To what extent do you think assisted suicide should be a legally available option to those who want to end their lives?
In Switzerland, anyone who assists a person to commit suicide is not punishable unless they do so for vested reasons. The relevant article in the Criminal Code paved the way for assisted suicide in the 1940s.
Today, more than 1,000 terminally ill patients or people suffering from other severe conditions receive such assistance to end their lives every year.
To what extent do you think assisted suicide should be a legally available option to those who want to end their lives? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health struggles involving thoughts of suicide, help is available within Switzerland by calling the number 143. International resources can be found hereExternal link.
From the article Why assisted suicide is ‘normal’ in Switzerland
I can't find a purpose or meaning to life now, I don't care about anyone in this world, anyone at all. I want to disappear alone, painlessly and without bothering anyone. I saw the information on suicide help in Switzerland, and I wanted to apply for suicide, so I wrote my comment here to ask for help, I consulted doctors and others in hospitals in Japan about euthanasia, but they refused me because it is against the law. I would like to apply for assisted suicide in Switzerland, I would like information on travel and procedures.
私今生きる目標や意味が見つからない、この世の中にいる人間、誰のこともどうでもいいと思っています。一人で苦痛なしで誰にも迷惑かけず消えたいです。スイスの自殺ほう助け情報を見て、自殺を申し込みたいと思い、ここに相談したくて、コメントを書きました、日本で病院の医師などに安楽死を相談したが、法律違反すると断られた。スイスで自殺ほう助けしたいです、渡航や手続きに関する情報を教えて欲しい。
I'm in my 50s, found out 7 years ago that I have a neurological incurable disease (and was told I had a life expectancy), my family doesn't get along but we've managed.
I managed to hang on until my children had flown the nest.
Two years ago, I fell ill and was discriminated against at work, dismissed and abandoned by the company I had worked for for 30 years, and when the doctor told me I could no longer do my hobbies, I talked about death with dignity.
I had managed to slow down the progression of my incurable disease by doing the things I liked to do, but when I was being told by people around me that I was not good enough, I lost the power to live, and I remembered that my grandmother's dementia had worsened, and when my relatives were not around, she happened to remember my name and started talking, she shed tears and said that no matter what I did, she was not good enough. She told me that she was told that she couldn't do anything and that she was now bitter, bitter and lonely, and that she used to be good, and from there the old stories continued and that was the last time she said her name. For the next three years, I was bedridden and so small that I wanted to say I was really in bed, and I left feeling like I had been forced to prolong my life.
I had an incurable illness that I did not want, people around me told me no to the things I wanted to do and the things I liked to do, and they took them away from me, my body gradually became slower and slower, I used a cane and an electric wheelchair, my numbness and pain increased and decreased, I suffered from various disabilities, I also had some memory loss, I was violent and wandering due to dementia, I was bed-ridden, and my family and surroundings were disturbed by my bed-ridden condition. I told my doctor that I think it is time for me to die with dignity abroad, and that I would like him to write a medical certificate in English so that I can die with dignity abroad, before I become a nuisance to my family and others.
There was no response from my doctor.
It wasn't until around 1991 that I had dreams and hopes for Japan, after which I gradually became more despairing and resigned.
Before saying that healthcare and pensions are collapsing, wasteful taxes, wasteful foreign dispersal and cuts in the number of lawmakers,
Death with dignity in Japan, I feel it is necessary.
