A.S.F.M.H. (Assisted suicide)

[Storyboy]

A few years back I heard of a man who I will leave unnamed who suffered an illness that caused him great pain and was most likely fatal. The chances of him surviving became so slim that he turned to doctors in the hope they would help him end the pain. Suicide was illegal so they all said no. Weeks later he died of starvation as it was the only cause of death that would not lead to his family being fined for suicide. It was a painful way to go, his body literally began to eat its self away. Along with the pain his illness already provided it was a horrible story to hear.

That wasn't the first I had heard a story like that but it did plant a seed in m mind. I began to work on a book which was fictional but based around my idea of a facility based around helping people meet their ends. Not suicidal teenagers but people who truly needed a way out. The book became very popular and won many awards. I went onto Saturday Night Live and soon after was confronted by a wealthy philanthropist who sought to see the idea come true.

I had already listed many ways of how the system would not be abused in the book but if we had any hope of making it come true and legal we needed to get them on paper. So we did.

Requirements in order to apply for assisted permanent rest

(the following are in no particular order)

1. Provide legitimate cause for assistance

2. Wait a three month period (to ensure the situation is not sort term)

3. Schedule and attend appointments with our doctors at least twice a week during the three month period

4. Our staff will consult your doctors (and others) to ensure there is no further treatment for your condition.

5. Fill out legal documents which will be read by the board to be confirmed or declined.

6. Scheduled visits/phone calls with family

7. Attend get well classes that encourage other outlets or pursuits of life.


After what seemed like forever, it seemed like it would not be passed. When congress finally did discuss it, it was not passed. Eventually the attention of my books began to fade and I began to look for other ways of helping out. But then a letter came in. I read it with the man who sought to economically provide for the foundation and we celebrated it passing. What had happened was a group of doctors and therapist found the idea beneficial and not just a business in killing people. They started a petition that with the help of the internet had over a million signatures. I jumped in joy over the success.

Then one night as we were going over the blueprints of the first facility it began to set in. This was going to be real. A place where people could die. Yes I wanted to help people that had no other way but what of those that did? What if there was another way but this place kept them from searching for it? I nearly canceled the whole thing but he talked me down. The wealthy man I mean. He reminded me that we had made steps to ensure that if there was another way, our patients would have plenty of time, resources, and staff to ensure that they found it. The precautions were set, if the dream were to become true I just needed to give the yes. I did.

The RP

Okay so this is completely out of the ordinary of what I usually do, but I thought I'd do something more real even if it is perhaps too different to be accepted by society. So here's how this plays out...

1) You have your character, which can be a patient, doctor/therapist, member of the board, or otherwise very closely related to the facility which is where 90% of the rp should take place. Now if you want to do a journalist or something I may have one spot but you would have to focus on being in the facility.

2) The A.S.F.M.H. (assisted suicide foundation of mental health) is where everything takes place. Maybe a few moments at home or some otherwise important scene in their life but mostly in the facility.

3) Doctors think of a 10 hour shift and how much can happen in it. Patients, you could visit more than twice a week but make up a legitimate reason to do so. The facility is there to hep but there are other patients they need to be there for.

4) Add drama. This is not a completely accepted idea by society, think of abortions. It's about 50/50 some people say yes for either it's a person's right or they think if people need a way out it should be there. Others may say no it's wrong and it seems like a business in taking lives.

5) Interact with other characters (it fun) but you can also make npc's. If you're a doctor have more than just player patients, if your a patient have a family and set of friends.

6) have fun it's a dark story but still could be fun

any questions?

[kingkonrad]

Sorry, but this is something that I see as pretty horrible to RP. You have no developed idea how horrific assisted suicide/euthanasia is to watch, experience, and do. People TRAVEL abroad to get themselves killed, and do you know why they do it? Because their disease is so crippling, so horrible, that they want to die, as you already know- but because they can die there, in peace without their entire lives being so shit, and so horrid to experience that there's nothing left to it. Then there's the human impact. There are court cases, doctors, families, who have been branched in (in the UK)- and most governments, the UK, Ireland, France, and the US included, are so against this practice, that they do brand it manslaughter, only occasionally agreeing to the practice and acquitting the families who helped. Families are torn apart in this practice however, and people are changed by simply practicing and helping it out with killing people. I understand- you want to make this definitely a non-real situation, and I see your point. But I beg, just don't cross that line- you know this is dark, but this is one that I would say is too far for the limits of RP to handle. I know some of my RP's are military, and involve death on a common-place value- but this is because I don't exactly relate it sharply to reality, I don't. That is close, and in fairness, you can argue this is a conflicting point in my logic. But what you're trying to do here is directly something that goes on in real life, with lives lost because of it- and I do not like the idea one bit that you simply want to make the RP one which simply has a purpose to entertain (doesn't all RP?) about the sanctity of life, and taking it away.

So people can travel to the Netherlands, or Switzerland, to die. You say that there's a remote chance of there being a "facility" where people have to reconsider before death in the US? No way, no actual way. If you wanted to make this realistic, the reality is this- the only thing between a person who wants to die and death in these two countries in particular, is a select few charities (who are truly saints in what they do to help improve their poor qualities of life), relatives, and themselves- along with a lot of forms. They are actively a part of choosing this fate- and let's be honest, this isn't exactly RP material. I understand- it is a real-life topic, but this is one that is horrific- as it is one that is more real than you would ever believe, and it will always be one that isn't something you can RP with an active interest. Leave this be- and believe me when I say all of this. I have studied Euthanasia, and even though I'm a Catholic (say what you want about bias then, go on), you can't argue with the fact that it's not moral. Sure, even I think some people in intense pain for extended periods of time should have the right to choose to die (that's only fair, right?). But to RP that entire experience? That's not right, in no circumstance. No way, not at all.

Let me tell you this- when you suffer from severe multiple sclerosis, paralysis below the neck/ribs, is your first thought that you must die? No, of course not. The emotion is much deeper- and interestingly enough, I can't see why you'd like to look into that. Anyway, it takes days, weeks, maybe years to realize that death is the only way out- and that is so sad, that it really shakes me to the core. It's an entire topic that has shook people for thousands of years, and right now, if you want to make it into an environment where people can write a "fun" sort of story inside of the darkness that it intails, that can't go.

So in short- I would recommend you don't do this, before you get a lot of people pissed. Believe me- it matters a lot to me, and I won't be taking a part in it. But for yourself, I would heavily recommend you look into people like Terry Pratchett, and Daniel James. Two amazing people, who are considering assisted suicide (Pratchett), or committed it (James). Then you'll see what I mean- two incredible people, in their respective fields- Terry Pratchett a successful and talented author, is thinking about going- and Daniel James, a rugby player, who already left such a massive implication in his wake that his story has branched out to many. It's a controversy that you cannot simply RP to achieve a profit of entertainment- and even though you might keep it dark, there is only so long you can really get into the mindsets of these people, without really thinking about the implications of what death in itself is. Sorry Storyboy, but this has really touched me in the heart- and I know that even though you won't give a shit, I am begging now. Just don't cross the line, and continue onwards.

[Storyboy]

I definitely should not have said fun...sorry, just meant good story but yeah when I started writing it down I started to think, umm maybe I shouldn't and I won't I'm sorry. I'll let you rea this and lock it up