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In another topic, there's a discussion about Suicide. Within that discussion, pulling the plug on a loved one came up. I’m curious how the Christians see this.

 

FirenzeVeritas claims to be a Christian. In that other topic, she made the statement that she would not want to be kept alive by artificial means. She doesn’t consider it murder to “pull the plug”.

 

If you had a loved one that was brain dead,  suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, would you pull the plug? Would it be murder if you did?  Do you believe it’s the right of a loved one to die with dignity?

 

The Bible prohibits the killing of human beings because they are created in the image of God. In order to be considered murder, the killing must be both premeditated and intentional.

 

If you, as a Christian, pulled the plug, would you be committing murder? If your loved one ask you to end it for them, would you assist them in suicide? Would either one not be premeditated & intentional, therefore a murder?

 

Is God not the only one to allowed to determine when a person should die?

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Semi,

     If my loved is indeed brain dead then all we'd be doing is keeping the body alive. Being kept alive by artifical means is not really life. Those who insist on keeping their loved one's alive through artificial means are doing so out of their own emotions and are in effect being selfish. Eventually the organs do begin to shut down, I witnessed this with my ex-mother-in-law. Her daughter could not bear to let her go, I saw this woman's body begin to convulse and the dark brown fluid coming from her catherer, the Dr. explained that her body was drowning from fluid build-up in her lungs. The daughter finally decided to let mom go, all the children were called in and they sang her favorite hymns as the machine was slowly lowered until there was no heartbeat. I have instructed my family not to keep me alive through artificial means, unless there is at least a 60% chance that I will recover. I also do not want to live in a vegetative state, in my opinion it is like being forever trapped in your own body.

Ms. Wonka, I agree with you. However that did not really answer Semi's question. Do Christians believe that is murder or not? I am not a Christian and I see it as the humane thing to do. I too am curious how Christians can rectify this action with what the bible tells them. Are they picking and choosing like so many other things?

 

The question is whether to allow a person to be kept alive by "artificial means." When those artificial means are withdrawn, then the NATURAL process of death occurs. It is not a sin to permit nature to take its natural course. It is not murder to allow a person to die naturally instead of being kept alive artificially when said person is "brain dead," i.e. no longer a sentient human being and with no prospect of returning to that status. That is the way I wish to be treated if I am in that condition and my loved ones will honor that desire without any reservations about being "murderers." They will do so because they love me and will want to honor my wishes in this matter. Living wills are just for this purpose. 

 

P.S. Don't worry about the Palin-imagined "Obama death panels."  They do not exist.

At some point the human body is left to the discretion of science. When that opinion of professionals conclude there are no further options for the living person a recommendation is usually made by the physician, except in the case where some deranged murderer might physically unplug someone from life support without a doctors knowledge, to terminate scientific intervention and leave the living person in the hands of God. Some immediately die and some linger on for a while in the hands of God. The rest should be easy to figure out. .................and no, it's not murder.

Originally Posted by Bestworking:

Contendah you're as bad as bill about wanting to interject politics into discussions. You know what, you don't know if death panels would exist or not. I do know that I never heard it reported that there would be, but I did hear it reported that it is what the elderly FEAR would happen.

****

What I DO know is that death panels are NOT in the new federal health care legislation.  What I DO know is that Sarah Palin's widely-propagated assertion that there are such "death panels" earned her a well-deserved award for Biggest Lie of the Year."

 

http://www.politifact.com/trut...e-year-death-panels/

 

This subject is not foreign to this discussion, since "end of life counseling"  is now widely practiced by doctors and patients and is the process that can lead to the development of the widely-respected "living will."  That process is what is set forth in  "Obamacare" as an entirely optional measure, for which the government health insurance program will reimburse participating physicians (not "death panels") for their assistance to patients who elect voluntarily to request such assistance. Palin and other pants-on-fire liars radically distorted this provision of the health care legislation and it was in her mis-characterization of the matter that the Wacko of Wasilla employed the term "Obama death panel."

 

What I have "interject[ed]" is clearly pertinent to this discussion.  Had the deranged misinterpretation of Sarah Palin not been a major and controversial matter during the health care debate, I would not have had the "benefit" of her nattering nonsense to critique here. I do try to be eclectic, Bestworking, ever examining  issues from diverse perspectives in my continuous quest for truth, justice, and the American way!

