Euthanasia Coaster...

[Jenna]

“Euthanasia Coaster” is a hypothetical euthanasia machine in the form of a roller coaster engineered to humanely – with elegance and euphoria – take the life of a human being.

http://di.research.rca.ac.uk/content/home#

I understand that this is a technical exercise in art-meets-engineering-meets-shock-story-publicity. Still, I cannot help but think that there are an increasing number of folk, including many young people that I have spoken to, that regard life as disposable.

Technical exercise aside, what would you think of the Euthanasia Coaster were it to be realised?

Thank you.

 

[seasoned]

Dieing is easy, it's the living that is hard.

I was home the other day and watched on HBO this program about “How to Die in Oregon,” which deals with physician-assisted suicide". It hit me hard watching these people hurting very badly and terminally Ill. Not wanting to go through the dieing process, this is what they decided to do.


The only way I could ever know what I personally would do, is to be presented with this decision in my life. I, have had friends die, and have watched them dwindle away from life with the peace that surpasses understanding, and it was right for them and their loved ones. Myself, not wanted to burden anyone, I feel that this option is right for some, but for me, I will take the stand to "wait and see".

 

[Dirty Dog]

I've been in EMS since in one form or another since 1979. I've seen lots of ways to live. And lots of ways to die.
For myself, speaking both as one who has seen what people are put through to hold off death and as one who has a cancer that will eventually kill me, I'm alllll about QUALITY of life, not quantity.

When my quality of life reaches a certain point, I'll have a party, tell my family and friends that I love them, and go to sleep.
Much as I enjoy rollcoasters, though, I'll pass on this method.

 

[Jenna]

I, have had friends die, and have watched them dwindle away from life with the peace that surpasses understanding, and it was right for them and their loved ones.

Thank you for your post Wes. Can I ask please under what circumstances Wes do you think it is "right" to take one's own life?

For myself, speaking both as one who has seen what people are put through to hold off death and as one who has a cancer that will eventually kill me,

Thank you for your post DD. Can I ask please under these circumstances you have outlined, why would you rather end your own life than stick it out?

 

[Carol]

I read about that some time ago -- actually the thought of the coaster came to mind when I saw Bill Mattocks' post about the roller coaster where crash test dummies returned missing their arms and legs.

The engineering student who designed it has an eye for the shocking, to be sure. However, my understanding is that he also designed it to prompt debate about wholesale life extension -- life without quality of life, if you will. Personally I strongly support Dirty Dog's description of a death with dignity -- going to sleep when the time comes (hopefully by means of old age ) However, I am not sure I will have that option when the time comes, it is closed to most folks.

As far as young people wanting to take their lives...I think mental illness would be taken more seriously and with less stigma if these young people were seen as dying from a mental illness instead of dying of a mechanical act.

 

[ETinCYQX]

I read about that some time ago -- actually the thought came to mind when I saw Bill Mattocks' post about the roller coaster where crash test dummies returned missing their arms and legs.

The engineering student who designed it has an eye for the shocking, to be sure. However, my understanding is that he also designed it to prompt debate about wholesale life extension -- life without quality of life, if you will.

As far as young people wanting to take their lives...I think mental illness would be taken more seriously and with less stigma if these young people were seen as dying from a mental illness instead of dying of a mechanical act.

Absolutely. That is what "suicide" for healthy young people really is, in my opinion, dying from a disease.

 

[Jenna]

As far as young people wanting to take their lives...I think mental illness would be taken more seriously and with less stigma if these young people were seen as dying from a mental illness instead of dying of a mechanical act.

Thank you for your post Carol. Can I ask upon whom do you think the stigma is placed? And by whom is it placed there?

 

[Cryozombie]

I think it reminds me of the Suicide Booth from Futurama.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Thank you for your post DD. Can I ask please under these circumstances you have outlined, why would you rather end your own life than stick it out?

Why? As I said, I'm a believer in quality of life. Sure, we can keep people alive, and delay the inevitable, but at what cost? I'm not talking just financial (although that is HUGE), but emotional and physical.

In my case, I have an incurable (but fortunately slow growing) cancer. I've had surgery that removed as much of it as possible (18" of gut, 5 tumors, mets on the bladder and peritoneum, plus all the lypmh nodes that could be removed). There are two tumors that cannot be removed. Typical progression is that it will eventually spread to my liver, at which time I'll have additional procedures to remove (or chemically destroy) the affected areas of the liver. There's about a 40% chance that it will get to my heart, and I'll need to have valve replacement surgery to treat the right sided heart failure. There's about a 30% chance that it will spread to my bones, which is incredibly painful. Eventually, I'll run out of liver. Liver failure is a fairly slow, and VERY miserable way to die.

