View this article and then tell me would you consider this suicide?

2014-10-07T18:34:31-04:00

A terminally ill woman decides to leave this world on her own terms. I would like to know if you see this as suicide or death with dignity.

This is the update on the Brittany Maynard situation.

http://www.people.com/article/brittany-maynard-died-terminal-brain-cancer

Brittany Maynard Ends Her Own Life

The 29-year-old said she intended to end her own life on Nov. 1 if her suffering became too great

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2014 6:41 PM

2014-10-07T18:41:24-04:00

I see this as a human being exercising a choice to self determination.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Oct 7 at 2014 6:51 PM

2014-10-07T18:51:54-04:00

Yes I consider it suicide. I also consider it her life and her right to live or die.

Response by CPL Melanie Krause made Oct 7 at 2014 7:06 PM

2014-10-07T19:06:35-04:00

A brave woman dealing with an unkind, cruel world.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2014 8:34 PM

2014-10-07T20:34:37-04:00

Death with dignity

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2014 8:48 PM

2014-10-07T20:48:05-04:00

She should absolutely have the right to die with dignity. Many people don't get that chance. They die cruel deaths. This woman is placing her fate in her own hands and it is her personal decision to make. What an awful set of circumstances...

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2014 9:21 PM

2014-10-07T21:21:47-04:00

An awful story, but I agree with her. She is choosing death with dignity. We all should have the right of self-determination up to the point of death, if we have the capacity to exercise it. I'd like it if all states had equivalent laws.

Response by Cpl Chris Rice made Oct 8 at 2014 1:43 AM

2014-10-08T01:43:38-04:00

I completely understand the thought process and her decision to use Physician assisted suicide makes logical sense. I also have no idea how it feels to be in her shoes, but I think that I disagree with the practice. I would like to stress that I do not have the answers, and while I am religious, I do not have this view because of my faith.

I am worried about the proliferation of this practice is going to snuff the development of effective treatment of terminal illnesses. The fact that there is a slow, and painful death is the one of the factors that makes society at large empathize and motivated to find an answer as to how we can avoid that death. I worry that society is moving to a place where we say that when it is death that we all have to see v. death that is out of sight, out of mind we are going to start pushing for the patient to choose a death in a painless manner, because it makes it easier for all of us. This will allow us to avoid seeing our own failings.

Like I said before I do not have the answers, I do not look at this woman with anything but respect for her decision, and empathy for her and her family. I just worry that the more we make the loss of life silent the easier it is to forget it is happening. To get back to the original question, I think it should always be referred to as a suicide, as this cannot ever be seen as a positive outcome, no matter how merciful it is in reality.

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 30 at 2014 12:14 PM

2014-10-30T12:14:26-04:00

Brittany Maynard's most recent video.

http://wtkr.com/2014/10/30/brittany-maynard-says-now-doesnt-seem-like-the-right-time-to-die-in-new-video/

Brittany Maynard says now 'doesn't seem like the right time' to die in new video

(CNN) -- Brittany Maynard says she hasn't decided yet when she'll end her life, but it's a decision she's still determined to make. "I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2015 2:08 AM

2015-01-29T02:08:50-05:00

How is what she did any different than shooting herself, overdosing, or jumping off a bridge? We in the military are tortured with suicide prevention classes because so many of our brothers and sisters can't deal with the torment that they're feeling. When they do it it's a terrible thing and we need to stop it. But when someone uses a doctor (who are supposed to save lives) as a tool (like a knife, gun, medication, etc) it's ok. What kind of @$$ backwards logic is that? If the 22 SMs that commit suicide everyday decide they're going to go have a doctor kill them instead of using a gun or one of the other previously mentioned means, does that all of a sudden make their death ok? I've managed to maintain my bearing and professionalism on here through a lot of threads that, if the conversation were in the real world, would get very colorful.. But after reading all the comments in support of this bull.. your logic is seriously f**ked.