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Should any Government allow (pay for through gov insurance and gov policies) assisted suicide for mentally ill people?

Canada is offering to help mentally ill people commit suicide through their government provided Healthcare.
Mentally ill (solely condition) will be come into effect March 2024. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2023/02/delay-of-eligibility-for-medical-assistance-in-dying-for-persons-suffering-solely-from-mental-illness-proposed-by-ministers-of-justice-and-health.html

Rather than providing needed services to people, they are offering to kill them. 
The program is called MAiD.  
https://thetyee.ca/News/2022/11/14/Chronically-Ill-Dying-Poverty/

Posted - October 19, 2023
Tags : None

Responses


  • 17592
    Being mentally ill shouldn't be a bar, but it should require more scrutiny.  My opinion.
      October 20, 2023 7:37 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    I don't think a gov should be assisting suicide at all.  But yes, certainly mentally ill should get more scrutiny. 
      October 20, 2023 7:44 AM MDT
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  • 17592
    Your question does not ask if a government should assist in suicide.  You asked if government should allow it.  Very different questions. 
      October 21, 2023 8:37 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    Sorry. I should have written it better.
      October 21, 2023 9:07 AM MDT
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  • 10996
    Any person with an unbearable, untreatable condition with no hope of recovery should qualify for death with dignity. The government should not force people to endure intense suffering which could go on for years or deny them control over their own bodies.

    Edit: By untreatable, I mean no treatment is available or suitable that will make the condition bearable for the specic person, not the general population. I did not differentiate between illnesses classified as mental illness and any other illness.  This post was edited by Jane S at October 21, 2023 12:34 PM MDT
      October 20, 2023 9:37 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    Mental illness is treatable.  So is poverty...another reason that government helps by offering suicide. Quite a disgusting policy.  
      October 20, 2023 4:59 PM MDT
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  • 23576
    I find Jane S including many more physical conditions than mental illness. 
    To help someone who has gone through literal physical hell and pain just to be alive, with much physical pain that never, ever, goes away, with no hope of getting better  - they have a right to decide upon death with dignity and I find it not disgusting if a government may help the person.


      October 20, 2023 6:42 PM MDT
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  • 34251
    My question.....the government is helping people commit suicide who are suffering from mental illness....no other physical issues.    Yes, Jane S' answer added to the person's symptoms.   But that is not what I asked.  My question is about people who are only dealing with mental health issues.   Should their government help them kill themselves? 
      October 20, 2023 8:14 PM MDT
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  • 23576
    Yes, sorry about all this.

    Earlier, I had reread (with retention this time) your original question.
    Perhaps you missed my impulsive angry-with-myself 'answer' to your question down there - - I had completely missed the words 'mental illness" in your question before posting all those replies. Then I saw the words.
    Then I got angry with myself.

    Back to "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy for me. I'm listening to them now. They always make me feel better, no matter how I'm feeling.



    This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at October 21, 2023 12:34 PM MDT
      October 21, 2023 12:15 AM MDT
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  • 3701
    What government is helping mentally ill people commit suicide?
      October 21, 2023 7:27 AM MDT
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  • 10996
    Several governments allow it, but that certainly not the same as providing direct assistance. 
      October 21, 2023 7:42 AM MDT
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  • 3701
    Correct, but after reading the article, this particular person does not have a mental illness, so I'm not sure how the OP conflates mental illness with an autoimmune disease.  
      October 21, 2023 10:10 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    Canada who has government supplied healthcare.....cheaper to kill them than treat them  I guess. 
      October 21, 2023 9:27 AM MDT
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  • 3701
    The article you cited doesn't say anything about mental illness.  The person the article is about has what is likely an autoimmune disease, not a mental illness and the government is not helping her to commit suicide.  
      October 21, 2023 10:15 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    The article was about a woman who does not want to die but the government has already gave the go ahead should she later decide to kill herself because the gov is refusing to pay for treatments she says do work for her pain.  
    But while she does not have a mental illness it is an example of the gov offering to kill her instead of treating her. 
      October 21, 2023 12:33 PM MDT
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  • 23576
    Whoa - - sorry.
    Jane S' EDITwas not on my screen when I replied.
     
      October 20, 2023 7:13 PM MDT
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  • 34251
    Never a need to apologize.  
      October 21, 2023 9:40 AM MDT
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  • 23576
    Whoa - - sorry.
    your  EDIT was not on my screen when I replied.

    I respect your answer.
      October 20, 2023 6:44 PM MDT
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  • 23576
    Hell-  just never mind- - I di not evne see yuor or retain your words in your question --  you speicifalclly said "mentqal illness"- - sorry - -- I'm out of here
      October 20, 2023 6:45 PM MDT
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  • 10996
    You're good, Welby. I just don't like it when mental illness is treated differently than any other illness, thus my original answer. The response to was what triggered my edit. Mental illness is not just one thing just like cancer is not just one thing.
      October 20, 2023 8:23 PM MDT
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  • 23576
    Point well-said.

    Thanks for your patience with me, too. You have more with me than I have more myself lately. 
      October 21, 2023 12:11 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    You always fine.  We all post sometimes without completely reading everything. I have added more to the question to clarify.
      October 21, 2023 9:42 AM MDT
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  • 23576
    To answer your original question :

    To me, "perhaps."
    I get your point, I believe. But, if a government has the Death Penalty (to supposedly honor the importance of life by purposely killing people who have killed people to show people that killing people is wrong), then, to me, perhaps there may be certain other circumstances where offering an assistance with ending a life also may apply,
      October 21, 2023 12:25 AM MDT
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  • 34251
    My only issue with the death penalty is out system sometimes gets it wrong. But I think if their is no question about the killer (dna and video) and it was a purposeful action (no question of self defense,  or accident), why make them spend their life in prison? We are not rehabilitating them. And they have no reason to behave. 
    Mental illness is treatable. I know several people who have dealt with it throughout their lives and none of them would have lived long if this was an option at times of regression into depression.  
      October 21, 2023 6:14 AM MDT
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