私は50代、7年前に神経系の難病と分かり(余命も言われた)、家族は不仲だけど何とか
子供も巣立つまで何とか頑張って来ました。
２年前に倒れ職場では障害者差別、解雇と勤続30年の会社から使捨てにされ、趣味も医師から駄目と言われた時、尊厳死について話しました。
今まで自分の好きな事をやって何とか難病の進行を遅らせてる事が出来たけど、色々周りから駄目駄目言われてた時、生きる威力が無くなり、祖母が認知症が悪化した事を思い出し、親族が居ない時、祖母は私の名前を偶然、思い出し話し始めると、涙を流し、周りから何をやっても駄目と言われ、今は辛く苦しく孤独だと、昔は良かったと、そこから昔の話が続き、自分の名前を言ったのは、それが最後でした。その後3年間、寝たきりでベットに本当にいるのと言いたくなるくらい小さくなり、無理やり延命をした感じで旅立ちました。
自分が望んでいない難病、自分の好きな事、やりたい事にダメダメと周りから言われ取り上げられて、段々と体の動きが鈍り、杖と電動車椅子の併用、身体の痺れ痛みの増減、色々な障害による苦痛、自分にも物忘れが若干有り、認知症で暴れたり徘徊、寝たきりで、家族、周りに迷惑になる前に、祖母と同じ事にならない様に、もう潮時だと思う、海外で尊厳死する為、英文の診断書書いて欲しいと主治医に話ました。
主治医の回答は有りませんでした。
日本に夢や希望が持てたのは1991年頃までで、その後は徐々に絶望と諦めが増えていきました。
医療、年金崩壊だとか言っている前に、無駄な税金、無駄な海外バラマキ、議員削減、
日本での尊厳死、必要だと感じます。
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 23 years old. The pain was unspeakable and intense, with no relief every second of the day, and second-stage painkillers had little or no effect, and the only other option for painkillers was morphine. Morphine is not an option because of her young age.
There is little hope of a cure.
I can no longer go to work satisfactorily and have been forced to retire.
I am in favour of euthanasia. I want people to know that there are a certain number of people who would like to be euthanised right now, far more than anyone without illness or injury could ever imagine.
私は23歳の時に関節リウマチに罹患しました。毎秒毎秒収まることのない言いようのない激痛で、第二段階鎮痛剤も、ほとんど効かなくなり、あとの鎮痛剤の選択肢はモルヒネのみです。年齢が若いのでモルヒネは、選択されていませんが。
完治の見込みは、余りありません
仕事も満足に行けなくなり退職を余儀なくされました
私は、安楽死に賛成です。病気や怪我のない人には想像を遥かに超えた今すぐにでも安楽死したいと、願う人々一定数いることを知ってほしいです
Euthanasia, I agree.
Two years ago I had a stroke called Wallenberg's syndrome, which causes paralysis in my right hand and right leg and constant headaches around my left eye 24 hours a day.
After reading this article, I wanted to save up enough money to apply and get rid of this pain too.
My parents have sent me away and I am single.
安楽死、賛成です。
二年前にワレンベルグ症候群と言う脳梗塞を患い、右手右足に麻痺、左目の周りが24時間常に頭痛を起こしています。
当記事を読み、申し込めるだけのお金を貯めて、私もこの痛みから解放されたくなりました。
両親も送り出したし、独身だし。
I have a responsibility to live.
I have a wife and young children. I have a responsibility to live and support my wife until she is able to live financially and my young children grow up to be independent in the future.
Conversely, if my wife can live financially after my death and my children are independent, then I have fulfilled my responsibility to live.
It is because my life is limited that I can shine.
My dream is to fulfil the above-mentioned responsibility and at the same time become nothing in the form of death.
My dream is to fulfil my responsibility and then become nothingness in the form of euthanasia, where there is no light or darkness.
Perhaps it is precisely because I have the dream of death that I can shine in the present.
私には生きる責任がある。
妻と幼き子がいるからだ。妻が経済的に生きる事ができ、幼き子ども達が将来自立する力を持つまでに成長するまで私は生き彼らを支える責任がある。
逆に言えば、私の死後も妻が経済的に生活でき、子ども達が自立したならば私は生きる責任を果たしたと言える。
限りある命だからこそ輝ける。
私の夢は上述の責任を果たしたと同時に死という形で無となることだ。
責任を果たした上で安楽死という形で光も闇もない無となることが、私の夢だ。
死という夢があるからこそ、今を輝けるのかもしれない。
An animal in the wild never suffers the way a human can in civilisation. No human being should suffer like that in life. Whether suffering from cancer or a mental breakdown. When life no longer makes sense and there is nowhere else to go, every person should be given the autonomy to choose suicide. No matter how old and how long the suffering is. Life is a gift, nature is a miracle, all of this is a miracle. And if I can savour it, that's fine and is my responsibility. But if I have fought my life and am tired, I am allowed to go. It is the concept of freedom to live when the breath is free, the soul is light, the heart beats regularly and loves. However, if this is not the case, a person should be able to walk. Mental pain is worse than you can imagine.
