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Comment by O__________O | Hacker News Reader

Percentage of people that plan to kill themselves, but simply fail to do so because something minor happens to interfere is not small; as in they do not end up committing suicide and never try again.

If someone really wants to kill themselves, no reason to make it easy, it should by definition be hard to do, since there is no undoing it.

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I have incurable cancer and I'd really like to die on my own terms. Why should that be hard? Today it is still way too hard in most of the world (including in countries that have MAID). Also, it's not just about it being "hard". Sure I could blow my brains out, but I'd like to have the option to die with my loved ones by my side without traumatizing them (or getting them in potential legal problems).

Obviously, significant percentage of people if they were in your situation would likely relate to your wishes to be in control, it’s completely reasonable. Also, reasonable that prior to you being in the situation that it’s likely that the topic was not pressing for you.

Most people don’t want to think about intentionally dying, it’s unpleasant, frequently results in emotionally sensitive exchanges, etc — so they simply avoid the topic.

Basically, being terminally ill is separate topic from the comment you replied too, which relates to legalized assisted suicide for non-terminally ill people; realize OP comment potentially covered it, but at least for me, that was not an issue.

Not the best at exchanges like this, but sincerely hope you are able to find the resolution you seek.

I'm not considered terminally ill yet by most "official" definitions (you have to have months to live). I'm lucky to have a cancer that so far response to treatment to slow it down substantially. This is relevant to the discussion because it means I'm more or less in the same position as the non-terminally ill people you are talking about. In my locale there are euthanasia laws, but they require that I suffer unbearably before euthanasia is allowed. I do not like this prospect one bit. I'd much rather die before reaching that phase. So the reality is that people's discomfort with death will potentially cause me great suffering. This makes this discussion very personal to me. Even though it might seem to you my situation is substantially different.

Thanks for clarifying, unlikely I am able to say anything that would be of use, but it’s obvious you’re actively trying to find solution that works for you. Again, thank you!

How does an old man in a wheelchair kill himself? Why should it be so hard for him? What if he fails? He gets to live even longer in more anguish and humiliation?

90% of suicide survivors do not attempt again.

Why is that?

Research shows that those who attempt suicide once statistically speaking have distinct risk factors and characteristics which are notably different than those who attempt again; among other notable differences, their last attempts statistically speaking are more likely to be lethal. Simply put, they’re not comparable.

Example of related research:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.6051...

Not going to give advice on committing suicide, understand your point, and as it relates to myself, I am fine dealing with the situation regardless of what happens. Study the topic since I was a child, understand it well, and if you believe such rights are needed, then it’s up to you to make them real before they are needed. Posting anonymously online will have little to no impact.

If someone wants to kill themselves and is physically able I very much doubt that going through the legal process would be the easy way out.

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