I tend to agree with you - in that one should have the opportunity to end their life, and for the most part they do. I tend to think that medically assisted suicides, the kinds of incidents that find their way into the press, are in the minority, and it's rather unfortunate for people physically incapable of performing the act for themselves, that they would against their will be forced to endure a sea of pain - whether it be physical or emotional.

I've had two experiences related to this subject in my own family. The first was with my mother. She had over time become quite ill, but more than any physical pain she was experiencing it was the emotional distress of seeing her body disintegrate before her eyes, and for her it was a living hell for her to know that others saw her in this condition. She begged her doctors to end her life but they wouldn't, and because it was unclear exactly as to how long she might live - she was denied entry into a 'death with dignity' program. So, she and my stepfather took matters into their own hands, and he gave her an overdose of the very strong pain medication she was on, and that was that. I was incensed at the time, though as time passed I saw what he had done as being the right thing.

Years later my grandmother at 98 in a rest home just became bored with life and intentionally stopped eating. I visited her on a fairly regular basis and she told me she was ready to die, that she was actually looking forward to it. But the doctors at that time would have no part of her decision, telling me that they were not in the business of starving people to death, and they inserted a stomach tube to feed her nutrients, which kept her alive for an additional six months.

People that do want to end their lives do so fairly often, so ofter in fact that such acts generally make the press only when they're related to high profile individuals. One particular issue that seems a little gray to me personally is when a person has the where-with-all to end their own life, but not the courage to do so. How hard is it really to throw yourself off a balcony or a bridge, take an overdose, eat a bullet or jump in front of a train? It's hard enough that they are unable to pull it off for themselves, and they'll want others to pull the trigger (so to speak) for them. Personally I don't know where to draw the line on this one.

<I've known a number of people who were considering suicide, and without the proper help, probably would have. Frankly, I'm glad they're still around. And there are those that didn't get the help they needed that did kill themselves. >

I certainly get what you are saying Charles. In the last month I had a friend staying with me who returned to my house to find the person I live with had cut her wrist (this was not a suicide attempt - but an episode of cutting - but a few hours alone and she would have probably attempted to end her life). She was psychotic. God was calling her to him and to come by killing herself. When in not such a state, the idea of her taking her own life terrifies her and us intervening is the right thing to do - in *every respect*. Dealing with the horror of the person who found her was hard. He ended up getting counseling.

One thing on suicide and requested euthanasia, when the requesting party is the person wanting to die - a huge issue is how those affect by it feel, NOT the feelings of the person who want to die. This might be selfish and wrong.

Some families will want to see a love one suffer horribly and delay death rather than have to deal how *they* feel about the passing of someone close to them - especially when that death is by suicide.Some will want to interveen and control anothers life rather than allow them selfdetermination.

Juxtaposed; another close friend - his brother killed himself after saying goodbye to all he knew. He was considered sane. He was not sick - in any way - but said he could not stand the emotional pain of living.

My friend loved his brother very much and was close to him. They talked about it a lot, with him trying to talk his brother out of it. He came to accept that his desire to have his brother live was all about how *he felt* - and not *how his brother felt* , nor what he wanted. He ended his own life and my friend coped with the loss. The loss of his brother still saddens him - but by the same token ultimately he loved him enough not to selfishly cling to him and hold him in a state of suffering which most of us would consider part of a normal human existence. He gave him the freedom to live his life as he saw fit - and extended that freedom and acceptance of independence to how and when he would end his life.

Terminally ill and the very old who beg doctors to end their suffering are common. And here - such doctors commit a crime to give them assistance. However it is not illegal to withdraw all medical assistance (including drip feeding and ventilates and the like) so such patients die of starvation or dehydration. I wonder at how right such a situation is.

< The right to suicide should be considered as far as I am concerned a basic human right regardless of circumstance.

I think the only reg should be verification that it is not being manipulated or acts of coercion being used. So the validation should be as simple as an individual deciding it is time to go. >

Sounds right to me Jsin with the exception of the psychologically ill - that's a quagmire for many have a crap quality of life, but would be seen to be less qualified to make such a decision than others considered sane..

In all instances; I hope no sane person ever asks my to assist them to die with dignity.