Today's NYTimes had an article that suicides are at an all time high as a percentage of the population. (see link below) Does this make any sort of case for euthanasia (or assisted suicide)? Or are they disconnected?

1 Answer

Answer :

Are you seriously asking if we should consider offering assisted suicide as a “clean” solution to dire “economic conditions”?

Related questions

Description : Has the uptick in teen suicides coincided with the distribution of antidepressants?

Last Answer : Perhaps, but I think the climbing rate to be much more a reflection of the mood in the country and the relentless decline in optimism.

Description : Do you think euthanasia should be available to humans?

Last Answer : I know I would like euthanasia to be legal, I would use it. I have been depressed for years. Yes, I have good days, but deep down I ALWAYS want to die. I don’t want my life, this life. I self harm and I cry everyday. I’m so tired of waking up in the morning.

Description : Have you ever thought about committing suicide, and if you had, what stopped you from attempting to do it?

Last Answer : There was a time in my life when I thought about it constantly.. I was just never dumb enough to think it would solve anything. All it would do is cause more pain to other people. That’s not fair to them. Life is the greatest gift we’ll ever have.. throwing it away for any reason is illogical.

Description : Do people who commit suicide imagine that they are about to enter an improved version of life?

Last Answer : It’s about the deep desire to end their suffering.

Description : What are your thoughts on euthanasia and assisted suicide?

Last Answer : Everyone should be given a choice to end their life with euthanasia and assisted suicide so that they can choose to die with dignity and in peace instead of having to kill themselves in a painful way.

Description : Which argument for healthcare policy, Democratic or Republican could have convinced this couple not to commit murder-suicide over worries on treatment costs?

Last Answer : To take the cynical side of this: Some Republican party supporters - mostly Tea Party and fiscal conservatives, would not have made any effort to prevent these people from commiting murder-suicide. Their rationale: ... come up to address these dead peoples' needs,, I wouldn't trust it for a second.

Description : Is it suicide if you do it to save other people?

Last Answer : I don't see making the ultimate sacrifice to save someone else to be the same thing as suicide. Although you may know that you are putting your life in danger, there is NO way to know for sure that ... or does not make it into Heaven; so, those who have condemned him to Hell could be mistaken!!!

Description : Suicide?

Last Answer : Thank you for sharing this information with us. We must take every time we hear that someone is thinking of suicide seriously. Your friend is in a very vulnerable place right now. I'm glad you are a friend ... for LGBTQ youth at 866-488-7386. Again, thank you. I wish you and Chris all the best.

Description : What are 100 reasons not to commit suicide?

Last Answer : 2. I want to see what tomorrow brings.

Description : If you hire a hitman to kill you,is it murder or suicide?

Last Answer : Premeditated Murder

Description : Has anyone lost a loved one to suicide?

Last Answer : Yes, I have lost 3 people to suicide. I think it is the most difficult way to lose a loved one, because it leaves you with so many questions. And often guilt, a lot of what if I could have said ... owe it to yourself to take it. I'm sorry for your loss, I hope your heart heals quickly. (hugs)

Description : Have you ever contemplated or attempted suicide?

Last Answer : I have never attempted it, but for years I would think about it every single day. I was rather surprised to find out that most people don’t. It seemed so normal to me to be thinking about it.

Description : Why is suicide against the law?

Last Answer : Not knowing the answer, can I add on to this question and ask why the families of military members who die of suicide don’t receive a letter of condolence from the president?

Description : Is the U2 song "Stuck in A Moment" an effective argument against suicide?

Last Answer : It is difficult to get someone who is in pain and has lost all hope to get mentally out of that dark place. In this respect I think music make a great conduit. The lyrics are, in ... effort to try to deflect a potential suicide. It aknowledges the listeners pain and offers hope of relief.

Description : Suicide. Act of cowardice or braveness?

Last Answer : “It’s a hell of a thing to kill a man. You take away all he’s got and all he’s ever gonna have”.

Description : Why do people write suicide notes?

Last Answer : To tell those they’ve left behind that it is not their fault.

Description : What is your opinion of suicide?

Last Answer : I think that a person should be able to take their own life without others' ridicule one's life is all one has to control to an extent and it's not up to you or me to tell someone they can't end it ... imo I am sorry you lost a friend, I, too have lost someone to suicide, long ago, and I miss them

Description : Is suicide an act of bravery or cowardice?

Last Answer : Suicide is the biggest act of a coward running away from their problems instead of trying to deal with it. It takes more guts to come face to face with their problems than to back down and suicide.

Description : So did the D.C. Madam really commit suicide?

Last Answer : Yes, she hanged herself

Description : Suicide?

Last Answer : Are you asking purely for academic purposes, or because your’e considering going down this road yourself?

Description : If you had to, how would you kill yourself?

Last Answer : Whatever the least painful way is. I heard a young woman was approved for euthanization in Bulgaria or Belarus because she had persistent suicidal thoughts. Pretty interesting.

Description : How do I contact Mac mail to find out what the password is that they insist they must have?

Last Answer : answer:Do you have an Apple care contract? If not, and you are willing to shell out $19.99 for a session with an Apple Care techie, call 1-800-MY-APPLE. My Apple care contract had expired and ... may be whistling Dixie. But the techs were able to burrow into my hard drive and find the damdest stuff.

Description : Is it a smart move for Trump to abolish Obamacare?

Last Answer : Smart? No. Can he get away with it? Well. Will the American people let him?......

Description : How do I respond to "I don't want to live " when my grandson gets angry?

Last Answer : How old is he?

