Assisted Dying

[LittleMy]

Assisted Dying;
the practice whereby a person suffering from a terminal illness or incurable condition is helped to take their own life, especially by means of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for the purpose.

Euthanasia;
the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.


Thoughts?

 

[ProphecyGirl]

I voted maybe but the more I think about it I mean yes.

People who are suffering should be able to choose. But I think only when they are really suffering, bed ridden or too weak.. along those lines.
Some people who do have a terminal illness still have a good few years left in them before they get to that stage. I say this for a selfish reason though because I wouldn't want anyone to make that choice who I care about if I still had years left with them

But I also wouldn't want to see them really suffer. It's hard

 

[Cookiecookie]

Yes. I live in the Northern Territory of Australia. We were one of the first places to allow it. However, the complexities of our political situation as a Territory rather than a State, mean that our laws can be very easily over turned, which is what happened Over 20yrs later, it's now becoming a thing in other parts of the country, and we are still heavily restricted over being able make our own decision on this.

On a personal level, whilst I lived in the UK, I watched my husband die from oesophageal cancer. It was a cruel illness, and whilst I don't know what decision he'd have made had euthanasia been an option, I wish it was there so others don't have to suffer as he did. Terminal patients are often drugged to the point of death anyway without their consent, so why not just give them that choice? It's your life, it should be your choice.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

Yes, its something where the devil is very much in the detail. I do believe that both assisted death and euthanasia should be allowed but we need to legislate strongly against the significant risk of murder and coercion

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

It’s definitely something that could potentially be abused but with the right rules and procedures in place I don’t see why not. We do it with animals because it’s seen as the humane thing to do but with humans it’s somehow different?

My granddad had terminal cancer, in his final days, he was so ill/delirious and in pain that he was just lying in bed sort of crying/shouting out. Anyway his gp did a home visit and we mentioned the distressful sounds he was making. He increased his pain meds and it helped settle him down and he passed away peacefully not long after.

I never want to see a loved one get to that state again, it was so traumatic. It almost felt like it would have been better to put him out of his misery. In a way the doctor did I guess by increasing his meds. But when someone is in that state they are no longer living imo, just existing and waiting for the inevitable, often in a state of confusion and pain.

 

[LittleMy]

I agree. It has to be done right, but an Assisted Dying bill has to be passed. As a carer with 13 years in the care sector and plenty of experience in giving palliative care, I’ve watched many people die over the years. Some are lucky to go in their sleep suddenly and peacefully, but in my experience, many don’t. For them it’s a long, drawn out process and it’s heartbreaking to bear witness to. As a poster above said previously, they are often so doped up on morphine by the end that they eventually succumb. I think that if the person is compos mentis and that is their wish, then they should be allowed to die with dignity. It’s their body; their pain to bear. I also agree with euthanasia, obviously under the correct circumstances and where it cannot be abused.

 

[marlaxo]

Yes 100%. I hope that option is available to me should I ever need it. To be able to slip away peacefully at the timing of my choice instead of suffering.

 

[Definitelyme]

Absolutely. If our dog was leading a miserable existence because of illness we would be able to end his life humanely and end his suffering. Yet we insist that people must continue onwards, in some cases losing any freedom, independence and physical abilities they had, leaving them reliant on others, in pain, angry or miserable because their life has become so difficult. I think it’s horrendous.

 

[mochibean]

Yes, we do it for animals and humans should have that same option. The people in these situations where they are needlessly suffering are often very aware of the fact all they can do is exist in pain and misery. That's not worth living is it..

 

[DCICassieStuart]

100% in favour. I watched my lovely FIL die two years ago. It took a couple of months in a hospital bed, and he basically died from starvation in the end.

If an animal is ill with no hope of recovery, you'd take the humane approach and the animal would be put to sleep, but if the same thing happens in the case of a human being they're left to suffer.

 

[Mulholland Drive]

Most definitely, and under correct supervision

I don't want to spend my dying days in a bed hooked up to tubes and monitors and being injected with morphine, but unable to do anything and totally dependent on others!

It would be like spending your life trying to scratch an itch that you can't quite reach, but would drive you insane. Who the hell wants that!

