The case was brought by a 53-year old man with serious bipolar affective disorder who asked the tribunal to allow him to acquire a lethal dose of pentobarbital without a doctor's prescription.
The tribunal ruled against his request, confirming the need for a thorough medical assessment of the patient's condition.
Whether any Swiss physician would be prepared to prescribe a lethal dose of pentobarbital to a mentally ill person remains unclear. The country's national ethics commission could not be reached for comment late on Friday.
So, this ruling doesn't actually allow mentally ill people access to assisted suicide; but it opens up the possibility for later discussion.
Switzerland already allows physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients under certain circumstances. The Federal Tribunal's decision puts mental illnesses on the same level as physical ones.
Apparently, however, a mental illness deemed to be as severe as a terminal physical illness might open the door to such assisted suicide. Hm..
This could be dangerous to Aspies with depression if it were allowed; but I doubt that AS is considered severe enough. Autism, though... especially with its reputation... Yeah.
Best that we all campaign for human rights for the physically and mentally handicapped in general; that is a more widely supported goal than simply autism rights.
There are a lot of parents who seem to think that Aspies must be miserable because they don't interact socially the same way as others. Everyone agrees that Asperger's is "incurable" - which is a criteria set by the Swiss court.
I think you are reading less into it than it merits.
"Incurable and severe"... Asperger's isn't severe at all.
The scary part about this is that someone who is suicidal due to mental illness often regrets attempted suicide later following treatment. I have often said that if I was ever in a suicidal state and anybody encouraged me into it that after recovery I would seek to have them prosecuted and punished to the maximum extent allowed under law.
I fully support euthanasia for the truly terminal ill for someone of sound mind (depression in such cases can be a very rational response) where no other options are available - forcing someone to suffer and die slowly strips them of all dignity. However, someone who has a mental illness is not becoming suicidal for rational reasons - life can go on for them with help. What must never be condoned is "euthanasia" of people against their will or taking advantage of someone's mental state to euthanise them. This is murder by any reasonable definition and legally could be considered a violation of the UN declaration of human rights. If the swedish government do allow euthanisation of mentally ill people, their surviving relatives may have good cause to present their case to the UN or the EU.
If the swedish government do allow euthanisation of mentally ill people, their surviving relatives may have good cause to present their case to the UN or the EU.
Swiss, not Swedish.
"What must never be condoned is... taking advantage of someone's mental state to euthanise them. "
Hear! Hear!
They are, in effect, creating the preposterous and dangerous category of "terminal mental illness" -- which makes no sense at all, and even if it were realistic, such a person would be, by definition, unable to rationally choose euthenasia.
Gareth - I liked your response.
It is the responsibility of the medical profession to assist and help the mentally ill people - not to provide a prescription for death.
I agree - forcing someone who is dying to suffer is unacceptable - but with appropriate palliative care - dignity can be maintained without a need to resort to euthanisia.
Augh, this is sad. Very, very, very sad.
However, someone who has a mental illness is not becoming suicidal for rational reasons
It's not quite as simple as that
While it is true that suicidal thoughts/urges in people with mental illnesses can be irrational; they can be the caused by the 'illness' itself. However, for many people the desire to end one's life isn't caused by the illness, but is a rational response to the realities of living with mental illness (along with other illnesses/disabilities): the never ending cycle of (partial) recovery and serious remission; the struggle to perform basic tasks; the sacrifices that have to be made to stay well; the relentless struggle to get to sleep each and every night; the realities of being in a psychiatric unit, and of being denied access to in-patient services when one desperately needs them (to survive and to maintain one's dignity); having to fight not only to have access to services, but also to protect one's liberties; the experiences of forced medication (including forced injection and, for some, forced electro-shock therapy) and, for some, forced feeding; the experience of being sectioned, being brainwashed, being destroyed, of having one's spirit broken; the constant rejection, ostracisation, betrayal and loss that results from other's ignorance of psychiatric problems, and of the widely felt need to demonstrate that one is of 'sounder mind' than others; the sheer hurt and humiliation of it all.
Don't get me wrong; i'm not advocating that indviduals who have this struggle should have access to euthanasia - I consider my struggle as my Task, my route to God (though that's not to say that in 10/20 years time, if my situation has yet to change, that I will maintain my resolve). But to argue that us mentals aren't able to 'rationally' contemplate suicide is merely to demonstrate one's ignorance of the subject, not to contribute meaningfully to the discussion.
Benny - I feel Gareth did contribute in a meaningful way to this thread. Maybe there have been a little misunderstanding on my part and Gareth's but because of our words - you have responded and extended my knowledge. I value your response - you helped me to learn. thankyou
One could = this to the issue of "donating" organs to the "sick and needy" that needs to get a transplant of a heart or any other "body tissue", laying in a ward... In Sweden one can get a "donor card" stating that the person that has it are a donor. Personally I am not a donor of organs or whatever because I'm not willing to admit that I'm mortal... I've thought about donating corneas (the eyes?), but it has stayed with me as thoughts, only...
I think I'll donate my organs... it's not like I'LL need them anymore...
Ummm... what does organ donations have to do with the discussion, again?