Ein Tier hat in der Wildnis niemals einen dermassen Leidensweg, wie ein Mensch in der Zivilisation haben kann. Kein Mensch sollte so leiden im Leben. Ob Krebskrank oder Psychisch am Anschlag. Wenn das Leben keinen Sinn mehr macht und die Wege nicht weitergehen, soll jeder Mensch die Autonomie bekommen, den Freitod zu wählen. Egal wie alt und wie lange der Leidensweg ist. Das Leben ist ein Geschenk, die Natur ist ein Wunder, all dies, ist ein Wunder. Und kann ich das auskosten, ist das schön und liegt in meiner Verantwortung. Habe ich jedoch mein Leben gekämpft und bin müde, darf ich gehen. Es ist der Begriff von Freiheit zu leben wenn der Atem frei, die Seele leicht, das Herz regelmässig schlägt und liebt. Ist das jedoch nicht der Fall, soll ein Mensch, gehen können. Seelischer Schmerz ist schlimmer als man sich vorstellen kann.
We are free over our bodies. You don't have to be seriously ill to have the right to die, and what's more, you don't have to pay a considerable sum of money to benefit from assistance, because that would close off this possibility to the less well-off.
Nous sommes libre de notre corps. Il n'est pas nécessaire d'être gravement malade pour avoir droit à mourir et ce qui est plus de payer une somme considérable pour bénéficier d'une aide car cela fermerait cette possibilité aux moins aisés.
Life is a precious gift and privilege, not a force. A precious gift is meant to be enjoyed, appreciated, and maintained. That’s what we should do throughout life journey.
And it should be a fundamental human right to decide when to end the journey with dignity, even if the person is perfectly strong and healthy. People who are ready to go are not selfish, people who want to force other people to live, against their will are selfish.
A best friend with ALS went to Switzerland with his son to end his life. I support his decision.
Hello,
We would also like to contact Switzerland (resident in Germany) regarding euthanasia.
Is this even possible for a German in Switzerland in a self-determined way?
Please help and support me with my request.
Kind regards
Hallo,
wir möchten uns ebenso an die Schweiz wenden ( wohnhaft in Deutschland) bezgl. Sterbehilfe.
Ist das für einen Deutschen in der Schweiz überhaupt selbstbestimmt möglich?
Ich bitte sehr um Hilfe und Unterstützung zu meinem Anliegen.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
The counter to not legalising euthanasia in Japan is "Then would you be satisfied if the law forbids you to eat meat or fish?".
What this means is that under Japanese law, active euthanasia is considered assisted suicide.
And as for the counter, killing animals such as dogs and cats is a violation of the Animal Protection Law, but slaughtering cows, pigs and chickens for meat is permitted.
Euthanasia is a means of making life easier for many people in Japan and around the world who have become tired of living, so to regard it as assisted suicide without legalising it is like saying that even slaughtering domestic animals is a violation of the Animal Protection Act and a crime.
In other words, all laws should be consistent as to whether or not they create situations where euthanasia is legal, depending on the time and circumstances.
Therefore, euthanasia should be legalised.
日本で安楽死を合法化しないことに対するカウンターとして「なら、法律で肉や魚を食べることを禁じられても納得するのか」ということです。
これはどういうことかというと日本の法律上、積極的安楽死は自殺幇助とみなされるとされています。
そしてカウンターに関することは犬や猫などの動物を殺すことは動物保護法違反になるけど、牛や豚、鶏を食肉にするための屠畜(とちく)は認められています。
日本だけでなく、世界には生きることが嫌になった人が多くいる中で安楽死はその人々を楽にするための手段であるためにそれを合法化せずに自殺幇助とみなすことは家畜動物の屠畜さえも動物保護法違反で犯罪になると言っているようなものです。
つまり、時と場合によって合法とする場面をつくるかつくらないかを全ての法律で統一するべきなのです。
よって、安楽死は合法化するべきです。
I think living in pain is really only pain. On top of the pain, there are living and medical costs.
It is also a nuisance to those close to you.
There are tens of thousands of suicides in Japan. The fact is that the number is increasing every year. When a person commits suicide, the people around the suicide victim also become ill. I think it is a vicious circle.
苦痛で生きるって本当に苦痛しかないと思います。苦痛な上に生活費、医療費もかかります。
身近な人にも迷惑かけてしまいます。
日本は自殺が何万人もいる 年々増え続けている事実。自殺すると自殺者の周りも病みます。悪循環だと思う。
What is important is the wishes of those who wish to die. When someone is suicidal or permanently sad, it is also a worry for their loved ones. That's my opinion.
