Is it cruel to extinguish a person who self-immolates? If they live they will have tremendous pain and suffering.

https://sh.itjust.works/post/18106814

Is it cruel to extinguish a person who self-immolates? If they live they will have tremendous pain and suffering. - sh.itjust.works

I read that the police were extinguishing the guy who set himself on fire yesterday only two minutes after it began. Obviously, the guy did not want to live. Putting out the fire so quickly does not ease his suffering and would only increase it if he were to live. As long as nothing else is at risk of catching fire perhaps it would be best to stay away. What do you think?

police were extinguishing the guy

Obviously, the guy did not want to live.

Human life is to be protected, rescued etc. in all cases.

We need to stay absolutely clear with that, because everything else creates terrible moral problems, for you and all the people around.

And if you want to start thinking such thoughts right there in a situation, it costs way too much valuable time.

Exceptions need to have very clear and very strict rules and the responsible persons (doctors for example) need to be educated properly.

Human life is to be protected, rescued etc. in all cases.

We need to stay absolutely clear with that, because everything else creates terrible moral problems, for you and all the people around.

lol. What a perfectly black and white world you live in. Your harsh reality causes a lot of terrible moral problems too. Like assisted suicide for people who are terminally ill. You would insist they live in excruciating pain, unable to communicate, or otherwise live life without extensive life support; simply because …. Why again?

We should have a right to suicide (though maybe not in a manner that puts others at risk.)

I think that’s where this commenter was leaning, though, with their final comment. Assisted suicide should absolutely be available to those suffering terminal illnesses and the like. But, the rules surrounding it must be very clear and anyone assisting suicide under those rules must be very well educated.

In the absence of assisted suicide rules, or where existing ones don’t apply to a specific case, then human life should be protected as a default setting.

Naw. Why should I be bound by your religious views?

It’s either my life and I have the right to end it, or not. If I have the right to end it, I should be allowed to get competent help to do so.

I agree that one should not suicide, but, if I knew that I would be falsely imprisoned just because I mentioned it to my doctor (“for my benefit”) then I can never actually get real, meaningful help away from it.

Further, now, how do you define pain? Physical pain? Emotional pain?

Jesus, you couldn’t possibly have misinterpreted my reply more than you just have:

  • No religious view was expressed - I’ve been a staunch atheist for nearly 40 years, since I was old enough to tell my mum I didn’t believe in any of it.
  • I never said people shouldn’t suicide - I’m very much a supporter of assisted suicide. I’m saying that, if the rules around assisted suicide don’t apply, then the default action for people sworn to protect human life should be to stop suicides. You know - the point of this entire post.
  • Who said anything about pain? No need to put words in my mouth.