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This seems like way too much bother, and it looks expensive. I've read the same thing can be done with a plastic bag over the head and helium gas (maybe nitrog

by prirun 5y ago

This seems like way too much bother, and it looks expensive. I've read the same thing can be done with a plastic bag over the head and helium gas (maybe nitrogen works just as well). I still believe people should be allowed to have a safe, painless, unmessy death if they want it, for whatever reason. I don't understand why it's such a controversy. Why does a person who wants to leave have to resort to messy, violent methods? Our pets have more access to humane ways to die because of bad situations, than humans.

rootusrootus 5y ago
> I've read the same thing can be done with a plastic bag over the head and helium gas (maybe nitrogen works just as well). My older brother attempted suicide a few years ago and he tried to asphyxiate himself using nitrogen. When he was found, he was vomiting all over himself. Some part of his plan failed to work, obviously. So I don't know that I'd assume it's a trivial exercise to make a working setup on your own.
- asdfasgasdgasdg 5y ago
  I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. I imagine there are probably approaches with complexity between "plastic bag" and "lie-in 3d printed electromechanical apparatus" that would be still be reliable. Particularly, I would imagine a device that seals around the neck but otherwise operates by the same principle would be a lot cheaper and more environmentally friendly to produce. You would have a regulated, switchable input, one arm of which would be the atmosphere and the other arm of which would be a pure nitrogen supply. And then a check valve for output. I hope never to have to use such a device myself . . . dying peacefully in my sleep would be the ideal, like my grandfather did, or of a sudden stroke like my other grandmother and grandfather. But if it comes to pass that I am dying of a painful and debilitating disease, I hope that by then a device like this is easily obtainable.
  - rootusrootus 5y ago
    > I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. Yep, that unfortunate time of his life has passed and he is in a much better place. Found someone who helps keep him grounded mentally. Finally qualifies for social security so he isn't struggling just to find a roof to live under. Luckily he was an engineer for many years and so his social security payment isn't half bad. He's going to be okay now, and for that I'm grateful. I agree with your sentiments. I'm glad that I live in Oregon, so we do have assisted suicide as an option. The law makes it somewhat difficult, IMO, but in practice the rules seem to get bent. My father died with assistance a few years back when he had terminal kidney disease. Two nurses came to the house and prepared the pills for him by converting them into a liquid he could drink, they even helped him hold it. He'd have had difficulty doing that himself, so I'm grateful they were willing to help. I don't think the law allows for that much assistance, but maybe I'm wrong. In lieu of euthanasia, I'll pin my hopes on opiates, I guess. A friend of mine passed away about a week ago (cancer) and I had the opportunity to talk with him about three weeks ago -- he was on a significant dose (but not quite lethal) of fentanyl, and he said he had zero pain. They were willing to crank the dose up to whatever it takes -- this seems normal when hospice is involved. No worries about anyone getting addicted. And if the patient inadvertently dies a little early, nobody asks any questions.
DantesKite 5y ago
It cannot be done so easily. Your body has a thousand instincts inside trying to preserve itself. Many of these people who try asphyxiating themselves end up ripping the bag even after they go unconscious. And if you fail, you risk long-term brain damage. Trying to kill yourself is like trying to kick a the corner of a concrete wall with your shin as hard as possible. You have to override a lot of self-preservation instincts. It's not like you suddenly become immune to pain, loss, and fear.
- LorenPechtel 5y ago
  Asphyxiating without a replacement gas does trigger your body to try to fight it. However, when you use enough replacement gas (helium or nitrogen will do) the body won't fight it because it's the buildup of CO2 that's the trigger, not the lack of oxygen. I do agree brain damage can happen from a failure.

by prirun 5y ago

rootusrootus 5y ago

> I've read the same thing can be done with a plastic bag over the head and helium gas (maybe nitrogen works just as well). My older brother attempted suicide a few years ago and he tried to asphyxiate himself using nitrogen. When he was found, he was vomiting all over himself. Some part of his plan failed to work, obviously. So I don't know that I'd assume it's a trivial exercise to make a working setup on your own.

asdfasgasdgasdg 5y ago
I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. I imagine there are probably approaches with complexity between "plastic bag" and "lie-in 3d printed electromechanical apparatus" that would be still be reliable. Particularly, I would imagine a device that seals around the neck but otherwise operates by the same principle would be a lot cheaper and more environmentally friendly to produce. You would have a regulated, switchable input, one arm of which would be the atmosphere and the other arm of which would be a pure nitrogen supply. And then a check valve for output. I hope never to have to use such a device myself . . . dying peacefully in my sleep would be the ideal, like my grandfather did, or of a sudden stroke like my other grandmother and grandfather. But if it comes to pass that I am dying of a painful and debilitating disease, I hope that by then a device like this is easily obtainable.
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  > I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. Yep, that unfortunate time of his life has passed and he is in a much better place. Found someone who helps keep him grounded mentally. Finally qualifies for social security so he isn't struggling just to find a roof to live under. Luckily he was an engineer for many years and so his social security payment isn't half bad. He's going to be okay now, and for that I'm grateful. I agree with your sentiments. I'm glad that I live in Oregon, so we do have assisted suicide as an option. The law makes it somewhat difficult, IMO, but in practice the rules seem to get bent. My father died with assistance a few years back when he had terminal kidney disease. Two nurses came to the house and prepared the pills for him by converting them into a liquid he could drink, they even helped him hold it. He'd have had difficulty doing that himself, so I'm grateful they were willing to help. I don't think the law allows for that much assistance, but maybe I'm wrong. In lieu of euthanasia, I'll pin my hopes on opiates, I guess. A friend of mine passed away about a week ago (cancer) and I had the opportunity to talk with him about three weeks ago -- he was on a significant dose (but not quite lethal) of fentanyl, and he said he had zero pain. They were willing to crank the dose up to whatever it takes -- this seems normal when hospice is involved. No worries about anyone getting addicted. And if the patient inadvertently dies a little early, nobody asks any questions.

DantesKite 5y ago

It cannot be done so easily. Your body has a thousand instincts inside trying to preserve itself. Many of these people who try asphyxiating themselves end up ripping the bag even after they go unconscious. And if you fail, you risk long-term brain damage. Trying to kill yourself is like trying to kick a the corner of a concrete wall with your shin as hard as possible. You have to override a lot of self-preservation instincts. It's not like you suddenly become immune to pain, loss, and fear.

LorenPechtel 5y ago
Asphyxiating without a replacement gas does trigger your body to try to fight it. However, when you use enough replacement gas (helium or nitrogen will do) the body won't fight it because it's the buildup of CO2 that's the trigger, not the lack of oxygen. I do agree brain damage can happen from a failure.