The right to kill yourself

[sivic02]

OTTAWA (CP) - A retired businessman who plans to kill himself Friday evening, says he wants to publicize the right to die with dignity.



"I'm trying to get lots of publicity for the dying," Marcel Tremblay said as he entered a lawyer's office in downtown Ottawa.


The 78-year-old, who suffers from an incurable lung condition, insisted in media interviews that he would stick to his plan to commit suicide.


He and family members called on lawyer Lawrence Greenspon on Friday morning.


Greenspon, a prominent local attorney, says suicide is legal in Canada, provided the person doesn't receive help from someone else. Assisting suicide carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.


The lawyer said earlier he will ensure that Tremblay's family, who plan to be present when he dies, won't be charged in the death.


Ottawa police had no immediate comment.


Tremblay said he would hold a wake with 50 friends and relatives and enjoy a last meal before killing himself in his suburban home.


He planned to pull a helium-filled bag over his head and suffocate.


Tremblay, a right-to-die advocate, has a number of health problems, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung condition that leaves him unable to breathe properly.


"It's supposed to kill me, but it's taking too damn long," he said. "I can't think of a worse death than not being able to breathe."


He said doctors hold out no hope, saying his condition will get worse and worse.


He began planning his death about three months ago when he decided he wasn't going to live in pain any longer.


Tremblay readily admits he hopes his death will have an impact because he feels strongly that people should have the right to decide when they die.


"I want to make as much noise about this as I can."



Thought this was interesting and some of yall might have a few opinions on this matter.

[stoned_pimp420]

I honestly don't know why it is illegal to commit suicide. If your in enough pain to kill yourself, why should you be made to suffer? I have ALWAYS said if I got some shit that was gonna kill me slowly, I'd try to live my life to it's fullest and when it starts getting really painful.........BOOM bullet goes in the head. I'll be damned if I'm gonna suffer if I ain't got to. But that's just my thoughts.

[fredjacksonsan]

I think you have the right to do yourself in, especially if you have a terminal illness and would prefer not to suffer and be hooked up to a machine in pain for your last 6 months.

I thought it was odd that he said that he planned to put a helium filled bag over his head and suffocate, but also said that he couldn't imagine a worse death than not being able to breathe....

[YogsVR4]

He's a prima donna.

Aside from that, he can take the cowards way and kill himself if he wishes. Anyone can. However, no insurance company should ever pay a dime out because of it. Widows and family members should receive no social security benefits and all pensions should be null and void.

[fredjacksonsan]

I agree with you Yogs, for a healthy individual.

But consider an adult individual that has a terminal illness and knows with certainty that they will be dead within a year, and for the majority of that year they not really be living, being hooked up to machines, suffering incredible constant pain, or somesuch.

Isn't that a different case?

[YogsVR4]

Not really. Sure the person is more sympathetic, but its not all that different. As I said before, I think they should have the righ to do what they want with their body, but they don't get to manipulate insurance, SS or pensions by taking that route.

And don't forget, you read all the time about someone who was given x number of years to live but lives long past what the prognosis was.

[stoned_pimp420]

I wouldn't want my family worrying about me for the six months, go on ahead and end your suffering along with your entire family. Would you like to suffer for 6 months or a half a second if that long. THink about it dude, why waste your money hooked up to a machine spending like a grand or more a day to keep a vegetable alive, I mean damn you can't even tell your family members goodbye or anything, at least if you put a bullet in yer head you can have a little reasurance knowing that they knew that you loved them or something. It's common f*cking sense ..................DON'T SUFFER WHEN YOU AIN'T GOT TO!!!

[YogsVR4]

Think about how often that occurs. Once in a blue moon. For that reason, you appoint an advocate. As an example, both my mother and father have signed a Do Not Resuscitate Order and appointed me as the advocate. Its my job to let them go peacefully if they are on life support with no chance of survival.

Again, if you want to kill yourself GO RIGHT AHEAD (and I don't mean I want anyone in this thread killing themselves). I only point out that they should not be able to take advantage of death benefits. The family, of course, keeps what it has, but life insurance companies don't have to pay, social security doesn't have to pay and any pension plans (depending on how they are written) don't have to pay.

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

Not really. Sure the person is more sympathetic, but its not all that different. As I said before, I think they should have the righ to do what they want with their body, but they don't get to manipulate insurance, SS or pensions by taking that route.

And don't forget, you read all the time about someone who was given x number of years to live but lives long past what the prognosis was.

Of COURSE there's the case where someone lives inexplicably for several years or makes a miraculous recovery; but those are out of the ordinary.

How is a suicide today different than death 6 months or a year from today on the paperwork? It's a matter of a year; the person has still worked for x number of years and earned their SS benefits, suicide doesn't change the amount they've put away or are entitled to at that point; their pension might be slightly reduced since they've got less time in service, but they've earned that also.

The only place I'd definitely agree with you is in the case of a life insurance policy, as there is a bunch of room there for manipulation and chicanery.

[YogsVR4]

The same reasons a suicide can manipulate insurance is the same reason it can manipulate social security and some pension plans. Its not that I don't want them to get the money they earned, but checking out early give surviving family members money you didn't earn. So, thats why I pool them together.

[fredjacksonsan]

I guess there are folks out there who would work the system up until the day they die, and would rather pick the day to work it to the max. Makes sense in a way.

I agree it's cowardly (train wreck guy)

Now philisophically -- take away the paperwork, and any system which the person could manipulate to their advantage, any family that would suffer due to the event, leaving only the person and their right - or not - to commit suicide. Do they have that right?

[Muscletang]

I did a debate about euthanasia last year in my Government class and you'd be surprised by the numbers and facts. There are several things to know but I'm not going to go into them.

I think euthanasia is wrong and a majority of the family should make the decision to pull the plug and not the person. If the person wants to die and the majority of the family agrees with the demand then I think it's ok.

The thing is when you are expected to die in six months the doctors will put you on one heck of a morphine trip so there won't be much pain and you'll be very relaxed. There isn't much, if any, suffering by the person during their finale moments.

[solaris=amazing]

The way i see it.. Free Will, you can do whatever you want.

I kinda know what i'm talking about, sadly my grand father gassed himself in a car because of a seperation(1981). And my uncle overdosed on pills and killed himself (june2004).

I can't imagine having my father kill himself (which my uncle experianced) and live with that sadness. BUT, i don't think i can ever bring myself to suicide.

My feeling towards this....well, the way i see it.. They did what they wanted to do, so let it be. I'm not mad...

Maybe this is why the movie Solaris is my favorite movie, cause it deals with a suicide. And it asks a question, which many of us would probably NOT turn down.

BTW, i do feel that it's sick to indanger OTHER people.. Like that sick a-hole with the train, what a jerk..

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

The thing is when you are expected to die in six months the doctors will put you on one heck of a morphine trip so there won't be much pain and you'll be very relaxed. There isn't much, if any, suffering by the person during their finale moments.

There are levels of pain that no amount of drugs will quash. Well they could but that's called overdose.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

There are levels of pain that no amount of drugs will quash. Well they could but that's called overdose.

That is the thing most doctors do though. They'll put you on an insane about of drugs to keep you peaceful. If you OD then it's not that bad because an overdose of morphine is a very peaceful way to die as to sitting there and let the cancer take you.

I see things as a win win situation. It's sad the person dies but they'll be feeling good with the morphine. If they happen to OD on it then they went peacefully and didn't die a horrible death.