I was hoping my questions would be answered but I guess it's not to be. I'm not referring to people that have Living wills, or why you would pull the plug on someone that is brain dead, I understand the why of it. I want to know if a Christian thinks this is murder? Is it not the place of God only to take a life? Why is no one willing to answer the questions in my original post. It's really not hard to understand.

 

And Contendah, I really rather leave politics in politics. Maybe you could delete your post?

Hi all,

 

Let me speak from recent experience.  Last Wednesday, a dear Christian Friend had a massive heart attack and was immediately put on life support because she could not breath on her own.  Within a couple of hours, the doctors wanted to pull the plug -- but, the family, trusting in God to know and do what was best, asked them to wait.

 

This did two things.  First, it left her in God's hands.  And, second, it gave her family time to travel to the hospital.  Last night, after much prayer, the family allowed the doctors to pull the plug and she went home to be with her Lord.

 

As Contendah wrote, they removed the artificial means of keeping her alive -- and allowed the natural process of death and dying to take over.  

 

All her family, except for one brother, are strong in their Christian faith -- so, while they will mourn their loss of her -- but, they will celebrate her homegoing to be with her Lord and Savior.  Yes, they will mourn, for one that they love dearly in taken from them, for now.  But, through it all, they and we know that God's plan for Joy is best -- for her, and for all of us so close to her.

 

The one thing which sustains believers, in such times, is the fact that we know once she breathed her last breath in her mortal body -- her next breath is with the Lord.  So, as believers, we do not say "Goodbye" to her; we merely say, "Good night.  I will see you on that glorious resurrection morning -- when we will have a happy family reunion.  And, Jesus Christ will be our Host."    That is the eternal security we have in being Christian believers -- that one day, we WILL be with our Lord -- and we WILL be reunited with our believing loved ones.  And, that is the hope which is in all believers.

 

Sadly, everyone who knew her, but are not Christian believers -- must say goodbye now -- for they will never see her again.

 

So, no, it was not wrong to pull the plug.  It was what we all may be called upon to do some day.  I pray you, and I, never have to do this -- but, rest assured that everything is in God's hands.   His is the final vote -- and, it is always the right vote.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

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Yes, Semi, I do claim to be a Christian. I do not claim to be perfect. In the previous discussion, we were indeed literally, as far as I know, discussing pulling the plug, which means turning off mechanical ventilation that is breathing for the patient. We were not discussing any actual euthanasia.

 

When individuals suffer damage to the brain, or they suffer a spinal fracture that prevents the brain telling the body what to do (at a high enough level), breathing stops. In the former case, these patients would probably never live normal lives even if breathing on their own could be restored. In the latter, intelligence is not affected unless there is also damage to the brain from trauma or O2 deprivation.

 

Sixty, or even 50, years ago, these individuals would not have lived. Now we have the mechanical means to keep these people breathing...even brain dead. I would not want to live that way. I hope that everyone who feels that way will make a living will and make sure it is up to date. Unfortunately, living wills are not always taken into consideration.

 

Do I think this is murder? I obviously can't speak for all Christians. Keeping a person on life support for one or two days, even following massive head trauma, allows the family to say goodbye and to come to terms with the death (as much as possible). It also provides time for physicians to coordinate organ donations. This something else I hope everyone has thought and prayed about. In your death, you can give life to others.

 

BTW, this is again a subject for another discussion, but for every organ donated, hundreds are waiting. Who decides? Someone has to, and in doing so hospital ethics panels do decide who lives or dies. It's a brave new world.

NO, I agree with Contenda- letting nature take it's course is not a sin to "pull the plug".

On the other hand , that brings up the point that everyone should have a living will as to how you want to be dealt with if you are ever in that situation. I personally have written a living will stipulating that I do not want to be kept alive by artificial means if I am terminal anyway, but I DO want to be kept comfortable by the use of Morphine or whatever it takes to stay out of pain.

Sadly, Contenda is right again in bringing politics into this , because during the Terri Schievo fiasco, the state of Alabama passed a law stating that in the absence of a living will, the state will not allow the "plug to be pulled", so your kin don't have a say. ( Seems people whine that the government is too big, but then vote for people who want a government big enough to legislate your final wishes).

At any rate, No, pulling the plug on a loved one would be , to me, putting that person in God's hands, not murder for goodness sake.

