's $29.95. Please pull around to the second window."


Happy Jack's Death & Fries -
make your last meal a happy one!
We have clowns on Saturdays.




When life has no value...
what's going to make your life worth more than a french fry,
or a cheap joke?