Description : R I P Roseanne? Is this the end?

Last Answer : She really is an idiot. The reboot of her show was incredibly successful and she threw it all away with a moronic tweet about someone no one was even talking about in the first place. Maybe she'll ... for saying stupid racist shit, but I don't picture her having much of a career after this.

Description : What are your thoughts on the rumors surrounding Chris Cornel's death? (Details)

Last Answer : Appears like a suicide to me. A few conflicting accounts, but nothing I can see that would give rise to conspiracy theories. Just my two cents worth.

Description : Is it possible for a five year old to become suicidal?

Last Answer : answer:If a child has experienced enough abuse or other traumatizing experiences, one could guess that it would be possible for the child to want to kill themselves. Or maybe it could even just happen by ... parents' divorce but they can't be sure if he knew exactly what he was doing or not.

Description : Apparently Ariel Castro, the guy who kidnapped and held those three women in Cleveland for ten years, hung himself in his prison cell last night. Is this justice? Is this a good outcome?

Last Answer : answer:I think an exit like Jeffrey Dahmer’s would have been more appropriate, but that’s just me. Good riddance, asshole.

Description : Have you ever felt truly alone?

Last Answer : Yes, when I was in the middle of my depression.

Description : Anyone else find these commercials disturbing?

Last Answer : Hmmm, they are odd for sure and the theme imo insensitive. I don’t find them amusing. Not sure what they were thinking of really.

Description : Death by bullying?

Last Answer : I’m pretty certain that they can press charges. This is (unfortunately) becoming an all too common story.

Description : What are some signs to look for in people who are suicidal?

Last Answer : answer:Suicides are the worst to have to deal with. I lost a good friend who never could get over the accidental death of his brother. We almost knew he would do it prayed he wouldn't. Everyone tried ... loss and try to remember the good times you had and to cherish the days you have on this planet.

Description : In the movie "25th Hour" why doesn't the Ed Norton character kill himself instead of going to prison?

Last Answer : Uhh, because he values his life? Maybe he’ll be in prison for a long time, but someday he will get out.

Description : If you knew that someone was seriously suicidal, what would you tell them?

Last Answer : I would definitley not do nothing. I would quickly and seriously research services my area has. It may be the police, I don’t know. If your friend is upset and de-friends you, that’s waaay better than the possible alternative. And yes, I would talk, talk, and talk some more to the friend.

Description : Why can't cyber bullies be prosecuted for slander or libel?

Last Answer : answer:The cases are very different things-yelling fire in a crowded theater (when there isn't one) would serve to cause panic, and is generally illegal under something like inciting a riot or ... 's my un-informed opinion). Read up on defamation, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defamation

Description : Are there other fans here of David Foster Wallace?

Last Answer : I’m sorry that someone so talented could not recieve the help he needed. Best wishes to his family.

Description : 32 suicides in Russia versus 1 suicide in Peru per 100,000 people per year - How do you explain the greatly varying suicide rates in different countries?

Last Answer : I remember having a book somehwere in my apartment about this exact subject, bought it and then never got a chance to read it, this is getting book marked until I can give a knowledgeable answer. great question.

Description : What question does the anti-assisted suicide side pose when polling the population?

Last Answer : Legitimate poll takers include the questions with the results.

Description : I want to contact President Obama directly about standing up to lobbyists on health care (and send him a copy of Saturday's NYTimes article. How can I do this?

Last Answer : Make a website, “canbarackobamahearme.com,” and document your efforts to contact the president directly. Hopefully a radio station will pick up on it, interview you, etc. Think cangooglehearme.com, or the movie My Date With Drew

Description : Thoughts on how this design will affect assisted suicide?

Last Answer : I have read about this, and I am supportive of assisted suicide, and of a method that allows a peaceful end to extreme suffering.

Description : How do you view assisted suicide?

Last Answer : Are we talking about euthanasia?

Description : If your State/Province held a referendum on assisted suicide..(rest in details)

Last Answer : I will start off with a BIG YES!!!!!!!!

Description : Are the anti-vaccine believers likely to be pro doctor-assisted suicide?

Last Answer : I don’t think the two have anything to do with each other. The question doesn’t need to be asked.

Description : If assisted suicide were legal, how would that affect the life insurance industry?

Last Answer : answer:I don't know about life insurance, but health insurance would likely be all for it. It can cost tens of thousands of dollars to keep someone critically ill alive for even just a few weeks ... have life AND health insurance, I'm sure that something will work out in assisted suicide's favor.

Description : Lets try this a different way, if YOU were suffering from a terminal painful illness would you not want the option of assisted suicide?

Last Answer : answer:I would want the [legal] option. I understand that some disabled and elderly people may get pressure to choose assisted from family members, etc., but aren't those people in a living hell ... be given to people who have expressed an opinion before the option presents itself, much like DNR?

Description : What are your thoughts about assisted suicide for the mentally ill?

Last Answer : I don’t think I’m a good enough man to answer that. That’s going to take someone wiser than I am.

Description : Is assisted suicide (esp. doctor assisted) an oxymoron?

Last Answer : It’s not a selfish thing. It’s about trying to find a way to do it that will be successful and hopefully as pain-free as possible.

Description : Doctor-assisted suicide is _________.

Last Answer : …a basic human right.

Description : Another person in the UK is refused the right to assisted suicide. Where do you stand on this topic?

Last Answer : If I want to die, what’s it to you?

Description : What are your thoughts on assisted suicide?

Last Answer : Yes, suicide can be justified. It’s my body, my life, why shouldn’t I be able to choose the time and manner of my own death?