New technology=right to die?

[Thorne]

I'm a firm believer in the right to die. In this particular instance, since the man is able to communicate, even if only by blinking his eyes, he can be interviewed by a neutral party (a judge, for example) to make certain that this is HIS decision, and if so to allow the procedure to go ahead. I can think of nothing worse than forcing someone to live in such a condition against their will. It's worse than prison, and for no reason.

And I would suggest, if you haven't already done so, that you make a Living Will, allowing your spouse, or someone designated with Medical Power of Attorney, to prevent any "heroic" measures from hospital staff being performed against your, or their, will.

[thir]

I'm a firm believer in the right to die. In this particular instance, since the man is able to communicate, even if only by blinking his eyes, he can be interviewed by a neutral party (a judge, for example) to make certain that this is HIS decision, and if so to allow the procedure to go ahead. I can think of nothing worse than forcing someone to live in such a condition against their will. It's worse than prison, and for no reason.

You might say the reason in this case is the unintended result of more technology. More people survive, but in some cases in a state they do not want to live in. And since I also think that you have a right to die in a way that is dignified and with as much support for family as possible, official assisted suicide is neccesary. This could be used as an argument to taking up assisted suice again.

And I would suggest, if you haven't already done so, that you make a Living Will, allowing your spouse, or someone designated with Medical Power of Attorney, to prevent any "heroic" measures from hospital staff being performed against your, or their, will.

I do not know how how it is in US, but in UK and, I think, in DK as well, there are only two options: one is that if you are living only by the help of mashines, you, or you family, can decide to shut them off. Two, if you are you are terminally ill, you can say no to any or all treatment. In principle, you can always do that. But in praxis, it can sometimes be difficult with non-terminally ill people.

But as for a person living, as the person in the OP, you have no rights, whatever you might say or write in any will. That is why he needs to go to the courts, and start with a case deciding whether or not he can go to the courts at all.