Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

bluewin.ch

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

271–280 of 655 posts

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#271

Post by ajkjk »

dbZJtFuAXUrVLmY wrote: post #264
bityard wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am really pro assisted suicide as a way of shortening suffering You don't consider years of mental trauma on the individual and years burden and stress on loved ones to be suffering?

I don't think the average amount of suffering for people with Alzheimer's and their families is sufficient to warrant euthanasia as a solution. I don't doubt there are some cases where it could be warranted, but I find it very difficult to get behind the idea that consent should pass from the individual. I obviously see that people with Alzheimer's and their families do suffer, the degree to which depends on the avai…

It's really up to them, not you. If you're pro assisted suicide you have to be pro other people making the decision in ways you disagree with.

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#272

Post by lukan »

hrimfaxi wrote: post #248
lukan wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, but what if I ain't a christian nor a buddhist and don't think suffering as a normal living condition is necessary? (Can you proof it is? Also I don't think all christians/buddhists share that believe) So sure, suffering and pain are part of life. And accepting that helps a lot to not get stuck in that condition by avoiding painful things, you cannot avoid. "Anyone can say that about their life right now, can't…

> Well, but what if I ain't a christian nor a buddhist and don't think suffering as a normal living condition is necessary? (Can you proof it is? Also I don't think all christians/buddhists share that believe) At the very least, suffering (through childbirth) is a prerequisite to bringing life into this world. edit: strange that this is flagged. my parent asked for proof that suffering is inherent in life, and I don'…

No, I asked for proof that a constant condition of suffering is inherent of life. Not that suffering is also part of life.

(Vouched for it to be able to reply)

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#273

Post by circlefavshape »

Noaidi wrote: post #212
lukan wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"What if the next day his hope came back?" What if he tried that, but every day just got worse than the last day? And people don't get any younger. My grandmother is 98. She hates her life since she could not go out anymore. But she is catholic and suicide would be a mortal sin. So she waits till gods take her. And suffers till then. I would make a different choice for sure. If life is hell and no one depends on me,…

> What if he tried that, but every day just got worse than the last day? Anyone can say that about their life right now, can't they? How many people struggling today think that their life will get no better? Look at all those who made it through slavery, what hope did they have? Their hope came from their faith. Suffering has a purpose, this is something your grandmother understands through her faith. Buddhists under…

Let's see how you handle suffering when it comes knocking on your door

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#274

Post by Tepix »

sarchertech wrote: post #44

So he was very old without any significant problems, but he wanted to avoid the inevitable problems? If you’ve already made it to 90 with no major issues, you’re expected to make it to 95 and you could make easily live to 100. My wife’s grandad is 90 and he still lives alone, drives, plays golf nearly everyday, and regularly sees his 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He even made the 9 hour trip to come…

As long as people are thinking clearly, i think it should be up to them.

There is no financial incentive. No-one is making any money from assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#275

Post by joomla199 »

anilgulecha wrote: post #20

I'm part of the Jain community in Bangalore, and the version of this in society exists, called Sallekhna [1], a tradition that's developed over millennia, and this is venerated and celebrated. The philosophical underpinning is giving up of materialness. The practicality of the 5 instances that I witnessed over the past year - typical terminal individuals choose this. They pass away surrounded by loved ones (they typi…

In a similar vein India also has/had Thalaikoothal, which is more of a traditional method of homicide than suicide.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalaikoothal

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#276

Post by hackernewds »

anilgulecha wrote: post #20

I'm part of the Jain community in Bangalore, and the version of this in society exists, called Sallekhna [1], a tradition that's developed over millennia, and this is venerated and celebrated. The philosophical underpinning is giving up of materialness. The practicality of the 5 instances that I witnessed over the past year - typical terminal individuals choose this. They pass away surrounded by loved ones (they typi…

How did they medicate for pain for millennia before the advent of painkillers?

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#277

Post by [deleted] »

ratelimitsteve wrote: post #267
AQuantized wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You really don't want to end up with dementia and related illnesses, it totally sours everyone's view of you. This seems like such an absurd conclusion to this, as though the opinions of other people of you are what matter when you functionally lose your personhood and then die. Maybe a better focus would be that there often isn't a good way for a community to manage a person who suddenly becomes irrational because…

idk man whether the people I love hate me matters to me...

[deleted]

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#278

Post by hackernewds »

seneca wrote: post #253
le-mark wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is essentially what hospice is in the US. They stop curative treatment and focus on comfort. Then at the end when the person can no longer function to eat or drink they increase the morphine dose to a high level until they pass.

Right. It's a not-so-well-kept secret that hospice care is actually assisted suicide in disguise. It's done with a wink and a nudge, hiding behind the principle of double effect, but it's a mercy everyone knows is happening. It's sad that it has to be done covertly.

Which is highly illegal, especially as a form of monetizing pain and lack of agency from elders incapable of decision making but flush with money and inheritors

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#279

Post by hackernewds »

NaomiLehman wrote: post #185
yawpitch wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever since I learned of Jainism I’ve wished I’d learned of it earlier.

Thank you I just learned about it. Seems compatible with atheism.

It absolutely does not. Jainism is even stricter than Hinduism, to be co-opted with a faithless belief system

Re: Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland

#280

Post by circlefavshape »

My dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer's and it's made me think of what I'll do if I find myself in the same situation

Assisted suicide sounds like a fine option until you think of its impact on your loved ones. Imagining putting my wife and kids through my deciding to die, and the process of them bringing me to the place where it happens - or imagining one of them doing the same thing - just fills me with horror

Post reply on HN