Assisted Dying Bill

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28274531

Lord Carey appears to have had a conversion on the road to Damascus on this issue. As an ex-Archbish, he still commands much respect, and his views may be enough to tip the balance here.

[sherrardk]

You could be in a terrible state and expected to live for years, it's inhumane.

[EDDIE51]

pixie, I personally know a person who was told by his doctors that he had 4 months to live at most, he is still going strong 4 years later!
No doctor can accurately predict the life span of a seriously ill patient in all cases, mistakes can and do occur. Of course if this becomes law we will never hear about them.
There are cases where a patient has been diagnosed with 'locked in syndrome' (supposedly always fatal) only for them to recover and tell of how they could hear people around their bed talking about euthanasia for them but being unable to communicate in any way.

[Svejk]

you're all very nice people on here who wouldn't dream of misusing this 'law'. Sadly the country's full of people who aren't so nice.

[pixie373]

A law will last until it is deliberately changed. It's not much of an argument to say- what if it's broken? It's still more than we have now.
I have had depression too and can really understand how some don't want to live with it. It's individual and as gness says "you know". I can't count how many people with dementia I've ever known, inside out. Over 300 at least. Some are content and some, i know, would prefer to die- and not just because they've said so.

[pixie373]

Locked in syndrome is not always fatal - but i wouldn't want to live with it. Yes, people sometimes survive against all the odds. Occasionally. That doesn't help those in long-term pain. Would your friend have chosen to die? He presumably wasn't separately diagnosed twice? Usually once it's made, other professionals go with it. They don't necessarily retest from scratch.

[EDDIE51]

pixie, the point is that once introduced the rules about it will inevitably be relaxed over the years, just as they have in Holland. It is a 'slippery slope' and if we have it there will be no going back!

[Svejk]

presumably you'd only apply this to compos mentis who unless they're half-wits can painlessly end their own lives.

[anneasquith]

I think it may be difficult to end ones own life when we have no use of our limbs.

[Svejk]

so they're paralysed as well as being terminally ill now.

[pixie373]

I don't think it will inevitably be relaxed. The law will stand until it is changed and we have no laws to cover it now (except murder, maybe?)
svejk, that is difficult. Mental illnesses are just as hard to live with. I think they should have the choice too and not to make the mistake of thinking it's impossible to tell. Verbal communication is such a tiny part of reading somebody.

[anneasquith]

svejk......I was only pointing out that a person may be incapable of ending their own life if they do not have use of their limbs,

[gness]

I have the use of my limbs, Anne....and if I choose I can end my life tonight....my life my choice.

People like my mother desperately want to...as she puts it...go to God...but she can't move so she is deprived of the choice about what to do with her life...and it is hers.....those who are against euthanasia are not the ones looking after her....against her wishes.