Along a similar vein, I believe that a terminally ill person should be allowed "death with dignity" and if they want physician assistance to die, especially in the case of a painful illness, that should be legal as well. 

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

I was hoping my questions would be answered but I guess it's not to be. I'm not referring to people that have Living wills, or why you would pull the plug on someone that is brain dead, I understand the why of it. I want to know if a Christian thinks this is murder? Is it not the place of God only to take a life? Why is no one willing to answer the questions in my original post. It's really not hard to understand.

 

And Contendah, I really rather leave politics in politics. Maybe you could delete your post?

****

Not gun duh! Politics has been deeply inserted into this issue by such players as Sarah Palin and former Senator Bill Frist.  Opportunistic legislators all over the Nation weighed in on the Terry Schiavo case.

 

You say that "In order to be considered murder, the killing must be both premeditated and intentional." There is nothing in the Bible that requires a killing to be "premeditated" in order to be "murder." A killing arising from a sudden emotional compulsion, driven by anger or hatred, is not premeditated, but is a murder nevertheless by Biblical standards.  Ye do err in citing 21st Century criminal law as a basis for your inquiry into Biblical/Christian matters. 

 

Lexum and I have both addressed the issue of whether the action you describe is "murder." If those answers are not sufficient, kindly point out the deficiencies.  Here, in pertinent part, is what I wrote .  Mark it up to show where I have failed to answer you and I will try again. Really.

 

<<<The question is whether to allow a person to be kept alive by "artificial means." When those artificial means are withdrawn, then the NATURAL process of death occurs. It is not a sin to permit nature to take its natural course. It is not murder to allow a person to die naturally instead of being kept alive artificially when said person is "brain dead," i.e. no longer a sentient human being and with no prospect of returning to that status.>>>

 

As to assisting someone in committing suicide, that is illegal and for that reason alone, if for no other,  would be wrong for a Christian to do.

Simichick, this is another one of your attempts to lure Christians into your web of deceit. You say in your posts that you are not sure about  God yet I believe you are absolutely sure. You do not believe in God. The Bible, as you seem to want to quote when you want to get to Christians, also says that if you are Luke Warm He will spew you out of His mouth.

To answer your question if someone you love is on life support and you have to make the terrible decision of disconnecting the life support you are not killing them since they would be dead if doctors had not put them on life support.

Originally Posted by Gingee:

Simichick, this is another one of your attempts to lure Christians into your web of deceit. You say in your posts that you are not sure about  God yet I believe you are absolutely sure. You do not believe in God. The Bible, as you seem to want to quote when you want to get to Christians, also says that if you are Luke Warm He will spew you out of His mouth.

__________________________

Thank you for those kind words. The love & compassion of your words just jump out at me. Maybe you should  think about this scripture.

Matthew 7:1-2-----"Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again".

 

That scripture is straight & to the point, not hard at all to understand. It doesn't mean that a Christian can't draw an honest, righteous conclusion about another person.

 

But it does say that you cannot make judgmental, condemning, & hateful statements about another person. Which is what you just did in your judgment of me.

 

Originally Posted by semiannualchick:

I was hoping my questions would be answered but I guess it's not to be. I'm not referring to people that have Living wills, or why you would pull the plug on someone that is brain dead, I understand the why of it. I want to know if a Christian thinks this is murder? Is it not the place of God only to take a life? Why is no one willing to answer the questions in my original post. It's really not hard to understand.

 

And Contendah, I really rather leave politics in politics. Maybe you could delete your post?

****

Originally Posted by Contendah:

Not gun duh! Opportunistic legislators all over the Nation weighed in on the Terry Schiavo case.

 

You say that "In order to be considered murder, the killing must be both premeditated and intentional." There is nothing in the Bible that requires a killing to be "premeditated" in order to be "murder." A killing arising from a sudden emotional compulsion, driven by anger or hatred, is not premeditated, but is a murder nevertheless by Biblical standards.  Ye do err in citing 21st Century criminal law as a basis for your inquiry into Biblical/Christian matters. 

 

Here, in pertinent part, is what I wrote .  Mark it up to show where I have failed to answer you and I will try again. Really.

 

<<<The question is whether to allow a person to be kept alive by "artificial means." When those artificial means are withdrawn, then the NATURAL process of death occurs. It is not a sin to permit nature to take its natural course. It is not murder to allow a person to die naturally instead of being kept alive artificially when said person is "brain dead," i.e. no longer a sentient human being and with no prospect of returning to that status.

