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« on: January 16, 2008, 01:33:01 am »
well, coincidentally, i just got back from a speech by dr kevorkian... (seriously, i did - google news it, he just spoke at uf)
so here's my opinion on euthanasia-style suicide (because it's on my mind): if you are in pain from some horrible disease you have the right to die. not the right to kill yourself, but to ask your doctor to put you down. we do it to cats and dogs in order to end their lives without pain. so why is it illegal in 49 states (the exception is oregon) to do it to a human? why must we suffer through terminal illness until the bitter end?
as for suicide by depressed people... no. there are psychiatric treatments that can fix depression. if drugs and counseling don't do it, electroshock treatment will in almost every case, according to my psychology class last year. it's remarkably more humane than people imagine, and pretty much works miracles on even the most depressed people. the problem is that our mental health system is in tatters and needs to be fixed. maybe if we can finally get universal healthcare in this backwards country, then we can fix that along with the rest of the medical industry.