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Assisted Suicide - seeing as it's in the news again
I'm very much in the pro camp when it comes to assisted suicide. As I'm aware that one of the arguments against assisted suicide is that people may be forced/coerced into this against their wishes, I tend to post about once a year stating my views clearly so that my family/friends have my views on public record at a time when I'm clearly of sound mind and under no pressure from anyone.
I enjoy life. I have a fair number of aches and pains, but nothing that would make me want to stop living. To the best of my knowledge, I have no serious illnesses. I look forward to a long life.
However, should I later in life acquire an incurable illness that either left me in continual untreatable pain or totally unable to move, then I would rather be dead. If I suffer mental deterioration to the point where I can no longer recognise my family members, then my quality of life will have gone and I would rather be dead.
I hope the law will develop to a point where my family would not be prosecuted if they carry out my wishes in a situation where I am not able to carry them out myself.
I enjoy life. I have a fair number of aches and pains, but nothing that would make me want to stop living. To the best of my knowledge, I have no serious illnesses. I look forward to a long life.
However, should I later in life acquire an incurable illness that either left me in continual untreatable pain or totally unable to move, then I would rather be dead. If I suffer mental deterioration to the point where I can no longer recognise my family members, then my quality of life will have gone and I would rather be dead.
I hope the law will develop to a point where my family would not be prosecuted if they carry out my wishes in a situation where I am not able to carry them out myself.
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Where we may run into difficulties is if it all happens after both of them are dead and my only living relatives are my nephews, both of whom have been raised Catholic.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13762313 (number 8)
ps. do you prefer us to comment over on LJ instead of here?
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It's a bit confusing when you appear as baildon.research - I didn't realise it was Dave Spencer until I clicked on the name. (thunderbird thought you might be a scam) I nearly deleted the post on general principles...
LJ or here is fine, now I know what name to recognise.
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What are her wishes? I think you need to ask while she is still capable of expressing her desires.
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Pip Pip!
-D.
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It also reminds me to go search around and find my "health power of attorney" and make sure that it is up to date and enforceable. At least that little piece of paper allows my family to say no to heroic measures like stomach tubes.
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Given that anyone can go to an EU country, pass a medical evaluation and be assisted, it seems cruel not to allow it here. There was an piece about one person who drove up to Scotland and attempted suicide only to be rescued by a rambler. Think of the trauma for that passer-by. The bloke, with a wasting disease, went on to be assisted in Switzerland. A point to make it that these tourists abroad kill themselves early! They are afraid that their condition will prevent themselves from traveling condemning them to endless medical intervention in this country. Our law is therefore reducing their lives.
The Oregon system here.
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Feel free to plug. Not a problem, especially if you're discussing it there.
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Such a system, of course, needs adequate safeguards, it needs a clearly and consciously expressed desire in order to avoid situations that objectors raise like "well Auntie Mabel has had a good innings, but we could do with her inheritance, so let's get her to sign the papers even if she's a bit confused..." etc.
The problem is that many objections are raised on tacit religious grounds "it's God's decision when you die, not yours", although it seems that many objectors don't or won't admit that which annoys me because if *their* religion won't let them do this, fine, that's their choice, but if *I* hold different beliefs, why should I be required to obey their tenets?
I hope that the law in this country will be changed, but I don't see it happening for a long while yet :-(
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Mind you, I don't think there's anything hypocritical in accepting (certain) extensions of life (I shall have a living will, because there are limits, ugh) while at the same time being VERY, very cautious about actions which could lead to something irreversible, such as death. Life is precious and fragile, even if one does accept an individual's right to decide when he or she will die.
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I wonder if the objections to assisted dying will fade over time in a similar manner.
I think we're still getting used to the idea that we now have the ability to artificially extend life beyond the point where quality of life ceases.
I think it would be helpful if we develop a culture where everyone expresses their wishes early on - whether those wishes are to die when specific circumstances are reached ,or to be kept alive as long as is humanly possible.
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The fact that God hath also enabled people to create painkillers doesn't seem to have occurred to them...!
There again, I long ago stopped expecting sense from those who have deeply held religious beliefs because their "faith" trumps any logic.
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"Last night, courtesy of the BBC, we could watch a man being killed – voluntarily. The much-heralded climax of the documentary Choosing to Die was of 71-year-old Peter Smedley being administered a lethal dose of Nembutal helped down with a praline chocolate (this was in Switzerland, after all). In his comments to accompany Smedley's death, the presenter, Sir Terry Pratchett, declared: "This has been a happy event.""
I have to say that that is a contemptible article. It starts off with a blatant lie, Peter Smedley was *NOT* "Killed* he *CHOSE* to take the drugs to end his life, he was given *EVERY* chance to change his mind, but instead he and he alone made the choice to end his life.
Terry Pratchett has repeatedly stated that any such system *must* include adequate safeguards to ensure that anyone choosing to end their life in this way is making a free and informed decision and is in no way pressured by others.
I don't know who the people ComRes consulted were, nor what their sample size was so that 70% figure is meaningless and when asking a poll question it has to be worded so that it does not get a biased result designed to fit someone's agenda. For the author to quote such a figure without adding information suggests that *they* are the one with an agenda to push and put pressure on those who would consider legislation on this to back away from it because of a piece of scaremongering.
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It seems sad that they *are* so focused on life at all costs sometimes -although their compassion for and care of the bereaved family was excellent - one nurse spent about 2 hours with us - I cant help worrying someone else could have been helped or saved in that time when they were trying to resuscitate someone who had passed on. My dad was 79, almost 80 And if he had survived he would have been brain damaged which he wouldn't have wanted I think if I make old age I'll have a living will that says don't ressuciate beyond sensible limits...
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As it happens, we were lucky. Although the mental anguish of watching her children turn to others who were able bodied enough to play with them and give them attention was bad, my friend retained her mental capacities to the end and after being in a wheelchair for about 2 months dropped down into pneumonia which it was agreed would not be treated. She lapsed into a coma and died peacefully in her own bed with her husband, family and friends in attendance.
I am very relieved not to have had to help her end her life. I don't know what that would have done to me. However, I am very strong in my belief that it would have been the right thing to do, and I would agree to help another friend in the future, should the need arise (- although I really hope that I never have to). Whilst I accept the need to protect the vulnerable, I feel that we need an acceptance that *quality* of life is as important as length - living for months or years in excruciating pain with no hope of relief or cure should not be the only legal recourse for our people. I felt that the death of the Belgian author as described by his wife sounded like the best experience, certainly better than death too early in an unfamiliar place far from home, or having your life extended against your will. Hurrah for the younger man's Mum -she was excellent. I feel that our treatment of the incurably ill could do with an addition of the mercy we happily provide to animals without giving them a say-so, and with the right legislation the people who are ready to go would get that say-so and be able to choose the when and how.
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I'm very glad that you didn't have to do it, but also relieved that she died peacefully.
I would not wish a lingering painful death on my worst enemy, let alone someone I cared about.
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