Ce qui importe est le souhait des personnes qui désirent mourir. Lorsqu'une personne est suicidaire ou triste en permanence c'est aussi un souci pour ses proches. C'est mon avis.
Euthanasia should be made legal for anyone who was willing to end their life, whether physically or mentally. This world is apathetic beyond comprehension. People would only mind if they could take advantage of you, people lack empathy and sympathy for those in need, people would always hid behind their mask instead of revealing their true feelings.
I did not chose to go through the superficial conventions that was set by the society
I did not chose to undergo this 9-5 slave to the grind routine in where you have no autonomy over your work.
I did not chose to be born in a world where your wealth dictates your position and how well people treated you.
Yes, I support Euthanasia wholeheartedly.
Dying with dignity should be a right...
Morir con dignidad debe ser un derecho...
I experienced this kind of selfishness when my daughter died. She left behind a 7-year-old child. My family left me to mourn. There was no communication: no messages, no phone calls. They were afraid of the death. It was the same for my son-in-law. There was nothing. Yes, the world lacks empathy and I wanted to kill myself many times. But my friends supported me enormously. I would have liked my daughter's suffering to have been put to an end when she was nearing the end of her life. It was horrible... But then she had to undergo this medical relentlessness because of tradition and Catholicism. Always the religions. Yes, I'm in favour of assisted suicide, even for people in good health.
J'ai vécu ce type d'égoïsme suite au décès de ma fille. Elle a laissé au monde un enfant de 7 ans. Ma famille m'a abandonnée à mon deuil. Personne ne communiquait: aucun message ni coup de téléphone. Ce décès leur faisait peur. C'était pareil pour mon gendre. Rien. Oui, le monde manque d'empathie et j'ai voulu me suicider bien des fois. Par contre mes amis m'ont énormément soutenus. J'aurais aimé que l'on abrége les souffrances de ma fille lorsqu'elle arrivait en fin de vie. C'était horrible... Mais voilà elle a dû subir cet acharnement médical parce qu'il y a la tradition et le catholicisme. Toujours les religions. Oui, je suis favorable au suicide assisté même pour les personnes en bonne santé.
In favour of euthanasia. Religion is a personal thing limited to your domicile. Laws should be secular or without religion in the 21st century, Religion is an act of faith, it is not scientific, It cannot be imposed by law. In my experience people who decide to end their lives, it is not usually a spontaneous act. Nobody has the right to decide about our lives, only oneself. Better to reinforce protection laws so that this is not used for murder.
A favor de la eutanasia. La religión es algo personal limitada a su domicilio. las leyes deben ser laicas o sin religión en el siglo XXI, La religión es un acto de fe, no es científico,No puede ser impuesta por ley. Por mi experiencia la gente que decide terminar con la vida, no suele ser un acto espontáneo, Se piensa por años o meses.. Nadie tiene derecho a decidir sobre nuestras vidas, solo uno mismo. Mejor reforzar leyes se protección para que esto no se use para asesinar.
I agree with you. Catholics don't want to hear anything. They are bogged down in their traditions as seen through the eyes of the Passion of Christ. It seems to them that in suffering there is salvation and something beautiful. Personally, I see nothing but horror.
It's the same for other religions, but we have to evolve.
Je suis d'accord avec vous. Les catholiques ne veulent rien entendre. Ils sont englués dans leur traditions vues au travers de la passion du Christ. Il semblerait pour eux que dans la souffrance il y a le salut et quelque chose de beau. Je n'y vois personnellement que de l'horreur.
Il en est de même pour d'autres religions d'ailleurs mais il faut bien évoluer.
In my opinion these things should absolutely not exist, for goodness sake, every person has the right to decide about their own life, but this seems excessive to me. Thanks to this machine there will certainly be more cases of suicide because it offers a non-painful and calm death, whereas before people would think twice before suffering too much to commit suicide. No doubt it will then be misused, perhaps only for money. However I repeat, this is my opinion and I respect everyone else's.