Lying in a bed, stoned on narcotics, unable to care for myself, is not living as far as I am concerned. I will not do it. I will not subject my family to it.

At this point, other than knowing I've got limited time and such fun things as periodic bouts of diarrhea, the cancer doesn't really affect my life. I continue to work, continue to train, and continue to do the things I enjoy. My kids are raised. My wife and I are spending my retirement savings now, traveling to dive destinations and seeing the places we planned to see after retirement. We're enjoying life.

When it's no longer possible to be productive and enjoy life, then it's done. Dragging out the inevitable while draining my families resources serves no purpose. So I'll check out, with a minimum of fuss and pain.

 

[ballen0351]

I dont think I could ever give up. No matter how bad it gets. Even in the situation DD has described I just think I would fight it out until Im gone. I will refuse to allow it to beat me until it eventually does. Ive see the benefit of going out on my own terms but its not up to me in my opinion. On the reverse I wouldnt allow needless medical treatments to try to extend my life

 

[Jenna]

Why? As I said, I'm a believer in quality of life. Sure, we can keep people alive, and delay the inevitable, but at what cost? I'm not talking just financial (although that is HUGE), but emotional and physical.

In my case, I have an incurable (but fortunately slow growing) cancer. I've had surgery that removed as much of it as possible (18" of gut, 5 tumors, mets on the bladder and peritoneum, plus all the lypmh nodes that could be removed). There are two tumors that cannot be removed. Typical progression is that it will eventually spread to my liver, at which time I'll have additional procedures to remove (or chemically destroy) the affected areas of the liver. There's about a 40% chance that it will get to my heart, and I'll need to have valve replacement surgery to treat the right sided heart failure. There's about a 30% chance that it will spread to my bones, which is incredibly painful. Eventually, I'll run out of liver. Liver failure is a fairly slow, and VERY miserable way to die.

Lying in a bed, stoned on narcotics, unable to care for myself, is not living as far as I am concerned. I will not do it. I will not subject my family to it.

At this point, other than knowing I've got limited time and such fun things as periodic bouts of diarrhea, the cancer doesn't really affect my life. I continue to work, continue to train, and continue to do the things I enjoy. My kids are raised. My wife and I are spending my retirement savings now, traveling to dive destinations and seeing the places we planned to see after retirement. We're enjoying life.

When it's no longer possible to be productive and enjoy life, then it's done. Dragging out the inevitable while draining my families resources serves no purpose. So I'll check out, with a minimum of fuss and pain.

Though it is for nobody to decide your last day except you, still I am sad that the implication here of what you are saying is that at some point you will have no hope remaining.

While I can 100% understand your view, I believe there is always hope.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Though it is for nobody to decide your last day except you, still I am sad that the implication here of what you are saying is that at some point you will have no hope remaining.

While I can 100% understand your view, I believe there is always hope.

Sure I have hope. I hope to live a productive and enjoyable life. And when it's over, I hope not to be a burden as I slowly and painfully dwindle away.

The idea that there's going to be some last minute miracle that will clear out the cancer and regenerate the organ damage is quaint, but not realistic. Even if there were some breakthrough treatment (really unlikely, since limited research funds are reasonably spent on cancers that affect millions, not one in a million), it wouldn't regenerate my liver, or repair my heart.

If you're suggesting some sort of divine intervention, you're talking to the wrong person.

I'm a realist. Accept the reality of your situation and make the best you can of it. And when it's over, accept that too.

 

[Jenna]

Sure I have hope. I hope to live a productive and enjoyable life. And when it's over, I hope not to be a burden as I slowly and painfully dwindle away.

The idea that there's going to be some last minute miracle that will clear out the cancer and regenerate the organ damage is quaint, but not realistic. Even if there were some breakthrough treatment (really unlikely, since limited research funds are reasonably spent on cancers that affect millions, not one in a million), it wouldn't regenerate my liver, or repair my heart.

If you're suggesting some sort of divine intervention, you're talking to the wrong person.

I'm a realist. Accept the reality of your situation and make the best you can of it. And when it's over, accept that too.

