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MAID being inappropriately offered to people who haven't expressed interest in it, and also being extended widely to people without terminal illness, has certai

• nprateem 1y ago
  Why should only terminally ill people get this choice? A 16 year old can decide who to kill in the army but apparently they (and we) aren't competent to choose whether to take one's own life.
  • rkomorn 1y ago
    I don't necessarily agree with this take but I'd say it's probably because we're only willing to let people who are close to death "make a mistake." Eg maybe a 16 year old who wants to end their otherwise healthy life might, 20 years later, be glad they didn't. That seems less likely with someone who is almost certainly going to die (and probably painfully to boot) "soon".
    • nicoburns 1y ago
      > maybe a 16 year old who wants to end their otherwise healthy life might, 20 years later, be glad they didn't. Equally, they might spend decades of their life in misery wishing that they had been able to.
      • rkomorn 1y ago
        I don't particularly like this wording but can't seem to come up with another one right now: I think it's okay for us to try and avoid the irreversible mistake, but yes, it's very arguable that living years you didn't want to live is also an "irreversible mistake".
      • rpdillon 1y ago
        You're correct, and I'm generally in favor of the right to die. I watched a documentary where they interviewed a bunch of people who attempted suicide and talked to them about the entire experience and mental state. Out of the maybe ten that they interviewed, only one said that he wished it had worked. That doesn't mean it's only 10% though... they didn't get to interview the ones that succeeded.
        • voakbasda 1y ago
          With suicide being illegal in most jurisdictions, not everyone interviewed may have been honest in relating their feelings. If you have suicidal ideations, telling others about them can have severely negative consequences. Saying “I wish it had worked” would likely create ongoing jeopardy.
          • rkomorn 1y ago
            I'm sorry but this feels kind of specious. Especially if the person has already admitted to trying to commit suicide (which they presumably did considering the context from parent comment).
            • voakbasda 1y ago
              Admitting to a past feelings and actions is quite different than admitting to present feelings and potential future actions. Wishing it worked indicates the a possibility that they might want to try again.
              • rpdillon 1y ago
                You have a good point. Thanks for pointing this out. It hadn't occurred to me, but I think it's obvious now that I think about it.
            • lazyasciiart 1y ago
              No, it isn’t. People who have attempted suicide are often very closely monitored by family/caregivers/medical professionals for whether they are going to attempt again, for years, and can be subject to significant constraints if they give any indications that they are thinking that way.
      • rkomorn 1y ago
        Sometimes I don't get why things get downvoted on here. What's downvote-worthy about this comment? It's in response to mine, and even though I don't really agree with it, I don't see what's so objectionable that it needs some sort of admonition?
        • __s 1y ago
          Didn't downvote, but I think the writing has a flippant voice. In combination with an unpopular opinion I've been able to attract downvotes in the same way
          • rkomorn 1y ago
            Interesting. I didn't read it as flippant, myself. I actually thought it was voiced similarly to mine (which I don't think is flippant either) and to the point. Oh well. Mysteries of HN.
  • deleted 1y ago
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