Re: Euthanasia (or Assisted Suicide, more appropriately)

[tonyonly2]

Yes, youth in asia oops! euthanasia. Of course it's the right of religious people to block access to assisted suicide as well as euthanasia since it's against the will of god! NOT! Seriously now, It's my sincere hope that those who would stand in the way of a person's right to a peaceful, painless death should be given the privilege of experiencing that kind of end. Hopefully a excruciating  end so drawn out that they have time to consider what ass-wipes they are. sounds harsh, I know.

[drummermonkey]

With regards to your libertarianism, a full blown libertarianism ultimately falls apart when one conciders that rarely are moral choices made fully autonomously and are free of unforseeable consequences to others. Ultimately you not having a seatbelt can have negative consequences to your family and friends if you are injured, and perhaps to those in the car with you. Assisted suicide is full of different moral problems, it does not merely center around individuals excercising autonomy.

[acsial]

'Assisted suicide' is an oxymoron. All of these 'death with dignity' types are perfectly capable of killing themselves without assistance. They just think that making it a 'medical procedure' absolves them of sin.

If you want to do yourself in then go ahead--just don't think you have the 'right' to get someone to do your dirty work. You are going to have to face what you did in the next life, regardless.

The people REALLY pushing this are insurers, who want to weasel out of their obligations.

[Isaachelric]

assisted suicide normally applies to people who are incapable of ending their own lives and suffer greatly with no hope of recovery. that's how i view it. but i don't think it's right to assist a depressive emo kid to commit suicide just because it's his or her right.

[acsial]

I recall a video shot by Dr. Kevorkian, of one of his 'clients', just before he offed her. She was apparently suffering from terminal stomach cancer. This woman was sitting upright, having an animated conversation with her hands. This women was obviously capable of doing herself in, by whatever means without involving another party.

The fact that disabled-rights advocates are VEHEMENTLY opposed to legal euthanasia indicates something, along with the resistance of Soviet-era docs to allowing it.

[burnvictim77]

Means something... what does it mean?

And if I can find you the ones who do support it, what does that mean?

[acsial]

It means that they don't want an insurer, government, or burned-out (or just uncaring) caregiver pulling the plug, to weasel out of their financial, filial and moral obligations.

[polkadotbox2]

Assisted suicide will always be controversial, whatever the laws.

Doctors have always assisted patients' suicide, they just didn't blow trumpets.

When a patient indicated that he was no longer willing to endure chronic suffering, a doctor would say: "I'm prescribing some painkillers to relieve your agony. Be sure to take only one at a time, this medicine is very potent and could be lethal. Your prescription is for 12."

With a smile and a last hand shake, the patient gets the message.

[shyammetal]

our bodies are just like clothes...we can throw it away after wearing for sometime...by the way, nice blabbering...to decide when to die is a personal choice...and it's easy to do so...for example, one can thin their breathing, to go into the reality which is not your body...sometimes with ease, it's easy to die...the fact that we are getting old, the fact that we are handicap...the fact that we wish to show the world that I can do suicide...just extends your life...and death is far from getting

[1alfacharliealfa]

we're not forcing you to live, we (physicians) just will not participate in your suicide. We will not act as accomplices in your destruction. It is against our oath to prescribe lethal drugs to anyone.

[burnvictim77]

This is a discussion of law more than professional ethics.

[iMissNintendo]

Ya the law you said okay .. well I want to know what you got to say about this quesiton

Why is it asisted suicide/(euthanasia) relevent to American government?

its acutally part of a project thanks enjoyed your vid

[vincent4500]

right, what about your oath to be humane and help people in the worst most terrifying suffering..hypocrisy comes to mind, guess if you were dying from bowel cancer slowly the reality would have you squealing like a pig for a gun..

[123vavavoom]

because its not good for their health..Its all about the benefit is nt it?

[burnvictim77]

But, people can first hand smoke... so, logically, that's worse for them. Why is it ILLEGAL to second hand smoke in public?

