Euthanasia.

garinda · 06-10-2005, 12:30

Should we have the right to end our own lives under a legal controlled environment?

When our pets are sick we don't keep treating them until they die when they are terminally ill. We take what we call a humane decision to end it's suffering, and end their life with an injection. Why can't people be afforded the same choice?

There have been lots of cases were people have taken the informed choice to carry out their wishes to end their lives in what they see as an intolerable situation, but it is still illegal. Even to aid a suicide is illegal and can and has resulted in imprisonment.

vorlon24 · 06-10-2005, 12:39

I think it should be allowed - if I was terminally ill with no chance of a cure, I would like the decision to be able to end it.

It's less messy than jumping off Beachy Head, anyway

Margaret Pilkington · 06-10-2005, 12:40

Oh, this is such a difficult thread. I don't think that anyone should ever be prosecuted for helping a family member to end their own life.....as long as there is definite proof that this is what the terminally ill person really wanted to do. Now, how that could be safely legislated for, I don't know.
My one concern is that grasping relatives do not conveniently end the life of a family member and then benefit financially from the deceased's estate.

The recent case of a Doctor being struck off the register for helping a terminally ill friend to die was most unfortunate. It appears that they had a pact that the doctor would help his friend once his friend had got to the end of his tether with the pain. Striking this man off the medical register served no useful purpose because the man had been retired for something like 15 years.

I think there should be some kind of framework drawn up to help the terminally ill.....but I'm glad I won't be the one deciding how it will work.

Margaret Pilkington · 06-10-2005, 12:42

Vorlon.....I couldn't do the Beachy Head thing......it is scary. I think you must really have to be desperate to jump off Beachy Head. I went there last November and couldn't bear to look over the edge.

harwood red · 06-10-2005, 12:48

I have to agree with Margaret... the simple answer is yes I believe in Euthanasia... the problem is it isn't simple to legislate and that I think is what the stumbling block is...

grannyclaret · 06-10-2005, 12:49

oh this is hard,,,i wouldent want to be a vegitable,but i wouldent want to put the onus on someone else to end my life,,
and what if someone got fed up of a family member being ill .they might just bump them off to be free of commitment..........oh i think i am on the fence on this one..

garinda · 06-10-2005, 12:52

It could be done legally as it is in the Netherlands now. I'm not suggesting that we all cart off great aunt Doris to the vets so we can spend our inhertitance, but we should have the informed choice about when the quality of life is deemed unacceptable, just as we do for animal's lives now.

I do approach this subject from a slightly different perspective, having an incurrable degenerative disease, ableit one that isn't going to kill me. I'm not being defeatist, as I'm hoping there will be a cure before long, if there isn't, and rather than being able to live dependently, I would certainly like the option when to end my life legally rather than live with. in my opinion, a poor quality of life.

Margaret Pilkington · 06-10-2005, 13:00

Garinda, there is an organisation in Switzerland that helps non Swiss nationals to do this......it is called Dignitas.

I think 'Living wills' go some way to address this problem.....except they don't allow active intervention to end life. Say you were in a Vegetative State.....or were terminally ill without any hope of a cure.....you could document that you didn't want to be resuscitated, or you didn't want active treatment, but you couldn't ask for your death to be facilitated.

grannyclaret · 06-10-2005, 13:09

my hubby also has got a degenerate desease ,but he battles on,somedays he is much worse than others,, it gets him down to think there are a lot of things he cant do now,and he hates being dependant on other people ,,but to me its no big deal. i married him in sickness and in health ,and i am sure he would do the same for me.we have some wonderful memouries of when we were both fit and healthy...
i just say live for today coz you dont know what is round the corner.....

garinda · 06-10-2005, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

my hubby also has got a degenerate desease ,but he battles on,somedays he is much worse than others,, it gets him down to think there are a lot of things he cant do now,and he hates being dependant on other people ,,but to me its no big deal. i married him in sickness and in health ,and i am sure he would do the same for me.we have some wonderful memouries of when we were both fit and healthy...
i just say live for today coz you dont know what is round the corner.....

I'm not in favour of enforced euthanasia, that would be a very dangerous road to go down, just that I think people should be given a choice.

simon · 06-10-2005, 13:56

When my Father was dying of very advanced cancer a few years ago, I personally at NO stage felt like letting go of my dad, but that was selfish thinking on my part, I feel that my dad would have taken the option of euthanasia if it was available about 2wks before his "Natural ???" death, During that last time period he was in real pain, he had a pump attached to him to administer morthine(?) and also patches of morthine(?) to apply to the skin. He got to the stage that he did not want any of us to go into the room with him, because he could see the pain it caused us to see him like that. And lets face it at that stage we all, including my dad, where waiting for his death.

So I think that under such circumstances it would be kind to all concerned to say goodbye with dignity.

garinda · 06-10-2005, 14:03

It could be like it is now for donor cards. You could make an informed decision whilst you are well, with the option of changing your mind later if you did want to continue wuth treatment.

I think it's disgraceful that people have been imprisoned for carrrying out the wishes of their loved ones to help them end their lives with dignity.

slinky · 06-10-2005, 14:03

Yes I think you should be able to say when you have had enough.

It's hard to watch someone suffer, and like you said Rindy, you wouldn't put a animal through it.

I work with very poorly people, that say they have had their years anyway, but medical intervention like peg feeds etc........are keeping them alive.

I look after a lady with motor neurons disease, and she has made a living will, that states if she is unable to eat and drink, then under no circumstances does she wish for a peg feed to be fitted. She is well capable at the moment to make this decision, and may I add a very level headed lady. I'm sure if I was the same, I would opt out of being kept alive for the rest of my days, led in bed strapped to a peg feed, with no hope of life getting any better.

grannyclaret · 06-10-2005, 14:38

oh what a hard choice,,, i think it must be awfal to be of sound mind in a body that is useless........i can see both points of view now ,,,,,,,,,

accymel · 06-10-2005, 14:45

I think you should be allowed to terminate your life if eg terminal illness BUT the problem is legislating it & clear legal boundaries problem be it where possible inheritance abuse could manifest bigtime.