As to assisting someone in committing suicide, that is illegal and for that reason alone, if for no other,  would be wrong for a Christian to do.

__________________________

First off, let me apologize. I had no right to asked you to delete your post. I asked for opinions & you gave yours. I hope you will forgive me for my rudeness & being a smart ass.

I didn't mean to suggest that there was something in the Bible that required a killing to be premeditated in order to be murder. When I said in order to be considered murder, the killing must be both premeditated and intentional, I was saying that as to how I see it, not how it actually is for everyone or how the Bible states it to be.

 

When my Mother & my son lay dying, & if I had ended their suffering, either by my hand or allowing a doctor to pull a plug, I planned it, my actions were intentional. What I did was premeditated, & in my eyes murder. That's only my opinion.

I discussed this with my husband over dinner last night. He's a Christian man & I value his opinion. His opinion was that it wouldn't be murder, but I can't bring myself to believe that it wouldn't be.

I believe that only God has the right to take a life, but then again, none of us know the why's & if's of why God allows the things to happen that He does. If we knew that, there would be no need of any of our questions & discussions.

 

BTW, I remember the Terry Schiavo case, & it was such a sad situation. My heart hurt for what her parents had to go through.

 

 

 

Originally Posted by FirenzeVeritas:

Yes, Semi, I do claim to be a Christian. I do not claim to be perfect.  We were not discussing any actual euthanasia.

Now we have the mechanical means to keep these people breathing...even brain dead. I would not want to live that way.

Do I think this is murder? I obviously can't speak for all Christians. Keeping a person on life support for one or two days, even following massive head trauma, allows the family to say goodbye and to come to terms with the death (as much as possible).

It's a brave new world.

________________________

I realize Christians aren't perfect & that's the excuse alot of them give when you mention their gossiping, lying, cheating on a spouse, etc.

I didn't say their was a discussion of euthanasia in the other topic, though the word was mentioned.

 

I just recently read a story about a man that has been visiting his comatose wife for 14 years. He said he will “continue to love his wife, until God has the last word. In the end, if tomorrow she must go, his conscience will be clear."

He mentioned when he speaks to her in her ear she begins to cry, & for that reason he believes she can hear him, though the doctors say it’s impossible. You have to admire that kind of devotion & his faith in God.

 

I wonder what God thinks of this "brave new world"?

 

Originally Posted by Bill Gray:

Hi all,

Let me speak from recent experience.  Last Wednesday, a dear Christian Friend had a massive heart attack and was immediately put on life support because she could not breath on her own.  Within a couple of hours, the doctors wanted to pull the plug -- but, the family, trusting in God to know and do what was best, asked them to wait.

This did two things.  First, it left her in God's hands.  And, second, it gave her family time to travel to the hospital.  Last night, after much prayer, the family allowed the doctors to pull the plug and she went home to be with her Lord.

 Sadly, everyone who knew her, but are not Christian believers -- must say goodbye now -- for they will never see her again.

Bill

_______________________________

No offense intended, Bill, but I have a couple of honest questions. If the family trusted in God to know & do what was best, what made them decide to pull the plug after her family had time to travel to the hospital?

 

You mentioned those non-believers never seeing her again. Why not? Do you think it's impossible that they could ever be saved?

 

BTW, I'm sorry your friend died.

 

Hi Chick,

In my earlier post, in answer to your question which is the title of this discussion, "As A Christian, Would You 'Pull The Plug?" -- I  wrote:


Hi all,  Let me speak from recent experience.  Last Wednesday, a dear Christian Friend had a massive heart attack and was immediately put on life support because she could not breath on her own.  Within a couple of hours, the doctors wanted to pull the plug -- but, the family, trusting in God to know and do what was best, asked them to wait.

This did two things.  First, it left her in God's hands.  And, second, it gave her family time to travel to the hospital.   Last night, after much prayer, the family allowed the doctors to pull the plug and she went home to be with her Lord.

The one thing which sustains believers, in such times, is the fact that we know that once she breathed her last breath in her mortal body -- her next breath is in heaven with the Lord.  So, as believers, we do not say "Goodbye" to her; we merely say, "Good night.  I will see you on that glorious resurrection morning -- when we will have a happy family reunion.  And, Jesus Christ will be our Host."   

