Man arrested for helping wife die in mercy killing

[SLM]

Personally, as far as this case goes, I think there was really no option other than to arrest him. Say what we will about our right to die, and the place of a family member in helping us along, but really look critically at this case and I can't help but think they needed to investigate if that's even what happened in the first place. I hate to say it but there could be a dozen different variables that made this homicide, not assisted suicide.

I think that, until we have a system in place for end of life assistance (and I really believe we should have something for people that are suffering and have no real hope of recovery), we need to be arresting/investigating all instances. It's too easy to use that as a excuse, even if the spouse/partner has a terminal illness.

I saw a program a few weeks ago on ID Discovry about a woman who killed her husband who had advanced terminal cancer. He was going to die anyway, no two ways about it, but I guess it wasn't fast enough for her. She fed him, I can't recall if it was poison or an overdose of his more potent meds, and when he didn't expire quickly enough, she eventually stabbed him. Now obviously it would be really hard to claim mercy killing in her situation. But, had she been more patient and let the meds kick in, she could have had a reasonable argument/defense should they find out he died from an overdose.

 

[WLDB]

Really? I'd opt for an overdose.

I had an accidental over dose of pain killers once. It was extremely unpleasant. I wouldnt want to risk repeating that again. If you screw up with the dosage and live it'd be very painful. Clearly the guy in this article also screwed up though. It shouldnt take two days to die from a gun shot wound. Plus they were in a hospital. It'd be very difficult if not impossible to pull off a drug overdose before being stopped, unless you were lucky enough to have Dr. Kevorkian. Bullets are much faster and if done right there is no pain.

I guess we're both falling into the gender stereotype on how we'd prefer to go out.

Personally, as far as this case goes, I think there was really no option other than to arrest him. Say what we will about our right to die, and the place of a family member in helping us along, but really look critically at this case and I can't help but think they needed to investigate if that's even what happened in the first place. I hate to say it but there could be a dozen different variables that made this homicide, not assisted suicide.

True. Even if assisted suicide were legal every death should be thoroughly investigated to make sure it wasnt murder. If thats what this case turns out to be then charge him and send him away. Pretty well any sentence at his age would work out to life in prison.

 

[Goober]

I guess with a higher number of elderly it can't help but increase but I can't help but wonder if you mean percentage wise for some reason.

I am referring to the baby boom generation.Born between 46 to 64 - As that cohort proceeds into retirement, old age, illness and such. We can already prolong a persons life- immense pain and suffering go hand in hand many times. So I think assisted suicide or suicide itself will increase in that age group.

I watched my father die that way. Not a pleasant way to go.

One reason why pneumonia was at one time called the old mans friend.

 

[SLM]

I guess we're both falling into the gender stereotype on how we'd prefer to go out.

Stereotypes have some truth to them or else they would never become stereotypes.