A close family friend who was like a second dad to me killed himself with a shotgun a few years ago. He was older, in declining health and feeling depressed. His daughter, also a close friend, found him the next day, which was also her birthday.
I'm certain he did it on impulse. He was alone at home, a gun was handy, he grabbed it and made a mistake that can't be undone.
Of course there's no way to know for sure but I also believe if someone were there with him that evening, he wouldn't have shot himself.
I'm on the fence on the assisted suicide issue. For people who are terminally ill, in pain, and no hope or chance of improvement or recovery, it should be an option but only done if the patient is entirely lucid and able to reach this decision independently.
There's a lot of grey area, though. What about patients in the US who still have a few good years left but are racking up huge medical bills and don't want to be a financial burden so they decide to go sooner rather than later? Until we can be sure situations like this won't happen, I'll remain on the fence on this issue.
-Teresa
I'm certain he did it on impulse. He was alone at home, a gun was handy, he grabbed it and made a mistake that can't be undone.
Of course there's no way to know for sure but I also believe if someone were there with him that evening, he wouldn't have shot himself.
I'm on the fence on the assisted suicide issue. For people who are terminally ill, in pain, and no hope or chance of improvement or recovery, it should be an option but only done if the patient is entirely lucid and able to reach this decision independently.
There's a lot of grey area, though. What about patients in the US who still have a few good years left but are racking up huge medical bills and don't want to be a financial burden so they decide to go sooner rather than later? Until we can be sure situations like this won't happen, I'll remain on the fence on this issue.
-Teresa
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