Living Will

[watervole]

 I tend to post something on this subject every couple of years, simply so that if the question ever arises, my wishes are on record and can be shown to be consistently held over time.

If I am ever in a situation where I am suffering a  terminal illness, then please respect my request if I ask to be allowed to die.  I am well aware that if I am ever in a situation where I'm in bed for more than a couple of days, my neck/back/shoulder pain will kick in and my quality of life will be greatly reduced with no hope of improvement.

If I enter a terminal coma, please switch off the machines and allow someone else to have the hospital bed!  (Or simply give me a lethal injection to speed up the process)

If I ever suffer from dementia and reach a point where I can no longer recognise my family, then please help me by finding a way to end my life.  I would not wish to continue living under such circumstances.

I wish to continue living as long as I enjoy life.  If my quality of life has gone, do not waste time/money/emotional energy trying to prolong the process.

Comments

[espresso_addict]

If I ever suffer from dementia and reach a point where I can no longer recognise my family, then please help me by finding a way to end my life.

In my experience this is impossible to implement in practice, at least in the UK without being prosecuted.

[watervole]

I know, but there's always the hope that things will change in the future.

It's Catch 22. Another friend on DW had to see her father dying of dementia. She knew his wishes, but because he hadn't put it in writing or created a mental power of attorney, the doctors had to treat him to extend his life as long as possible rather than go max on the dementia drugs, as the dementia drugs would shorten his life.

I know so many people who would rather be dead than spend their last days as a living vegetable. Who would want to go through that, let alone put their families through it.

[espresso_addict]

I expressed my mother's verbally expressed wishes to her GP & the nursing home staff but was roundly told that it was illegal even to discuss the matter seriously.

[lexin]

I feel the same way.

[igenlode]

I know a lot of people feel this way... but what haunts me is that when it comes to it, you might end up feeling differently and be in no position to do anything about it. (I know that where euthanasia is legal, a lot of people apparently apply for the option and don't actually use it: the psychological comfort of knowing that you can kill yourself if you want to seems to override the urgency of the desire to do so).

[watervole]

What happens with legal euthanasia is that it removes the need for preemptive suicide.

Where euthanasia is is illegal, people with terminal illnesses try and kill themselves while they are still able to do so. Where they know that they can die upon request, they don't have to worry about being physically helpless to carry it out.

This means that some will die naturally before life becomes unbearable for them, and others will eventually use the euthanasia.

People apply for the option, but once they have that right, they have the choice whether to use it or not.

The problem in the UK, at least, is that we do not have the choice.