What is Reddit's opinion of How to Die in Oregon?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Yes - I just did a paper on this recently!

We have a really hard time separating law from traditional Christian hegemonic values (i.e., that suicide is a sin). In medicine, the ultimate rule is to "do no harm", but what if existing is undignified, painful, and causes suffering? This is a great reason to justify a humane death. The right to live and right to die according to one's wishes is a staple of modern healthcare - that's why we have advance directives and choices in our care. To state that dying should only be "natural" devalues modern medicine too - many people would die if it wasn't for medical interventions, but if medical interventions are not sufficient, they should be granted their wish.

A great movie discussing real stories re: Death with Dignity. How to Die in Oregon.

I am a huge advocate for death with dignity Not sure if anyone has commented but there's an incredible movie from 2011 called How to Die in Oregon

If you watch it, have tissues on stand by.

What's annoying for me is how limited the scope is and how clinical the bill is being handled. I wish it was more liberal and involved humans in the process such as handlers or nurses who are required to do checkins and are assigned with individuals.

I watched a documentary many years ago called "How To Die in Oregon" which covers assisted dying. It follows a few people and their journey through their terminal illness, the ups and downs and the decision making these individuals have.

The details are foggy but I've looked up how it works.

A person must be 6 months terminal, mentally sound (and of legal age obviously).

They have to request the medication twice, with 15 days in between as a cool off period. Think of a time in your life you've wanted to buy something expensive, let it sit with your for two weeks. Often you don't want it anymore, but when you still want to buy it you know for certain it's the right thing to buy. Same deal mentally here.

You need a paper request (written, basically) witnessed by two individuals. And they must be able to take the medication themselves - it can not be administered. Then once you have a prescription, you simply go and pick up your pills from the pharmacy and that's that.

From the documentary they always had a support like person (may have been a doctor or nurse, or something else completely - I forget) who would go through their rights, talk to them about the decision making, check in on them frequently.

But the biggest key from the documentary was that the people themselves held the medication and they could take it whenever they wished. They had control to take it, and they also had control to not take it. Some locked it in a safe, others kept it at their bedside table.

Some felt pressure when their conditions become very bad, asking themselves if 'now' was the right time? One lady decided not to take it and ended up living through a down and got to spend more time with her family. They booked multiple "last holidays" and she changed her mind afterwards, all within her power.

People take the medication when they are surrounded by their loved ones, not unlike how we'd say goodbye to our own pets. They crush the tablet and dissolve it in water, drink, then drift off peacefully surrounded by people who love them, but more importantly people they love.

I'd highly recommend renting the documentary down and watching it for those who have voted for, against, or are undecided. It's touching, you'll cry, but it's very hopeful. I watched it back in 2012 and it cemented my opinion on the topic instantly. Anything else doesn't make sense to me after this documentary helped me live through it and understand the real issues and how I feel about them.