 

[HockyRorror]

I voted maybe before reading the thread but after reading other people’s posts I changed it to yes. It was a maybe originally only because it has to be done right, I feel, as it has the potential to be abused. But like others have said, it’s humane for us to do it to pets and animals so why not humans?

 

[Welshgal]

Absolutely!
Human dignity means being able to say when enough is enough. That’s a choice everyone should have the right to.

 

[Pinkblush]

We have that kindness for pets so why not humans.

 

[LittleMy]

Along with dementia patients, I take care of patients with conditions like Parkinson’s. Can you imagine losing control of your own body as it wastes away to nothing, not able to speak and having hallucinations as a result of your brain slowly deteriorating over a period of time? I can think of nothing worse.

I think it’s a crying shame that there are people out there with incurable/terminal illnesses having to resort to planning an early death abroad because they’re not afforded that respect in their homeland, and that their loved ones cannot help them without fear of being imprisoned for it. All because others think it’s morally wrong.

I’d be really interested to hear from those who voted “no” as to their reasons. It does seem that there is an overwhelming majority for an Assisted Dying bill here on the thread.

 

[Holidaybobs]

Most definitely yes.

My grandma has had dementia for the last 10 years and is now living in a specialist hospital. It’s beyond cruel watching her and the other residents. She is no longer a fraction of the woman she once was. She was a very proud woman and adored my grandad, for years she thought he had left her and would cry most days. It’s as though their own minds are torturing them.

My mum believes it runs in the family as my grandma, her sister and their mother have all had it. My mum openly says that if she is diagnosed then she would hate to go through it and would rather be dead. It’s such a shame that it is not regulated in this country. Of course, as previously mentioned, we should have great regulations and restrictions in place for it. But, given our building regulations and H&S laws, surely we could do something similar for this.

 

[bolimepipi]

yes 100%

Along with dementia patients, I take care of patients with conditions like Parkinson’s. Can you imagine losing control of your own body as it wastes away to nothing, not able to speak and having hallucinations as a result of your brain slowly deteriorating over a period of time? I can think of nothing worse.

you are a hero for taking care of patients with parkinson's. my grandfather had it, alongside many other diseases. that man defeated three heart attacks and two strokes if i'm not wrong. lung diseases, eye diseases... but the parkinson's got to him in the end. at the beginning he couldn't use cutlery and would get very frustrated about that as he was extremely proud and independent his whole life. as it progressed, we had to beg him to use a walker and eventually a wheelchair. by the end he was in bed completely unable to move and couldn't remember anything or anyone with the exception of my grandma, the love of his life. in the rare moments of clarity where he'd recognize us or realize the situation he's in, he'd just cry and cry and cry.
if someone had given me the option, i would have helped him end this in a heartbeat.

 

[Girlinabubble]

As a palliative care nurse I agree - I think that patients should be supported to live as full a life as possible and encouraged to see the benefits of living but everyone should be able to decide when that has become too difficult and make decisions accordingly. I have been asked many times by patients to help them die - most of them have the means to do so themselves very easily as they have cupboards full of medication but actually choose not to. All terminally ill people should have skilled support with pain relief, symptom management and psychological support available to them. It’s a very complicated, nuanced process of course but it should be a conversation.

 

[Giggling Squid]

Having watched my granny begging to die, and removing her feeding tube over and over again- I wholeheartedly support assisted dying. She was never going to get better, she didn’t want to be here any more and asked us why we were keeping her alive so many times, it was heartbreaking

 

[WilmaHun]

I voted maybe but I think I'll change it to yes.

Obviously things such as mental capacity would have to be assessed - that goes without saying. But I truly believe is somebody is mentally capable and able to make that decision with sound mind, then yes, it should be allowed. If it prevents suffering, of course.

I watched a family member in his 80's go from being the most active 83 year old ever, to having a stroke which completely destroyed his quality of life. It was painful to watch. He was bed ridden, covered in bed sores, unable to eat (fed through a peg in his stomach) and towards the end, unable to really even speak. I am sure that if he had the chance to end his suffering sooner, he would have.