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Is it Wrong to Compasionately End Life?

Telly03Telly03 Veteran
edited February 2012 in General Banter
This question came to me after reading Tosh's thread about their dog having cancer, well 2 questions really, and I didn't want to hijack the thread... it is generally accepted that it is right to put a dog to sleep when it can no longer enjoy life due to terminal physical suffering. But if you apply this scenario to humans, it is not so readily accepted in our society.

*Should ending life be an option for dogs and people in terminal suffering situations? I'm thinking yes for both, but I'm interested in how others here feel... and if your reading this Tosh, I sincerely hope you don't have to make this decision for your dog anytime soon, and I dread the day that I may be faced with this decision for my loved dog, but I know I may have to someday.

*And should the decision to end life in terminally ill patients (people) who can't communicate be left to the family? I'm on the fence on this one.

Comments

  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    This is what Living Wills are for. In advance of illness, anyone can draw up this document with a lawyer, deciding under what conditions ending one's life is to be authorized. This takes the burden off family members for whom such a decision could be too emotionally stressful, and it would avoid a conflict of opinion among loved ones.
  • possibilitiespossibilities PNW, WA State Veteran
    My dog has cancer as well and I am NOT going to let him suffer in pain!!!! Period.

    This has been going on for many months, and I have been watching him like a hawk. He's the best dog I have ever had, and we have 6 right now. I owe it to him. (And I'm not going to read Tosh's thread, as I have avoided all other dying animals threads.... It hurts too much to compound the pain.)
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    edited February 2012
    My dog has cancer as well and I am NOT going to let him suffer in pain!!!! Period.
    I hear ya, and I'm sorry that your going through this... now for a tough question, only if you care to answer - would you make the same call for yourself or human family member?
  • possibilitiespossibilities PNW, WA State Veteran
    edited February 2012
    For myself, yes. Someone else - see compassionate_warrior's post.

    IMO some of the Buddhist principles are antiquated. Society has made advances that I assume were not on the horizon back then. Reducing/eliminating pain is a compassionate thing to do.
    A few years back, one of my cats died more or less unexpectedly on a weekend night from kidney failure. It was not a pretty picture - in my mind I can still see his distorted face clear as day while I tried to be there for him.
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    @possibilities virtual hugs. Will you post a pic of your dogs?
  • Lady_AlisonLady_Alison Veteran
    Op...I have a 7 year old cat and when and if the time comes I would put her down instead of watching her suffer. For me it is a matter of 'quality of life ' not 'quantity '. I am prepare to grieve her passing as I have ad still enjoy her and know she will go to a place of eternal sunshine.

    As far as people. My husbad and I have had the 'pull the plug ' talk and the same goes as above but the only difference is that a person can choose to fight a terminal illness if they are conscious or their family can decide, knowing their wishes. . But animals can not...they can not speak.

    Idk....it makes me sad.
  • sofasofa
    This is a very interesting video on this topic:

  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    "Some of the greatest insights and wisdom come from confronting and dealing with our suffering. So cutting that off is a disservice." - From above ^^ monk. :thumbup:
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    It's about intention. If your intent is compassionate, and the animal is clearly suffering, then it's ok. In Buddhism it's all about your motivation.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    I fully support a family's right to end treatment if it is deemed to be an appropriate course of action. To do otherwise, in my view, is to cause and prolong suffering needlessly. I also support the right to physician assisted suicide. Of course it has its positives and negatives, but in general, we tend to treat our animal companions with far more compassion than we treat one another. As Dakini says - it's all about intention. I've seen it work the other way though. We had a son whose father was in the ICU and clearly near death. He was on a ventilator that was keeping him alive (plus tube feeding, etc). There was no pressing reason to continue this course, as there was no hope for recovery. The son wouldn't consider withdrawing support for two weeks because he was waiting for dad's Social Security check to arrive before doing it. As soon as the check arrived, he allowed us to withdraw support and dad died a few hours later. Two weeks of suffering for a few hundred bucks. Talk about your bad karma!
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