Euthanasia

[david51058]

If a much loved pet gets an incurable illness and is obviously suffering it is considered the kindest thing to do is to put it to sleep. However if a much loved relative is suffering and in pain with an incurable illness and wishes to leave this world, we ignore their wishes and we must keep them alive at all costs, however much they are suffering.
It's illogical and cruel and please don't anyone bring religion into it as that is irrelevent.

[murraymints]

Agree with you David..although could not do the pillow over the face bit or similar myself....also the decision would have to come from the person themselves NOT docs or relatives...or goldiggers ? Dignitas seems the best option..but in Holland a difficult and costly option not open to many !

[anneasquith]

well give him time and he may be able to give more details.

[murraymints]

hi Anne ..you got Mike there ?

[weecalf]

There are so many different cases .Many people could agree with euthanasia but equally othesr might not .I would be uncomfortable with this decision purely on a basis I could not be the one to decide if a persons life should end So it would be a personal decision even if it was already decided by the terminally ill person.

[anneasquith]

oh yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. david i think you are making a very valid point re the sick animals. and human death,

[pa___ul3]

I believe in euthenasia and, just as I'm a donor, I'd give concent to my nearest and dearest to make that decision should the situation arise. I really really would hate to 'be kept alive' longer than I can actually live!

[woofgang]

When my mother was nearing her end her heart started to fail and she became very distressed, she had made her preference very clear and she was given what they called terminal ...sorry can't remember the other word, might have been analgesia. She was put on a continuous dose of morphine which kept her asleep and she passed quietly about 48 hours later. The hospital (Chelsea and Westminster) were brilliant. There was no sense of hurrying things along, just no pain or distress and a quiet comfortable end.
Actually religion does have relevance to some. Some people believe that the whole of life s a journey towards God and even the last moments can be important in that journey, so the journey should not be cut short. I don't believe that but some people do.

[missnemesis]

>>I really really would hate to 'be kept alive' longer than I can actually live! <<
Well said pa_ul.

My family and I spent many horrendous months in misery as my Father was slowly eaten away by cancer and heard him more than once praying that the "Lord would just take him" to let the pain be over. If I could have helped him I would have and it is inhumane to let suffering like that go on for a moment longer than necessary.

[LoftyLottie]

Naz, lots of threads are not questions. Discussion is allowed on this site.

[rowanwitch]

There is an advance directive in my medical notes which is updated every two years... but 'terminal analgesia' is a nice way of putting it...the patient is out of pain and hopefully falls asleep ...yes death may come more rapidly due to the respiratory depression from the opiate drugs but as no intent to cause death only to relieve pain/distress perfectly legal.....

[jake-the-peg]

We don't ignore their wishes any more but we could make it much easier than we do.

We don't stop people seeking euthanasia from travelling abroad to obtain it. We don't prosecute those helping them to do so any more.

That's a step forward but it is very hypocritical that they can't then have this in the UK.

What is more contentious is when people do not have terminal illnesses but disabiliaties such as the paralysed Rugby player.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/18/11

If you permit this why not people suffering from depression?

I think it will come eventually but it's an incredibly difficult area

[TheOtherHalf]

Yes, you do wonder about euthanasia. My MIL is nearly 95 and is now in a home. She wants to die to save us the hassle of visiting and having to sell her home so that she can just sit in a chair all day and be spoonfed. Its no quality of life and she knows it.

[SludgePump]

Of course its cruel and injust. I recently lost my mother to cancer, and visited her daily in the main North Yorkshire hospital. Nurses there were always playing catch-up with pain management. Terminal illnesses were viewed as a long-term blip against a high bed turn-around and the damned scores against targets. Its a measure of the society we live in. Simply save the air-fare for Switzerland and visit Dignitas. A far more liberal society, appreciative of suffering and longevity and the stresses it causes to relatives. I thank God my mother's last wish was to be at home and die "with her boots on" There she died clean, surrounded by those who loved her, and in familiar surroundings. Had she stayed in hospital, the curtains would have been drawn around the bed and she'd have been ignored. So no relgious aspects, just a common sense approach. Make sure relatives know your wishes a long way in advance, then they can make the decisions required for you. We did for Mum, and seeing us all around the bed when she took her breath was probably the reason why she died with a huge smile on her face

[jake-the-peg]

Well that's what I mean about difficult decisions.

Do you sanction Euthanasia for people who want to die because they don't want to be a bother?

I certainly wouldn't want to be on the sanctioning committee making such decisions

[K8eP]

When I was ill with depression I wanted to die...
Not sure yet, but I think it's probably a good thing that no one encouraged/helped me with this.

People kept alive, are sometimes kept alive for 'selfish' reasons.

If the person wants to pass on... why be selfish and keep them alive?
Isn't it their life? Their choice?