Euthanasia for the Depressed?

[Saxmoof]

What worries me most is that with the legalisation of this, friends and families of other depressed people in the future may start to think that like in the case of terminal illness, the compassionate thing to do is to let them go. I don't think that's the case, I think hopeless, suicidal thoughts are a temporary and irrational result of their brain having been hijacked by depression and people having them should be convinced that that's the case, however hard it is to make that case to someone who feels there's no hope

From the full interview with the woman in question, talking about her friend -

"Sarah is deceased two years ago. You see that piece in the closet there? It symbolizes her. The black queen. We often played chess together, even just before her death. The last time I lost, when Sarah jokingly said "Too bad not it, that this loss now never can catch up." It was, in a strange way, beautiful to see her. You saw that she had finally rest now that they might go. She beamed. Then I thought. What is this really beautiful " 

Unlike with terminal illness, it's impossible to know whether or not a person's situation is hopeless, and if there's uncertainty is it not best to err on the side of caution?

[Pyrrho]

I don't think there is much of a distinction between being in constant physical pain and a constant state of severe depression. It could easily be described as mental pain, and it's a lot harder to control.

This is all a very difficult subject and I think it needs way more debate. In this particular case, it seems the person is being forced to stay in the institution. I understand why this may be, but it also makes her ability to kill herself greatly reduced.

At many points I've been about 5 minutes away from killing myself. I'm amazed that it hasn't happened. But if I had have stepped over the line at any point, I'd be faced with how to kill myself. However I do it, I'm going to leave people with a horrible shock and a mess to clean up. It would then be a matter of deciding if someone is allowed to help me do it cleanly with drugs, or if I'm going to call an ambulance to my location and tell them which cliff I'm about to jump off.

It's a whole lot easier I imagine where guns are available. If I had one... I certainly would not be confident I wouldn't have used it already.

Am I glad I didn't kill myself yet? No.

According to this site:

http://lostallhope.com/suicide-methods/f...eliability

studies indicate that using a gun for suicide is between 73-92% successful.  Now, that might sound pretty good, but think of the ones who are unsuccessful at killing themselves with a gun and what their lives will be like afterwards.

So, if you wanted to kill yourself, I would recommend a trip to a country where euthanasia is legal and get proper help rather than run the risk of horrific effects from a gunshot wound that fails to kill you.

The fact that many people cavalierly say that you can kill yourself if you want to do so should do more research into the matter, as it is not so easy to have a clean death as many imagine.

[Cyberman]

I can attest to that. I've made some three attempts on my life to date. The human body is actually quite resilient to mortal injury - it's a lot harder to make a person dead than you might imagine.

[robvalue]

I'm very sorry to hear that Stimbo You can always talk to me if you need a sympathetic ear. It's amazing I haven't tried, and I'm sure I'd be able to relate.

Yeah, I don't expect it to be easy. It would take a lot of planning and commitment. I never understand it being called the "coward's way out" because a coward would not be able to follow it through.

I did think I'd try and go to a country where they would help me off myself. Thankfully I've never got to the active planning stage, I promised my wife I would tell her the second I ever did.

As for guns, I'm surprised to hear the success rate is that low. I bet the number of attempts/successful attempts at suicide is higher in countries with guns aplenty. I mean, pulling a trigger has to be a fuck load easier than slicing your wrists.

[Cyberman]

Well, one of these days I'll manage it.

[tonechaser77]

This is such a great topic of discussion. I don't feel like I can offer any anecdotal opinions since i have never gone through any major bouts of depression. I am of the same opinion that it needs more thought. On one hand, now as an atheist, I don't feel that a God dictates our coming into and leaving the world so a person has a right to decide if they want to live or die. I also feel that decision is much more nuanced than what was just stated. Mental capacity needs to be considered, since the decision to be euthanized can be debated under that and this produces a conundrum. Since it is almost universally recognized that mental illness results from a chemical imbalance, once this is identified it can usually be treated and controlled.

[The Valkyrie]

But it always comes back to the doctors, doesn't it?

Who would you recommend to perform euthanasia, a plumber?

You're keen on it.  Why don't you do it?

Are you a plumber?

[Pyrrho]

... I never understand it being called the "coward's way out" because a coward would not be able to follow it through.

I agree.  It is really just a pathetic argumentum ad hominem to try to dissuade people from doing it.  There is an instinctive fear of killing oneself, and it takes courage to overcome that.

...
As for guns, I'm surprised to hear the success rate is that low. ...

One cannot properly aim a gun at a vital part of one's body.  For example, it is impossible to look down the sights of a gun while aiming it at your head.  Just hitting your head may not kill you.  I have heard horror stories of people sticking guns in their mouths and blowing a hole in the back of their necks, but living.  Of course, such a wound affects one's quality of life.

Also, holding a gun at your temple is not enough to guarantee success either; the exact angle that it is held matters.


If you were going to go with the gun in the mouth approach, you would probably want to select a double-barrel large bore (10-12 gauge) shotgun, and use one's toe to pull the trigger.  And be located as far from a hospital as possible.  And maybe use a couple of large mirrors to see if one seems to have the angle right.  But I would rather use euthanasia in a country where it is legal, as it will be less likely to have an undesired outcome.