Belgian doctors to euthanise healthy 24-year-old woman suffering from depression

[Keith Maitland]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

The woman, who is identified only as Laura, will receive a lethal injection from health experts despite not suffering from any life-threatening illness.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/belgian-doctors-euthanise-healthy-24-year-old-woman-suffering-depression-1508578

And one of the comments:

Her life, her choice. Nobody else should insist that a person keep on living when their life is filled with nothing but despair, and that life is more of a "punishment" than anything else. She wants to go peacefully and without the drama/stigma attached to suicide.

[Shaker]

Happy Wednesday, Keith!

[torridon]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

[trippymonkey]

Has she exhausted ALL the psychiatrists in Belgium then ??

We need to know more about this case.....

[ProfessorDavey]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

[floo]

If that woman's life is hell on earth and the best efforts of the psychiatrists can't alleviate her suffering, I think she should have the right to end it, with help if necessary.

[Owlswing]

No response from the fundamentalist Christian right I see!

[Follower of Jesus]

Ah, the slippery slope! Depression is indeed an illness and she is not healthy. A dreadful illness too.

However, as much as she may have the right to commit suicide I think it is an awful thing for doctors to be injecting her. They are surely breaking their hippocratic oath.

Such a sad story

[Follower of Jesus]

Here is the story as reported in Belgium

http://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/laura-is-24-jaar-en-fysiek-gezond-ze-krijgt-deze-zomer-euthanasie-a2367037/

[floo]

Ah, the slippery slope! Depression is indeed an illness and she is not healthy. A dreadful illness too.

However, as much as she may have the right to commit suicide I think it is an awful thing for doctors to be injecting her. They are surely breaking their hippocratic oath.

Such a sad story

Surely helping a person to end appalling suffering is better than living in a state of utmost misery?

If assisted dying became legal in this country, I would be prepared to help people die if proper training was offered first.

[L.A.]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

BUT - a person with depression may lead a happy and contented life - with the right treatment and support - as opposed to a person with a terminal cancer or motor neuron disease (for example).

[Ricky Spanish]

No response from the fundamentalist Christian right I see!

What's the matter?

Not been presented with the baiting opportunities that you'd hoped for?

[Aruntraveller]

No response from the fundamentalist Christian right I see!

What's the matter?

Not been presented with the baiting opportunities that you'd hoped for?

Says the master baiter.

[Ricky Spanish]

"I'm a wanker, I'm a wanker and it does me good like it bloody well should ...... "

[Hope]

Surely helping a person to end appalling suffering is better than living in a state of utmost misery?

If assisted dying became legal in this country, I would be prepared to help people die if proper training was offered first.

I think the problem is that there is no consistent attitude to this even amongst those who suffer from such appalling conditions.  As we have said in previous threads on this subject, the danger can be that such a law can be abused by unscrupulous relatives.

[Nearly Sane]

Surely helping a person to end appalling suffering is better than living in a state of utmost misery?

If assisted dying became legal in this country, I would be prepared to help people die if proper training was offered first.

I think the problem is that there is no consistent attitude to this even amongst those who suffer from such appalling conditions.  As we have said in previous threads on this subject, the danger can be that such a law can be abused by unscrupulous relatives.

I am not sure why you would think that there would need to be a consistent attitude amongst those suffering these conditions?

[L.A.]

Surely helping a person to end appalling suffering is better than living in a state of utmost misery?

If assisted dying became legal in this country, I would be prepared to help people die if proper training was offered first.

I think the problem is that there is no consistent attitude to this even amongst those who suffer from such appalling conditions.  As we have said in previous threads on this subject, the danger can be that such a law can be abused by unscrupulous relatives.

Hi Hope,

But you seem to be saying that because it is not possible to draft a perfect law, we can't allow those who dying a slow and painful death to end their suffering.

[ProfessorDavey]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

BUT - a person with depression may lead a happy and contented life - with the right treatment and support - as opposed to a person with a terminal cancer or motor neuron disease (for example).

I wasn't making a comment on whether I think that assisted suicide is appropriate in this case, merely pointing out that someone with severe depression isn't healthy.

[L.A.]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

BUT - a person with depression may lead a happy and contented life - with the right treatment and support - as opposed to a person with a terminal cancer or motor neuron disease (for example).

I wasn't making a comment on whether I think that assisted suicide is appropriate in this case, merely pointing out that someone with severe depression isn't healthy.

Quite so, I was just pointing out that there is a fundamental difference between an illness that can be treated and one that can't.

[ProfessorDavey]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

BUT - a person with depression may lead a happy and contented life - with the right treatment and support - as opposed to a person with a terminal cancer or motor neuron disease (for example).

I wasn't making a comment on whether I think that assisted suicide is appropriate in this case, merely pointing out that someone with severe depression isn't healthy.

Quite so, I was just pointing out that there is a fundamental difference between an illness that can be treated and one that can't.

It is a bit more complicated than that - I'm sure there are plenty of people with severe depression who would argue that their depression cannot be treated effectively at all and that the illness (even with the very best treatment) is as debilitating as many physical illnesses and conditions that also can be treated (albeit not necessarily cured).

[Nearly Sane]

I am struggling a little with the idea that a person this depressed would be worried about the 'drama/stigma of suicide'. Effectively this is a suicide

[floo]

My cousin's depression, which he has had for about 20 years or so, seems to be getting worse and worse, he seems so miserable every time I phone him. He attempted suicide a year or two back!

[cyberman]

If assisted dying became legal in this country, I would be prepared to help people die if proper training was offered first.

That says a great deal about you, Floo.

[L.A.]

Belgian doctors have given the green signal to perform euthanasia on a healthy 24-year-old woman, who suffers from serious depression.

Someone suffering from clinical depression is not healthy. Depression is an illness.

Exactly.

BUT - a person with depression may lead a happy and contented life - with the right treatment and support - as opposed to a person with a terminal cancer or motor neuron disease (for example).

I wasn't making a comment on whether I think that assisted suicide is appropriate in this case, merely pointing out that someone with severe depression isn't healthy.

Quite so, I was just pointing out that there is a fundamental difference between an illness that can be treated and one that can't.

It is a bit more complicated than that - I'm sure there are plenty of people with severe depression who would argue that their depression cannot be treated effectively at all and that the illness (even with the very best treatment) is as debilitating as many physical illnesses and conditions that also can be treated (albeit not necessarily cured).

That's rather a 'depressing' view. Many cases can be treated successfully.

[cyberman]

If that woman's life is hell on earth and the best efforts of the psychiatrists can't alleviate her suffering, I think she should have the right to end it, with help if necessary.

Is help necessary? Suicide is legal. she has the right to die. Why does she want someone else to kill her?