A mio parere queste cose non dovrebbero assolutamente esistere, per carità, ogni persona ha il diritto di decidere della propria vita, ma questo mi sembra eccessivo. Grazie a questo macchinario aumenteranno di sicuro i casi di suicidio perché offre una morte non dolorosa e calma, mentre prima le persone ci pensavano due volte prima di soffrire troppo per suicidarsi. Senza dubbio verrà poi utilizzato in modo errato, magari solamente per soldi. Comunque ripeto, questo è il mio parere e rispetto quello di tutti gli altri
It's important to realise that when your parents, spouse or friends find you hanged, bloodied or drowned in a bathtub, it's also a lifelong trauma. When you're in a bad way, people run away from you, fed up with your state of depression. You talk about excesses, but that's all life is these days. Even some doctors can be malicious. So what does that famous phrase "life is beautiful" mean? But I respect your opinion.
Il faut bien se rendre compte de ceci : lorsque vos parents, conjoints, amis vous retrouve pendu, ensanglanté ou noyé dans une baignoire c'est aussi un traumatisme à vie. Quand vous allez mal les gens vous fuit, de lasse de votre état dépressif. Vous parlez de dérives mais la vie n'est faite que de ça de nos jours. Même certains médecins sont parfois malveillants. Alors que signifie cette fameuse phrase "la vie est belle" Non pas pour tous. Je respecte toutefois votre opinion.
I think that people also think before they enter the death machine. It's not easy to commit suicide.
Je pense qu'avant de rentrer dans la machine à mourir les gens réfléchissent aussi. Ce n'est pas simple de se suicider.
The future of the elderly is uncertain, but so is that of young people. Governments have work to do to recognise that there is a major problem with the population.
When we retire, we no longer have enough to live on in Switzerland and we are forced to move to various countries where currency exchange allows us to survive better.
The possibility of choosing the date and time of our death is a decision not to harm our family and the government. Is it the ultimate solution for a human being?
It's difficult to answer and give a valid opinion. I think living with drugs is a horror, but the law doesn't cover possible mistakes. So human choice must take precedence and not be condemned. Watch out for the slippery slope...
L'avenir des personnes âgée est incertain, mais aussi celui de la jeunesse. Les gouvernements ont du travail pour reconnaitre qu'il y a un problème majeure avec la population.
A la retraite nous n'avons plus de quoi vivre correctement en Suisse et nous sommes obligé de s'expatrier dans divers pays ou l'échange monétaire nous permets de survivre mieux.
La possibilité de choisir la date et l'heure de notre mort est une décision pour ne pas nuire à notre famille et au gouvernement. Est-il la solution ultime d'un être humain ?
C'est difficile de répondre et donner un avis valable. Je considère que vivre avec des médicaments est une horreur, mais la loi ne couvre pas les erreurs possible. Donc le choix humain doit être prioritaire et ne pas être condamné. Attention aux dérapage...
Everything human goes wrong. The Internet, medicine, politics, the police, the law, religions. Everything. We must move forward
Tout ce qui est humain est dérapage. Internet, la médecine, la politique, la police, la loi, les religions. Tout. Il faut avancer
I understand, it's a big question, I think euthanasia should exist.
Je comprends, c'est une grande question ,je trouve que l'euthanasie doit exister
What happened to the body of an assist in Switzerland in the 1940's and today?
I do want it to be legal because many of us have or may have emotional or family problems and many times nobody understands us, they just tell us no for this or that, according to them, to "help us", which is useless in the end, in my case I would do it and I will do it in my country it is forbidden, but if one day they legalise it, I will say no to everyone and I would escape because it will be worth it in the end.
Si quiero que se legal ya que muchos de nosotros y nostrosas tenemos o podemos tener problemas emociales o familiares y muchas veces nadie nos entiende solo nos dicen que no por esto o lo tro según para "ayudarnos" cosa que no sirve al final en mi casó si lo haría y si lo haré en mi país esta prohibido pero si in dia lo legalizanlo haré digan que no todos y me escaparía porque si valdrá la pena al final.
10 or 15 thousand is an horrific burden.... but having said that, it's necessary for loved ones to be their to hold the hand of the wife or brother or grandmother, when that person is gone those that remain still will feel as though their heart has been torn from their bodies and the grief can linger, striking when you least expect it even a decade later.. maybe a revisit of the costing structure can help the situation, I apologise for not being more thorough in my first post
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