I would not condescend to suggest miracles nor blinding rays from above if that is not your thing. Nor can I apply my experience to your situation as experience is unique and not universal. You are saying it is ok to end yourself with dignity when you know you are beat. I understand this. I hear that equanimity in your tone many times. It could be taken for the kind of glibness demonstrated by the creator of this coaster project however I know it is nothing of the kind. I hear the sound of figurative and literal exhaustion of possibilities and all the anger that leads to the calm acceptance that you have nobly demonstrated. There is nothing I can say or would deign to say to counter as that would be presumptuous.

I would only add that in my experience, I will maintain there are always alternative possibilities and there is always hope when you know this to be true. Of course the converse is also true. As they say, do what you always do and get what you always got.

Thank you for your courtesy and generosity in sharing.

 

[CanuckMA]

As I look at my mother slowing wasting away, I can understand the wish for some for of euthanasia. My mother survived the horror of the camps in WWII. She is now in her early 90s, looking very much like she did emerging from the camps. While not on constant life support, she needs assistance with every single need, has a stomach tube because there are days when she can't eat, she sleeps over 20 hours a day, and when awake, does not have all her faculties. She is merely existing, not living. At some point, we need to seriously ask what is quality of life.

 

[ballen0351]

As I look at my mother slowing wasting away, I can understand the wish for some for of euthanasia. My mother survived the horror of the camps in WWII. She is now in her early 90s, looking very much like she did emerging from the camps. While not on constant life support, she needs assistance with every single need, has a stomach tube because there are days when she can't eat, she sleeps over 20 hours a day, and when awake, does not have all her faculties. She is merely existing, not living. At some point, we need to seriously ask what is quality of life.

Do they allow Doctor assisted Suicides in Canada?

 

[crushing]

My first thought regarding the coaster was: "It won't fit on my boat."

Now I will explain and someone else will get rich this idea. Back when Dr. Kevorkian was making headlines and there was a discussion about whether or not to persue a casino in my area I came up with what I thought was a wonderful idea. I live in a kind of depressed area, not nearly as bad as others, but much of the manufacturing has been lost, and I was trying to think of something to draw people and some of their money to my community from around the country and what I ended up with is a floating casino, brothel and assisted suicide vessel. Please know that suicide (or sex and gambling for that matter) isn't a requirement when booking a visit. It would be nice to have some repeat business. But, if you want to go, go out having fun with a party atmosphere. Why not?

 

[granfire]

I suppose if you took it into international waters...

I think the Romans had a healthier relationship with death and parties...

 

[Buka]

It's my life, I try to live the way I want. Can't see changing tactics for death.

And, crushing, sign me up, brother!

 

[CanuckMA]

Do they allow Doctor assisted Suicides in Canada?

No, they do not.

 

[Jenna]

As I look at my mother slowing wasting away, I can understand the wish for some for of euthanasia. My mother survived the horror of the camps in WWII. She is now in her early 90s, looking very much like she did emerging from the camps. While not on constant life support, she needs assistance with every single need, has a stomach tube because there are days when she can't eat, she sleeps over 20 hours a day, and when awake, does not have all her faculties. She is merely existing, not living. At some point, we need to seriously ask what is quality of life.

This is such a difficult situation for you to be in. I had to put my father in private nursing home as I could not look after him as he needed. And in matters of quality of life as you rightly say then I wondered when I considered his position after his stroke, am I judging quality based not on preciousness and but instead on something like a car that has served its purpose and is no longer financially viable and is costing me more in my time to affect repairs and in buying parts and is damaging the environment for everyone?

Against what standard do we measure quality of life? Does that standard not include preciousness to us? Value to us? In my father's situation he did lose his faculties over a protracted period and I ask myself am I growing tired of trying to make the effort to connect with him? I know there is value inside that shell of his former self and but I am weary from trying to break in.

Both you and I would imagine your mother as a concerned parent have similar views on the long term implications of degraded quality. I think there is no simple cutoff point as there would be with a car or washing machine and there is no simple answer. I hope you come to a stage where you can see your rainbow beyond these storms.

I feel upset at having thought in terms of expedients rather in terms of quality. I would have said to myself, what quality is there in a daisy against my big important life? THere is such a small amount of quality in the grander scale, it is hardly worth considering. And but still there is quality in everything I think no matter how small - it is the quality of the quality that is perhaps important (to borrow that phrase).

I want to thank you sincerely for sharing your experience.