[123vavavoom]

Hi! I really think you ve got gr8 ideas...but I disagree with the smoking idea. Ppl should not be allowed to smoke in public places because it can harm other people (passive smoking).

[burnvictim77]

Why shouldn't people be able to choose to passive smoke?

[VoiceOFreason1013]

The point is that because they would be affected by my decision maybe physically/mentally (My fiancée) or maybe just socially (my siblings), due to self preservation of society it must prohibit its members from destroying the web of relationships. I believe I answered the question as accurately as possible.

[VoiceOFreason1013]

For example, if I choose to take my life: I would immediately impact those around me which would alter their lives forever. My fiancée would probably go into a depression and maybe follow my choice, or perhaps unwillingly search for another. My siblings would lose touch with each other because I hold the middle ground of interests of them all. Etc...

[VoiceOFreason1013]

Therefore the real question still remains, does one have the right to die? To better answer the question I will re-word it to does society have the right to prohibit suicide? because society (or government, I see no difference) is the higher power which says we cant. Finally, my answer is yes, society has the right to prohibit suicide, because we are connected in a web of relationships. With a death of one member of society impacts many throughout the web.

[VoiceOFreason1013]

But continuing with your statement, I believe the choice to live or die lies within one's conscience. However, the right to die assuming that since life and free will was given to us by whatever our origin, then it becomes our own (otherwise it would instantly become no).

[VoiceOFreason1013]

This breaks down into two beliefs. People who have no religious beliefs, you originate from protobionts and really have only one purpose, which is to survive to reproduce.

People who have religious beliefs, you have the purpose that your creator gave unto you and to defy that purpose deems yourself useless.

[VoiceOFreason1013]

The flaw in your proposal is that life is not ours to begin with. Whether one accepts the truth or not one has no part in ones birth. One did not choose ones parents. All one does to live is to continue the life that has been given to them.

Now with that stated, our life is not originally ours, then whose was it? One could say that our life was bestowed upon us by the union of our parents sex cells, thus forming us. However, would their lives be theirs? The paradox leads to the origin of life.

[burnvictim77]

"It's not about government control, it's about violence and non-violence."

The problem with this statement is that it always requires VIOLENCE to force people to do what is against their own will. So, the way you stop someone from killing himself is by using force. Ergo - if we seek to end violence, then we must respect human will. Because it is only in the clash of wills that violence is produced.

[KhagarBalugrak]

It's not about government control, it's about violence and non-violence. It's the government's role to oppose violence - including violence towards one's self. We don't just outlaw dangerous drugs because they are dangerous to others, but also because they are dangerous to those who use them. Besides, living in a civilized society requires that we act responsibly; killing oneself is a violation of one's responsibility toward the community.

[burnvictim77]

Responsibility toward community - from where does this derive? Responsibilities can only be the result of contracts which much be entered into voluntarily. And if a person doesn't want to live, who obligates them to live?

While what you are saying may make sense to you, because it is what you believe, you are resting on so many assumptions, it is very hard to understand where you are coming from other than "this is what X told me was right, and I believe it."

[KhagarBalugrak]

Just to be clear, I'm not a neoconservative who opposes compassionate policies on "moral grounds"; however, suicide is a violent and evil act, and cannot be allowed to happen under any circumstances, with the exception of sacrificing one's own life to save others (which isn't suicide, because the intent is totally different).

What we need is better methods of pain relief for the mentally and physically ill; if we could make people's lives painless and pleasurable, nobody would desire death.

[burnvictim77]

But why is this within the realm of the Government? That's the basic part of the equation you need to fill in. Why can the Gov't force me to live (or die) as it sees fit?

[diddykongfu]

religion friend religion

[chad410]

how to prove if a person with disaese is mentally coherent at time. difficult. but being allowed to end ones suffering and some sufferin is much worse than others.

