He's not a failure. He's quite successful for a schizophrenic. ;)
While the idea of someone going to such extremes to put themselves in so much difficulty for their terminally ill mate gives me the warm and fuzzies, it's only practical to compel them to end it before it advanced... stage 4 metastatic whatever = bullet to the brain. Why not? Cancer treatments costs an obscene amount of money that could be better spent on vacations to a nice place of your choosing.
"To prevent foolish youth suicides, we must reinforce the notion to them that suicide is not OK."
The problem about the topic is that discussion of it at all is like opening Pandora's Box. Someone who may not have contemplated suicide before may think on the topic if it comes up enough times. Once the knowledge is out there, the best bet left is jading them to the topic, make it seem passé.
It's similar to the D.A.R.E. program's noteworthy failure:
"In some circles educators and administrators have admitted that DARE in fact potentially increased students exposure and knowledge of unknown drugs and controlled substances, resulting in experimentation and consumption of narcotics at a much younger age."
The best defense is honestly ignorance, but when the information is out there that option ends up no longer one. Jading's all that's left.
"We can mock the weak-willed all we want, but vulnerable moments come upon most humans at one point or another in their lifetimes."
So what, we're supposed to just coddle them in their moments of grief? What if said coddling prevents them from learning an important lesson? Teaching them to get over themselves strikes me as the better way to go.
"For that reason, I believe we simply can't support assisted suicide evenfor the tragically doomed. The inevitable spread of acceptance and tolerance would erode the "culture of life" and make deliberate death a way of life, in a century or two."
What's wrong with less people?
"Perhaps a soccer mom being told on her 34th birthday that she was going to lose all mental capability within a couple years."
That sort of person should be allowed the option of assisted suicide. Why remain as a burden, become remembered for the time that you're no longer you, when you could go and be remembered for the time you were your best? Obviously it'd be wise to wait for the deterioration to kick in before considering it seriously (misdiagnosis, that sort of deal), but I would rather die than be remembered as something less than me.
"Humans need to prosper, while knowing that each and every other man and woman would help him or her in times of need."
Humans are more often than not selfish and cruel, be it intentionally or not, and we seem to not only be populating well enough this way, but we seem to have more people than we actually need.
"Instead, we should be asking ourselves what we could have done to prevent that very plea for a mercy killing."
After certain points, even a cure for the problem may be too late. Better to die with dignity than to become an expensive health care burden, especially one who isn't even aware of it (as long as the death is consensual and not from laws or something).
i have actually talked to a future doctor about this topic
1st the best way to die is peacefully in ur sleep
2nd unfortunately there is no way to coach ur way in that direction so most of us will die pain fully want it or not
3rd if u live healthy and long enough u will get cancer that is the final thing if u can avoid all other diseases
4th the most painful deaths are caused by smoking and drinking not necessarily this order
5th all doctors who hear they have cancer will usually refuse all treatments it can be relatively short and painless death that way
6th unless ur shot of survival is very good in which case u shuld take the treatments consult with ur doctor if u trust him enough to make that call
Wow, I disagree with almost everything you said there Michael.
For one thing, this 'culture of life' you're talking about only exists in the west; in places like Japan, suicide is an honorable thing. Can you really say their society is any worse for it?
I can honestly say I've never had one of these 'vulnerable moments' you're talking about, and the only time I would ever consider suicide is if I was in the position of the 34yr old soccer mom. In that case I'd want to do it myself if I could, but if for some reason I left it too late, I'd like to think someone would have the compassion to do it for me.
Fact is, there are too many fucking people in the world. Decades ago you could rely on some kind of plague or a good old war to sort that problem out, but nowadays with the technology and medical advances we have people are just going to keep on living and living. And there's no dignity or happiness to be found in living just for the sake of it. Anyone who doesn't have the physical or mental capability to cope with modern life should be encouraged to off themselves, as much for their own good as for that of everyone else.
It doesn't have to be a negative thing. My dad has already picked the spot where he's gonna swim out to sea when he gets too old to drive, I think he finds it empowering that he can take control of life in this way. And if for some reason he leaves it too late then I'll be happy to help him end it. And it's not just cos I hate the fucker, it's cos I'm compassionate like that.
I don't think the issue of suicide is a very complicated one. Life itself is purposeless, despite whatever people convince themselves of to keep going. It is purposeless and finite. You live out your life according to some narrative in your head, and then your metabolic functions collapse, and you're gone. Just like every human before us for the last 100,000 years. If you can enjoy this life then do it. If you can't, then leave it. Just remember though: as painful as life can be at times, you are going to die no matter what. You might as well experience the ride instead of getting out before the destination.