Vermont Legalizes Assisted Suicide

[nickiknack]

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- After years of debate, Vermont became the fourth state in the country Monday to allow doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medicine to terminally ill patients seeking to end their lives.

Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the bill into law at a Statehouse ceremony even as opponents vowed to push for its repeal.

The End of Life Choices law was effective immediately, although it could be weeks before the state Health Department develops regulations in accordance with the new measure.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/vermont-assisted-suicide_n_3309210.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

"Pro-Lifers" start bitching in 3, 2, 1...

[R. U. Sirius]

"We don't want to pay for these people to have decent medical care, we just don't want them to die until GAWD says so!"

It never occurs to them that suicide might be God's plan for that person.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

YES! Finally another state that chose the most humane solution.

[KZN02]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-jGYAbjIOI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-jGYAbjIOI</a>

[mellenORL]

If you are so wrapped up in gawd's word that you can watch loved a one die a slow, agonizing death for no other reason than faith based law, and still be good with it? You aren't human. I've had to witness it twice in just 2 and a half years. My mom, and my aunt. Both sweet old ladies, both in pain and terror for at least part of the dying process. Needless. Meaningless. Undeserved. Suffering.

[ironbite]

The fear is that kids will be doing this due to stupid problems.  The reality is, doctors won't let them do that.

Ironbite-good for Vermont.

[Id82]

I didn't even know this was legal in three other states.

[mythbuster43]

I didn't even know this was legal in three other states.

I think California was the first state to legalize it back in the early 1990s.

[Old Viking]

Good!

[worlder]

Unfortunately merely reading those words would give one the immediate impression that people would be allowed to off themselves instead of seeking therapy.

If they knew that the option is only available for people in horrendous pain who can't be cured of the illness, then there would be less internal ire.

[Yaezakura]

Unfortunately merely reading those words would give one the immediate impression that people would be allowed to off themselves instead of seeking therapy.

If they knew that the option is only available for people in horrendous pain who can't be cured of the illness, then there would be less internal ire.

No, even when that is blindingly obvious, the kind of people against it would still be against it. Because suffering is part of "God's plan", so you have to sit there in pain for as long as medical science can keep you alive. Nevermind the hypocrisy involved in seeking treatment for medical conditions if being ill is "God's plan" for you.

[The Right Honourable Mlle Antéchrist]

Unfortunately merely reading those words would give one the immediate impression that people would be allowed to off themselves instead of seeking therapy.

If they knew that the option is only available for people in horrendous pain who can't be cured of the illness, then there would be less internal ire.

No, even when that is blindingly obvious, the kind of people against it would still be against it. Because suffering is part of "God's plan", so you have to sit there in pain for as long as medical science can keep you alive. Nevermind the hypocrisy involved in seeking treatment for medical conditions if being ill is "God's plan" for you.

I've seen some incredibly judgmental, callous commentary on euthanasia. "They're just taking the easy way out!" is a common one I've heard from both the religious and non-religious alike. The self-righteousness is utterly sickening.

[Sigmaleph]

Unfortunately merely reading those words would give one the immediate impression that people would be allowed to off themselves instead of seeking therapy.

If they knew that the option is only available for people in horrendous pain who can't be cured of the illness, then there would be less internal ire.

No, even when that is blindingly obvious, the kind of people against it would still be against it. Because suffering is part of "God's plan", so you have to sit there in pain for as long as medical science can keep you alive. Nevermind the hypocrisy involved in seeking treatment for medical conditions if being ill is "God's plan" for you.

I've seen some incredibly judgmental, callous commentary on euthanasia. "They're just taking the easy way out!" is a common one I've heard from both the religious and non-religious alike. The self-righteousness is utterly sickening.

...

What's there to be accomplished by taking the hard way out? What advantage does it have? Or is the extra suffering good in itself?

I do not understand these people.

[Osama bin Bambi]

I didn't even know this was legal in three other states.

I think California was the first state to legalize it back in the early 1990s.

If I remember correctly, Oregon and Washington have also legalized assisted suicide, but only under certain conditions. (I believe that there is a waiting period and the illness must be terminal.)

[The Right Honourable Mlle Antéchrist]

Unfortunately merely reading those words would give one the immediate impression that people would be allowed to off themselves instead of seeking therapy.

If they knew that the option is only available for people in horrendous pain who can't be cured of the illness, then there would be less internal ire.

No, even when that is blindingly obvious, the kind of people against it would still be against it. Because suffering is part of "God's plan", so you have to sit there in pain for as long as medical science can keep you alive. Nevermind the hypocrisy involved in seeking treatment for medical conditions if being ill is "God's plan" for you.

I've seen some incredibly judgmental, callous commentary on euthanasia. "They're just taking the easy way out!" is a common one I've heard from both the religious and non-religious alike. The self-righteousness is utterly sickening.

...

What's there to be accomplished by taking the hard way out? What advantage does it have? Or is the extra suffering good in itself?

I do not understand these people.

Possibly they're so self-centered that they honestly believe they're justified in expecting others to suffer for their own ill-founded, abstract principles. That, and a lack of any meaningful empathy.