[Littlezombie]

this is why darwinism is so evil, survival of the fittest, instead of calling us worthless eaters, they have chosen wastes of oxygen...

you get it? we are a waste of oxygen...

stop leaving carbon footprints, ya waste of oxygen... rotflmfao

[Littlezombie]

1930's germany, first they euthanized the terminally ill, then the mentally ill, then the mentally disadvantaged, then political dissenters and jews...

euthanasia is eugenics gone wild...

[Littlezombie]

suicide... the cowards way out

wimp out

gutless wonder

pain is part of life

women undergo great pain to bring forth life...

cowards will not be admitted to heaven...

it is a sin to murder yourself...

God decides when its "checkout" time...

martyrs endured being burnt alive by grace and faith and God gave them strength to endure...

so glad Jesus didnt wimp out ... : D

[paperxiii]

You really need to get a clue, these terminally-ill people who want to die with dignity are not cowards. They've gone through and experience pain we probably can't even being to understand or even a grasp. They want peace when they go, not severe pain and panic. Why are we in a society that sees it as humane to end an animal's life because it's suffering but we're somehow below this? No government or questioned cosmic being have any right to tell these people otherwise.

[Beskargam]

All sins are equal in God's eyes. So, if you think that committing murder is enough to keep you out of Heaven, then don't plan on seeing the apostle Paul there, since he spent much of his time killing Christians before he became an apostle. Also, if you think the murder is enough to keep one out of Heaven, keep in mind that lying is just as serious to God.

[irma2go]

I never thought I would say this but I somewhat agree. Yes everyone should have the right to do whatever they want to their own self as long as your surroundings are not affected. However if assisted suicide is made legal it should be on certain circumstances. For example - medical issues. It needs to be the worst case scenario in order for assisted suicide to take place.

[Zoya9may]

Anti-lifers (falsely called "pro-lifers" as they are against the life of the human being involved).You all talk about Religious, Science...But you don't understand that euthanasia have to do with free choice!!!A person isn't FREE if he/she have the control of his/her BODY & MIND!!!

[jon1215]

I agree you have the right to kill yourself. But... the state should not endorse it or assist in the action of helping one die. In terms of wearing your seat belt, I think it is a good law because it helps to protect us in case of a accident. Police enforce that law because their job is to "serve and protect". A seat belts job is to protect, see the parallel.

[jon1215]

I agree you have the right to kill yourself. But... the state should not endorse it or assist in the action of helping one die. In terms of wearing your seat belt, I think it is a good law because it helps to protect us in case of a accident. Police enforce that law because their job is to "serve and protect". A seat belts job is to protect, see the parallel.

[burnvictim77]

But forcing someone to protect themselves - that is something very different from protecting them from outside force.

[tigerlilliey]

If it considered cruel to leave an animal in suffering why is it acceptable that we let loved ones experience what we dont want a dog to experience?

[AlettaJ]

Because killing a dog is different than killing a human being.

[tigerlilliey]

I watched my gradfather, who brought me up in the absence of my father, die from liver cancer. It was debilitating, cruel and clear to those around him the shame he felt as a grown man having his granddaughter change his cathater. By the end of his illness he wasnt able to speak and having been so close to him I know he would wanted to end his life with same dignity he lived by everyday. Is it wrong to make that decision based on a life long knowledge of his beliefs?

[ritter89]

Excellent video! You're one of the more articulate, concise and interesting posters. As someone with an educational background in philosophy/bio ethics and medicine, I'm impressed by your arguments for/against various issues/topics. At the very least, I know that a few individuals in this country can still access their neo cortexes and think critically. Judging by many of the mind-numbingly boring and inane videos that are posted on You Tube, I was beginning to suspect otherwise : )

[laurennicolemang]

*supressed angst over silly comments*

I agree with you. Actually it's just as though you took my thoughts and opinions that didn't know where to go and ordered them neatly were they were suppose to be in the first place. Some of them anyway.

The topic of Euthanasia both enthralls me and makes me crazy. There are just so many aspects and definitions to regard.

Wonderful outlook on what many would never think about or even consider. You remind me of me.

thank you.

