> Is suffering a valid reason to end your own life?
Yes.
> How much suffering is the threshold where suicide is "medically necessary"?
When I say so.
> How can it be quantified, what are the units?
1 unit of my will to do so.
> Does mental anguish count, or only physical suffering?
Anything I feel to be.
> What about existential suffering?
This is everyone's choice.
> This isn't a treatment, and it's certainly not compassionate
Have you had anyone close to you trying to end their life and you were helpless because someone else said no?
If you did and still think that people should suffer no matter what you should seriously rethink this.
If you did not then get to a palliative ward in a hospital and discuss with people.
Seriously - all these discussions from people who are either into religion or some books and did not experience the problem themselves is exasperating.
> If you did not then get to a palliative ward in a hospital and discuss with people.
People think this is such a winning argument.
I've been in them. I've worked in EMS. There's not been a single patient that I've encountered where I thought for a second, "I wish I could give them the option to end their life."
> Seriously - all these discussions from people who are either into religion or some books and did not experience the problem themselves is exasperating.
I'd argue it's your side of the debate which could use some more reading...
No - this comes from people who have been there, have discussed with the patients and made up their mind.
> I've been in them. I've worked in EMS. There's not been a single patient that I've encountered where I thought for a second, "I wish I could give them the option to end their life."
Not sure where this was (and EMS is emergency services, right? Not really a palliative dept) - I was a volunteer in palliative care hospitals (with my dog) and spent hours discussing with people who were very sick.
many just wished for a quick end because there was simply nothing but pain for them. It was not loneliness or something - just the fact that they were not in control anymore.
They wanted to have a choice.
> I'd argue it's your side of the debate which could use some more reading...
This is probably one reason - some read, some actually go and see.
Yes.
> How much suffering is the threshold where suicide is "medically necessary"?
When I say so.
> How can it be quantified, what are the units?
1 unit of my will to do so.
> Does mental anguish count, or only physical suffering?
Anything I feel to be.
> What about existential suffering?
This is everyone's choice.
> This isn't a treatment, and it's certainly not compassionate
Have you had anyone close to you trying to end their life and you were helpless because someone else said no?
If you did and still think that people should suffer no matter what you should seriously rethink this.
If you did not then get to a palliative ward in a hospital and discuss with people.
Seriously - all these discussions from people who are either into religion or some books and did not experience the problem themselves is exasperating.