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The.Relic · 06-02-2002, 05:14 PM

I was unable to complete the poll, since as was stated previously questions two and three mention doctors assistance and the hippocratic oath stricly prohibits doctors to intentionally harm or terminate a patients existence except under very strictly regulated circumstances.
I do believe terminally ill patients should have the right to end their lives if they so choose, especially when they are in advanced stages and there is no hope for recovery.
What I have not seen mentioned and is a major bone of contention for me is profitability and required financial gain for the medical profession to keep terminally ill people alive as long as possible. I agree that any of us who really love someone would be more than willing to do whatever we can financially to help them, even when they are terminally ill, but when should the line be drawn. Would we take out 3rd, 4th mortgages on our homes to help pay the expenses, sure we would. Will the patients family gradually have to sell and mortgage everything they have to remain alive? Unless they are independantly wealthy, or the pass quickly, you bet they will if they continue to live that long. And if they do, what then, they get booted out of the hospital when the insurance runs out, and there is no more money to pay the expenses, nothing left to sell, can't take out anymore mortgages, and hopefully they can be placed in a state run hospital. Unless people are independantly wealthy, many of them will be totally destitute by the time it is over and have nothing left to bequeath to their loved family members. Would we help them anyway? Of course we would. But I can guarantee that the vast percentage of terminally ill people would prefer to be allowed to pass with dignity rather than to put their loved ones through all of this and have nothing or little left. We want to be able to share what we have gained in our lives with our loved ones, not have everything stripped away for no certainty other than to line peoples pockets. And we definately don't want them to put themselves into often irredeemable debt to prolong our tormented lives. How many of us would honestly want to be terminally ill, being forced to exist in agony and have our loved ones devestate themselves financially. I certainly would never wish such a thing.

[ 06-02-2002, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: The.Relic ]

06-02-2002, 05:14 PM	#37
The.Relic Red Dragon Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Long Beach, CA. USA Age: 68 Posts: 1,589	I was unable to complete the poll, since as was stated previously questions two and three mention doctors assistance and the hippocratic oath stricly prohibits doctors to intentionally harm or terminate a patients existence except under very strictly regulated circumstances. I do believe terminally ill patients should have the right to end their lives if they so choose, especially when they are in advanced stages and there is no hope for recovery. What I have not seen mentioned and is a major bone of contention for me is profitability and required financial gain for the medical profession to keep terminally ill people alive as long as possible. I agree that any of us who really love someone would be more than willing to do whatever we can financially to help them, even when they are terminally ill, but when should the line be drawn. Would we take out 3rd, 4th mortgages on our homes to help pay the expenses, sure we would. Will the patients family gradually have to sell and mortgage everything they have to remain alive? Unless they are independantly wealthy, or the pass quickly, you bet they will if they continue to live that long. And if they do, what then, they get booted out of the hospital when the insurance runs out, and there is no more money to pay the expenses, nothing left to sell, can't take out anymore mortgages, and hopefully they can be placed in a state run hospital. Unless people are independantly wealthy, many of them will be totally destitute by the time it is over and have nothing left to bequeath to their loved family members. Would we help them anyway? Of course we would. But I can guarantee that the vast percentage of terminally ill people would prefer to be allowed to pass with dignity rather than to put their loved ones through all of this and have nothing or little left. We want to be able to share what we have gained in our lives with our loved ones, not have everything stripped away for no certainty other than to line peoples pockets. And we definately don't want them to put themselves into often irredeemable debt to prolong our tormented lives. How many of us would honestly want to be terminally ill, being forced to exist in agony and have our loved ones devestate themselves financially. I certainly would never wish such a thing. [ 06-02-2002, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: The.Relic ]