[aimlesswonderer]

I agree, just keep the suicide less messy lmao. Even though jumping from a building might be my choice if i had to ever choose lmao

[aimlesswonderer]

There is another reason for seatbelt law like helmet law. When you die, get flung out window, smeared across the streat... who pays for cleanup... the tax payers. I used to teach traffic school and I was taught to teach this as another reason. The guy who hired and taught me drove a motorcycle and hated helmets too. lol

[zotteke1991]

this vid made me subscribe to you. i am from the netherlands, but i totally agree with you nevertheless. although i do not agree about the smoking thing. because, hurting yourself by smoking in places like restaurants, hurts other people too. and what right do YOU have to HURT OTHER people physically (physically. i am not talking about mentally. because you can hurt people mentally by hurting and/or killing yourself). i am iterested to see what you think about the argument i 'presented'

[burnvictim77]

Can you smoke in your house with other people there?

It's the same thing in a restaurant. The people who go to a place where there is smoking are the ones who are putting themselves at risk.

[rowansaloser]

ay man u go on about being politically correct but u call the mentally ill, retarded

[burnvictim77]

When did I talk about Political Correctness?

[overdrive1991]

technically, "mentally ill" and "mentally retarded" are correct terms, as is the term "mental retardation", though use of the word (and any form of the word) "retarded" isnt really the best word to use. BUT, it is still a correct word.

[gyzmopr]

I think that distracting the discussion with that is pretty lame. Burnvictim is clear: who has the right to tell me that I can't end my life? who has the right? Then if nobody has that right, then people who get into the rhetorical discussion are selfishly imposing their will over that personal right.

[luv4lolabelle]

..cont. I also find it difficult to see how some (usually the puritanical religious right) cannot make a simple intellectual step to see that their views are tyrannical.

[luv4lolabelle]

Agree in theory with all points except the smoking in restaurants analogy. That does harm other people so the provision needs to be there for that. But I do agree one should be able to lawfully open their own restaurant for smokers. Others are then free to choose not to visit when there are smoke free options available. Also - the health cost on society in general that smoking generates. I wouldn't argue smoking freedom to be the same as death choice freedom.

[CapnPegleg]

I also am a libertarian and I agree on all points of your rant. The Constitution of the USA is defunct. Our society is being monitored by Marxists on one side and religion fanatics on the other. Doctors keep people alive who should be dead. I am one of those people. I should have died in 2002. Now I'm a burden on the taxpayers. I've tried to check out three times, failed, and am still being forced to live and suffer while I feed off taxpayers' money. Give me liberty AND give me death!

[tacomacbite]

Government-sponsored euthanasia is wrong because suicide is a personal prerogative NOT A GOVERNMENTAL RIGHT. Jesus came so that you can eternally live.

Why choose eternal death? Judas chose suicide. He always chose a euthanistic behavior in comparison to the apostles. It existed then; it exists now. Euthanasia is a complete denial of the mercy and eternal life of God. How can a beautiful, sexy man like you want to die? That makes me deeply sad.

[Rythsaad]

The question here is not 'why?' but 'is one given the right to?'.

And I believe, despite Gary's educational explanation, you're still mixing up the terms.

[URAGR8M8]

Personal freedoms are being eroded - some people even go as far as to try and get people to stop using drugs like heroine and angel dust. This is against their rights - people have no right to tell drug-addicts what to do.

[Rythsaad]

Avoidable things like these shouldn't happen. So if you get caught, you should pay compensation for the sake of everyone else. Where the money ends up is irrelevant. It's the moral thought that counts. Which is only fare.

[burnvictim77]

Yes, so everyone else is more important than me. I get it.

[Rythsaad]

Heh, nah man. You have the right not to wear it just like any person has the right to commit a crime. But consequences must be met nonetheless.

Just saying that you would be and should be treated just the same as a person littering or a smoker smoking next a No Smoking sign.

You want to live in society, you pay. That's how I figure it works from my observations. We are all connected and should respect one another.