 

That is the eternal security we have in being Christian believers -- that one day, we WILL be with our Lord -- and we WILL be reunited with our believing loved ones.  This is the hope which is in all believers.

Sadly, everyone who knew her, but are not Christian believers -- must say goodbye now -- for they will never see her again.  Bill

 

And, Chick, you ask, "No offense intended, Bill, but I have a couple of honest questions.  If the family trusted in God to know and do what was best -- what made them decide to pull the plug after her family had time to travel to the hospital?"

No offense taken.  When the doctor wanted to pull the plug within hours of her being admitted -- the family was still in shock and, putting their whole faith in God, did not want to react too quickly.   And, they did want to wait for family and friends to be able to be with her and pray for her while we could still say she was alive.

By Sunday evening, it was obvious that she was indeed brain dead.  Did his rule out a miracle from God?  No.  But, the family, after much prayer, accepted the fact that she was gone and that God's will had indeed been done in her life and in her death.

Such decisions are always very difficult.  However, I have found over the years that when one is seeking God's will, and one prays sincerely, makes a decision, and then finds peace in that decision -- it is a pretty good bet that this is God's will.  We cannot fight against God; we accept His will even when it hurts -- for we know that His plan for us and for our family is best.

Then, Chick, you ask, "You mentioned those non-believers never seeing her again.  Why not?  Do you think it's impossible that they could ever be saved?"

You are right.   I was not as clear about this as I should have been.  Typically, we share this at a funeral or memorial service for several reasons:  First, to assure everyone that the one who has passed is a believer.  Notice that I have said, "IS a believer" -- not, "WAS a believer."   Just because a person has died -- he/she does not stop being a believer.  Now that she has passed from this mortal world into His presence -- she has even more reason to be assured of her eternal salvation -- for she is standing face to face with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  That is His promise to all believers -- and that is the eternal hope we have in Christ.

Second, we share this to assure those of us who are also believers -- that, one day, we will be reunited with this loved one.  One day, when we each pass from this world -- this dear wife, mother, friend -- WILL be waiting with Jesus Chris to welcome us into His presence in heaven.  That is our Blessed Assurance from God Himself.

Now, regarding those who are not yet believers when this dear one left us -- will they ever see her again?  If they become believers themselves and seek their own personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- YES!  They definitely will see her again.

If they do not become believers, but continue to the end of their mortal lives still denying Jesus Christ, still following the world -- NO!   They will never see this loved one again.  For they will not be in heaven in the presence of our Lord.

This is the main reason that we do share this thought at funerals and memorial services.  We want those who are not yet believers -- to make that all important turn, that eternal decision.  We want them to turn from following the world -- and turn to follow Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

 

Every non-believer at the service for the Christian believer who will do this -- YES, he/she will be a part of that glorious Family Reunion in heaven one day.  If we love the person we just lost -- we must love her Jesus Christ also; for that would be her fondest desire -- that ALL of her family and friends be at the Family Reunion in heaven.

Chick, thank you for pointing out this area where I was not clear in my earlier post.  This is too important to not explain it well.  

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bil

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you had a loved one that was brain dead,  suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, would you pull the plug? Would it be murder if you did?  Do you believe it’s the right of a loved one to die with dignity?

 

I would "pull the plug" if one of my family members were brain dead, and I would not consider it murder.  I am a Christian.

Originally Posted by DarkAngel:

Ms. Wonka, I agree with you. However that did not really answer Semi's question. Do Christians believe that is murder or not? I am not a Christian and I see it as the humane thing to do. I too am curious how Christians can rectify this action with what the bible tells them. Are they picking and choosing like so many other things?

 

 

The Bible says that murder is a sin. I'll inject here that my Jewish atheist English prof taught that the word "kill" in King James' time meant murder and the word "slay" meant kill as we know it. You can kill or take a life without murdering.

 

This is a true story. Many years ago a man had terminal cancer and was in extreme pain. The doc told his wife after he died that she had kept him alive for approx. two weeks with her demand that he be given blood products to replace what he was loosing. Do you think the man wanted this? He was a friend of my parents and at that time my father told me under no circumstances should I ever make him suffer that way--let nature take its course. I did not have to make that decision since my father died quickly of a massive heart attack. I was very glad that God did not require me to decide--it would have been almost impossible...

Originally Posted by Contendah:

 

 

P.S. Don't worry about the Palin-imagined "Obama death panels."  They do not exist.

