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**boleroman** · 06-15-2012, 01:14 PM

Re mercy killing (voluntary) for the aged suffering? Are there any Pali suttas engaging this area?
Also what of the intensely suffering mentally ill, what do you people think?..

Depression is a given. Sorry, I didn't mean to shift anything. Obviously if someone is clinically depressed they cannot make a decision like that and be taken seriously.

I only speak of those who are mentally competent.

What suffering are you talking about? What mental ailments?

Any decision would depend on the particular suffering, there can't be generalities for this. And certainly no Sutta that can be taken seriously, unless it takes into account all different types.

For the aged suffering who are in extreme pain all day, every day, with no cure, then if they want to die, I say euthanize them. If it is biological, and there is no cure, the pain is unbearable, and there is only more of it to come, then why not? So long as it is something they want. You and I certainly couldn't understand what they are going through.

As far as the mentally ill, usually, no, don't even bother discussing it. Except in cases such as Alzheimers. There is no cure for that, and should someone be diagnosed with it, and they only want to continue on so long as they are capable of knowjng that they are 'alive', then when the point comes to where they are an empty husk, why not go through with their final wish? My grandmother has that, and sadly, that is exactly what happens, her mind is now so deteriorated that their is no capability of conversation, she can't even recognise anyone in her family. I mean this with respect, it is the only way I can describe it, she is an empty 'husk', there is nothing there anymore. But say, should she have had told us when she was first diagnosed, that she wanted to be euthanized when the 'emptiness' came, who are we to deny her that? It's in my family, and I know personally, that I will have that in a written contract/testimony, to be given to my doctor and family at the time, stating that I want to die at the time of complete 'emptiness'.

06-15-2012, 01:14 PM	#18
boleroman Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 571 Senior Member	Re mercy killing (voluntary) for the aged suffering? Are there any Pali suttas engaging this area? Also what of the intensely suffering mentally ill, what do you people think?.. Depression is a given. Sorry, I didn't mean to shift anything. Obviously if someone is clinically depressed they cannot make a decision like that and be taken seriously. I only speak of those who are mentally competent. What suffering are you talking about? What mental ailments? Any decision would depend on the particular suffering, there can't be generalities for this. And certainly no Sutta that can be taken seriously, unless it takes into account all different types. For the aged suffering who are in extreme pain all day, every day, with no cure, then if they want to die, I say euthanize them. If it is biological, and there is no cure, the pain is unbearable, and there is only more of it to come, then why not? So long as it is something they want. You and I certainly couldn't understand what they are going through. As far as the mentally ill, usually, no, don't even bother discussing it. Except in cases such as Alzheimers. There is no cure for that, and should someone be diagnosed with it, and they only want to continue on so long as they are capable of knowjng that they are 'alive', then when the point comes to where they are an empty husk, why not go through with their final wish? My grandmother has that, and sadly, that is exactly what happens, her mind is now so deteriorated that their is no capability of conversation, she can't even recognise anyone in her family. I mean this with respect, it is the only way I can describe it, she is an empty 'husk', there is nothing there anymore. But say, should she have had told us when she was first diagnosed, that she wanted to be euthanized when the 'emptiness' came, who are we to deny her that? It's in my family, and I know personally, that I will have that in a written contract/testimony, to be given to my doctor and family at the time, stating that I want to die at the time of complete 'emptiness'.
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