[Rythsaad]

I rather see seatbelts as a public matter. You can refuse to wear it but it wouldn't be nice for the witnesses of your death, as your carcass flies through the windshield, smashing against the asphalt. What about the poor janitors that scrap your brains off of the sidewalk?

[killerschnauzer]

I definatly agree with your statements. Kudos to you, couldnt have said it better myself. Thanks for making this video. You sum up what i believe perfectly. THANKS

[tacomacbite]

You are right. Nazi's practiced euthanasia

to kill Jews and others who were deemed useless to them. You had no authority to bring yourself into the world, why have the authority to take yourself out? Euthanasia is a perversion of mercy. People have the will to do what they will. We live to pursue happiness.

How is death happiness? Do mothers teach their children to cultivate a habit of death by selfish means or do they encourage life. We live to pursue happiness.

[ThePanClasher]

I agree with you but...how do you know that death wouldn't make another happy?

[burnvictim77]

No one has a right to be made happy by requiring someone else to provide them with happiness.

[tacomacbite]

If that were true, no one would get blow jobs. So, if I can get someone to give me a blow job, I should be able to make someone give me an edge off of a terminal situation provided that the relief bring pleasure, restoration, and euphoria, not death.

[tacomacbite]

That reply beats the video with the customer holding up a bag of 99 cent chips asking the clerk "how much do the chips cost." Please, get married. have children. Don't feed them. Don't nurture or love them. Just let them sit there until they die so that you can prove your point: "No one has a right to be made happy by requiring someone else to provide them with happiness" (or any thing to make them content). Will you admit you are wrong then?

[Carrotjuicesauce]

I can't wrap my head round on the smoking comment u made

But I think smokers shouldn't have the right to smoke in public places as in Hong kong

Its public nuisance if some wealthy dudes hold porn shoots in a mansion that's visible or if my stereo is pumping @ 4am. How is public smoking any different?

[burnvictim77]

Because PUBLIC smoking isn't the issue. The issue is on PRIVATE property such as restaurants and bars.

[darkstar1one]

Not really. There's a couple of minor parties who do have some libertarian-like ideas such as abolishing the income tax, but they're essentially authoritarian with policies to match, and some of them are also just thinly veiled racists. I have every intention of moving to the US as soon as I can. I know it's not perfect but it's better than the UK by a long way. I'm thinking Vermont, Wyoming or Maine.

[darkstar1one]

Hey, been watching some of your vids. You might be interested to know that I'm a libertarian from the UK. There is no libertarian party here so I just don't vote :(

[burnvictim77]

Is there any part which is even close, supporting personal freedoms to an extent and promoting neo-liberal economics?

[Rickdeckard2020]

Very interesting points. I am for assisted suicide but I am not libertarian (The word progressive is often used here to refer to left-wing-ish ideas), to me the pendulum has already swong too much to the individualistic side (me, myself and I) of the equation, but as you mention there's definetly a cultural aspect.

[chad410]

having thought about suicide off and on.It s a difficult one.this concocsion is a fast acting and not painful way to die.If you take the right away then we are living in a big Brother world.The problem is assisted.they need the right to help and should be professionals and go in only at the last minute when all other decisions have been talked through.

[vampyem]

Your response video is the best of all. Thanks for clearing up the difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide, for some people might not have understood that. Anyways, I agree with your libertarian view-points very much. I'm liberal myself but I can lean towards your side very easily. The US should definatley take libertarian views into consideration... maybe in 2008 eh?

[burnvictim77]

Maybe, but not likely.

[LaserDeathRay]

Dear burn, are you a Libertarian Party member or simply

stating you belief in the principles of libertarianism ?

Regardless, I agree with your viewpoint as stated in your vid.

[blackbat452]

It's refreshing to hear someone talk sense. I agree with you completely.

[GeneralSeptem]

I half agree and half disagree. I'm kind of a quasi-conservative part anarchist, part libertarian myself. Basically I believe certain things are wrong and that they harm society, and that good things benefit society. But I also believe that many things can't be legislated away and some things should not be arbitrary. Only in wanting to do good, rather than simply following the law, does it benefit society.