=============

 

"Death panels" do exist.  Every hospital has one. Has had one for decades. Perhaps centuries.  In  these meetings, doctors get together in a meeting room with the administrators and decide who should continue to receive life-saving treatments and who should not. Example: You are in a coma with no viable means of ever recovering.  You are not on "life support."  You are simply unconscious, in a comatose state, and might be there forever. If you recover, the chances are very good that you will have severe brain damage or that your quality of life will be very bad. You neglected to construct a "living will" before this happened.  Some doctor somewhere will have a meeting with his colleagues and will decide what to recommend to the family.  THIS is a death panel. It is reality.

Originally Posted by Frankly:
Originally Posted by Contendah:

 

 

P.S. Don't worry about the Palin-imagined "Obama death panels."  They do not exist.

=============

 

"Death panels" do exist.  Every hospital has one. Has had one for decades. Perhaps centuries.  In  these meetings, doctors get together in a meeting room with the administrators and decide who should continue to receive life-saving treatments and who should not. Example: You are in a coma with no viable means of ever recovering.  You are not on "life support."  You are simply unconscious, in a comatose state, and might be there forever. If you recover, the chances are very good that you will have severe brain damage or that your quality of life will be very bad. You neglected to construct a "living will" before this happened.  Some doctor somewhere will have a meeting with his colleagues and will decide what to recommend to the family.  THIS is a death panel. It is reality.

****

The current in-hospital arrangement you describe is not at all the same as the Palin-imagined "Obama death panel."  Palin would have had us believe that the ultimate decision to withdraw life support would reside in the "death panel."  In the arrangement you describe, the decision rests with the family.  Palin was not referring to some system currently in existence; she was describing her fantasy concept of a mandatory death-sentencing body created in the new health care legislation, something that is NOT there.  Your effort to bail out the nonsensical blithering of the Wacko of Wasilla falls flat, Frankly. 

Hi all,

 

Let me just say that in the situation which happened with my close Friend this week -- who had a masssive heart attack and was on life support -- the doctors did confer with the family a number of times.  Even when, within hours of her being admitted, the doctors told them that she was brain dead and they felt there was no way she could live -- they still left it up to the family to make the decision. 

 

Now, if this had gone on for weeks or months, I do not know what the doctors, the hospital, or the administrators would have done.  However, in this case, they allowed her to stay on life support for another five days, at the family's request.  There was no pressure to pull the plug.

 

Late Sunday night, after much prayer, the family was at peace -- feeling this was God's will and she was allowed to die a natural death without the life support.  This week we know she is with our Lord and we will have a memorial service to celebrate her life and her promotion to heaven.   And, since most who knew her were Christian believers -- we look forward to a grand Reunion one day.  And the Host will be Jesus Christ.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

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Last edited by Bill Gray

Being brain dead and terminally ill are two different things.

 

If someone is brain dead, then their heart, lungs, and other vital functions are only being manipulated by machines. Clinically and legally, they may be considered alive. However, I think we all know that once the brain is gone, the person is gone. I don't think it's murder to allow a body to finish dying.

 

A terminal illness is completely different. I've seen family members waste away before they passed, but they were still alert and aware. I don't think I could help a loved one take their own life if they were terminally ill. There is a line from a song, "Death is a gift only God can give". It's a horrible and agonizing situation to see someone slowly waste away. I just can't justify taking an innocent person's life morally or philosophically.

 

We all have a clock ticking, so in a sense we're all terminal. I might be dead later this evening or I might live to 90. If I'm told I have cancer and only six months to live, my goal is to get and give the most in that time. Last time I checked, I'm not a gallon of milk. I don't have an expiration date stamped on me that someone can read. I'll be here until I'm done and I'm not skipping out early. So I wouldn't ask for an assisted suicide.

I am a few days short of my 514th birthday. As with most other vampires of my acquaintance, I would never contemplate suicide.  We, too, have ethics.  In my professional BLOOD group (Blood Lovers Observant of Decorum), we commit to never traumatically exsanguinating a "donor," but limiting our intake to approximately one pint per feeding (same as the well-accepted "bloodmobile"), and holding firmly to a six-week interval between "visits" to the same "donor."

 

Since we are not constrained by any limitations such as the "threescore and ten" we do not concern ourselves with "living wills." Those arrangements are strictly for the short-lived.

 

Watch your necks!

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