what is your opinion on Euthanasia?

[Alex123]

Hello all,

What is your opinion on Euthanasia?

Personally, if I were placed in a coma and without any reasonable chance of emerging from it, or if I would be mentally incapacitated if I did emerge, I
would prefer if I would be switched off life support and euthanized. If I were in severe and mind altering pain so much so I couldn't practice, I would prefer
to be euthanized.

What about you?

With metta,

Alex

[Cloud]

I would prefer not to leave my family with a larger medical bill than necessary. We all die, and I've made my peace with death. One who sees clearly knows that truly there is neither birth nor death, thus the unborn and deathless reality. We all share this reality, but do not all accept it.

Namaste

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Assuming we're talking about voluntary euthanasia, I think it ought to be for the individual to decide.

I'm uncomfortable with laws and/or the enforcement of religious beliefs upon others which deny them the right to die.

Metta,
Retro.

[Modus.Ponens]

Greetings,

Assuming we're talking about voluntary euthanasia, I think it ought to be for the individual to decide.

I'm uncomfortable with laws and/or the enforcement of religious beliefs upon others which deny them the right to die.

Metta,
Retro.

Hello Retro,

But who would kill the ill patient? When it only involves the patient, I have nothing against it. When the patient has to ask someone else to kill him, that, I'm against.

[Phra Chuntawongso]

Greetings,

Assuming we're talking about voluntary euthanasia, I think it ought to be for the individual to decide.

I'm uncomfortable with laws and/or the enforcement of religious beliefs upon others which deny them the right to die.

Metta,
Retro.

Hello Retro,

But who would kill the ill patient? When it only involves the patient, I have nothing against it. When the patient has to ask someone else to kill him, that, I'm against.

This is where it can get tricky.My own views on euthanasia are neither here nor there,but the question about asking someone to do the killing is another story.
Personally I see this as unskillful.However I am also coming from a monks pov and I realise that some things are more black and white from that angle.
With metta

[Digger]

Here is a link to a section of the Pali Canon where a very sick monk named Channa takes his own life:

http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/Agama/Sa ... aggo-e.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Rui Sousa]

Here is a link to a section of the Pali Canon where a very sick monk named Channa takes his own life:

http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/Agama/Sa ... aggo-e.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very interesting, thank you for the link.

[Jason]

Hello all,

What is your opinion on Euthanasia?

Personally, if I were placed in a coma and without any reasonable chance of emerging from it, or if I would be mentally incapacitated if I did emerge, I
would prefer if I would be switched off life support and euthanized. If I were in severe and mind altering pain so much so I couldn't practice, I would prefer
to be euthanized.

What about you?

With metta,

Alex

I don't have anything against it as long as the person in question has given their prior consent and/or is being assisted in their decision to end their own life (you can find more of my thoughts about it here). As for myself, I think I'd prefer it to the above two situation as well.

[cooran]

At most hospitals here, a person who is terminally ill and in great pain will be given as much morphine (say) as is needed to control the pain.

The patient and relatives may be told that the amount given ‘could’ cause death. But the actual intention is not to cause death, but to ease the patient.

I discussed this with my Ajahn , and he said that is in line with the Buddha’s teachings. Even though the dose meant only to relieve pain has to be high enough and could kill, the intention is definitely not to do that.

With metta
Chris

[Skaffen]

At most hospitals here, a person who is terminally ill and in great pain will be given as much morphine (say) as is needed to control the pain.

The patient and relatives may be told that the amount given ‘could’ cause death. But the actual intention is not to cause death, but to ease the patient.

I discussed this with my Ajahn , and he said that is in line with the Buddha’s teachings. Even though the dose meant only to relieve pain has to be high enough and could kill, the intention is definitely not to do that.

With metta
Chris

My friends Dad got a 'Morphine Driver' to help him on his way (had been bad for a long time) - quite deliberate action as my friend was of course consulted.

I think I could forsake my sense of guilt to help someone in such a position, certainly wouldn't have any of my family go through terminal, protracted pain if they had enough...wouldn't give a fuk about societies moral yardstick.

[Digger]

My 96 year old grandmother was in hospice with terminal cancer. Plenty of morphine, she was actually joking around and laughing. One of the last things she said to me was "I wish I would just hurry up and die already". Morphine can be a good thing.

[Annapurna]

At most hospitals here, a person who is terminally ill and in great pain will be given as much morphine (say) as is needed to control the pain.

The patient and relatives may be told that the amount given ‘could’ cause death. But the actual intention is not to cause death, but to ease the patient.

I discussed this with my Ajahn , and he said that is in line with the Buddha’s teachings. Even though the dose meant only to relieve pain has to be high enough and could kill, the intention is definitely not to do that.

With metta
Chris

Yes.

My father was accused of breeding "addicts" by giving enough opiates. As if they would survive to prostitute themselves for a quick fix....

[Annapurna]

My mother was supposed to be put into an artificial coma....but it never got that far...she passed away before that.

If a coma is possible, and it is, what do you need euthanasy for...

[son of dhamma]

The Sutta Pitaka establishes quite clearly what the Buddha said about suicide, and self-destruction concerning physical health and terminal illness.
*If there is no attachment to life, if there is no lust for material or immaterial existence, then there is Arahantship and abandoning the body is only righteous. This is depicted in several stories in the nikayas of the Sutta Pitaka. Self-destruction of this manner is also acceptable in the situation of terminal or an exhaustive illness that brings hardship to other people--rather than burdening them (money, taking energy, extended emotional stress), then one may abandon his body with detachment and without blame.
with metta

[BlackBird]

I have given some consideration to the problem of euthanasia. My mum for example if ever put into a situation where life support is the only thing keeping her alive and the hope of a recovery is nil, she would rather have the plug pulled. I've told her I'm not sure if I could do that - I'm not sure whether it would constitute matricide in the kammic sense, I would appreciate others input here.

metta
Jack