[burnvictim77]

Yes, but I'm talking about RIGHTS. Do you believe that I have the right to kill myself or not?

[GeneralSeptem]

We all are able to make our own choices, and either reap the rewards, face the consequences, or both, regardless of the law. But that doesn't make it right to do. You have to understand, too, that suicide rarely only affects the one who commits it. So if you're going to practice your free will by trying to commit suicide, understand others are going to excersize their free will by trying to help you. It's an act of comassion towards the victim and their families - and society.

[burnvictim77]

But you didn't answer the question. Do you believe that I have the RIGHT to kill myself or not?

[GeneralSeptem]

That depends on what you mean by "right".

[burnvictim77]

Should the Gov't punish people who do not have your idea of virtue in this case? That is specifically: should doctors who help patients commit suicide be prosecuted?

[GeneralSeptem]

The government should not even exist. The question is, should society allow it? Answer: Absolutely not. Assisted suicide is an iminent threat to the sanctity of human life. If we cannot respect the sanctity of human life, how can everyone respect each other as humans? As brothers and sisters?

[burnvictim77]

So, how does society disallow a behavior?

[GeneralSeptem]

That depends. Say, for example, someone was going around killing people. In a democracy they would answer to the police. In an anarchy, society as a whole may make a collective effort to bring the criminal to justice. What happens then is anyone's guess, but I'm against the death penalty unless it's the only way to keep society safe.

[burnvictim77]

So, you prefer mob violence. I do not think that's a preferable solution.

[GeneralSeptem]

No, not mob violence. Like I said, I'm against the death penalty. It lowers a person to the murderer's level and also sends out the message that violence is the answer to problems. It doesn't solve anything. But perhaps jails can be independently owned or something. Or maybe there could be people hired to keep an eye on known murderers and intervene if they try anything.

[burnvictim77]

So, we give "normal" people the right to take and imprison others when they feel like... We call this abduction nowadays. I have a big problem with the total lack of a State in that without any structure of authority, it's literally just might makes right.

[GeneralSeptem]

It's one of the issues with anarchy which is why I'm not a complete anarchist. However I will say in response to your "normal people" comment that everyone is human and that nobody should be considered higher or lower than anyone else.

[burnvictim77]

If that is the case, then no one has the "right" to punish.

[GeneralSeptem]

I don't believe anyone should judge. However if someone is going around causing harm to society, that cannot be allowed to continue either.

[acolecobob]

you're video really made sense. We need more people like you and other intelligent people from YouTube in politics. View my video on Voting and Election Reform. I would like to get input from you on it. Sorry for the plug.

[dexarouskies]

This video is music to my ears, and I agree 100% with everything said here.

[starpilot1]

Heck yes, senor. Well said.

[Pipistrello]

Co-lla-bor-a-tion!! When? Where? I can travel. lol

[burnvictim77]

You need me to help you... *gulp*... kill yourself ?

[Pipistrello]

No no no! lol We'll talk.

[RawSlade]

LOL!

[juliact]

your distinction is spot on(and an important one). euthanasia is "mercy killing, or allowing to die", and says nothing about the wishes or participation of the dying.

[burnvictim77]

I'm not sure why these terms are getting mixed up so much.

[deadlogic]

on a similar point, should harming your own mind be outlawed as well? we should then outlaw churches and our lovely education system, as they are effectively harming and stunting the people of america, and in fact, the world.

[burnvictim77]

Yes, of course we can harm our own minds.

[battim]

if need be..

[battim]

dude, run for office...i'll campaign for you

[burnvictim77]

Should I wear a superhero mask?

[LordSardonic]

you have a very good point with this blog i agree that you need both ppls point of view, but thank you for your responce it means alot to me so thank you for taking the time to make this, your points a very valied never forget that

[burnvictim77]

Thanks! I understand that a lot of people have very STRONG EMOTIONS regarding issues like death and suicide, but I think that we most all can comprehend the actual principles and reasons that laws should (or should not) be made.