Dying in Dignity - OSA & Assisted Suicide

[James @ Intus]

Heavy topic, making us perhaps realize how lucky some us of are, getting proper treatment.

http://www.maturetimes.co.uk/node/5723

I myself have cerebral palsy and sleep apnoea and need a lot of care. I use a wheelchair full time. Many people have been totally horrified by me being pro-assisted suicide, probably because I'm disabled.

I don't see why the law allows suffering pets to die but not humans (if I was one of my cats I'd have been put down by now) I believe that anyone who wants to die who cannot do the deed themselves should be allowed to be helped on their way. I also believe that anyone who truly wants to die can't be talked out of it.

Any thoughts o this?

[puffin]

Interesting article James, having had a parent who past away early last year after a very long term and painful illness. I've would agree that when there is no hope of an answer from the Doctors, then I think that the individual should have the right and if necessary be helped. But only after a full assessment by the right legal and medical parties.

[anneliz]

I am in total support of voluntary euthanasia, I have watched my Parents in law, my Mum And my Brother in Law, suffer the most appaling degredation, loss of dignity and freedom of choice. All of them begged to be freed from tortuous days with endless pain and no quality of life what so ever, all of them were forced to endure more than anyone should have to bear by outdated rules that bind professionals to maintain 'life' at what ever cost.
Sorry to rant but this is subjuct very colse to my heart. I and all of the rest of my family have now made living wills which prevent medical interference in natures end.

[Tigers Fan]

What a great idea!

Hi Anneliz

I love that phrase of yours - 'living wills which prevent medical interference in natures end'. Voluntary euthanasia is, in my opinion, far more humane than being kept artificially alive.

I would love to know how you and your family have phrased your wills, so I can copy/adapt your wording for myself. I appreciate this may be too personal for you to share in the forum, in which case please send me a Personal Message.

I lack the medical knowledge to say the Doctors can treat me so far but no further, without negating my Will.

Best regards

Tigers Fan

[Berneta]

Living Will

Here in the States we can choose how much DRs can do to prolong our lives. My Living Will states that I do not want to be kept alive by artifical means of medical equipment. That means no CPR--no electric shock to start my heart after it has stopped, no medicatiions too start my heart after it has stopped. And nothing used to maintain function of any internal organs. No feeding tubes, artifical breathing, or blood or kidney filtration machines, My Living Will will not cause a Dr to assist in my death--but will legally prevent him from artifically prolonging life. My Living Will also prevents anyone in my family from causing me to be kept alive by artifical means, I believe that people of sound mind have the right to choose to live or die. I believe that quality of life is more important than quantity of time. The Living Will is separate from my estate will--and one has no legal effect on the other. The Living Will must be executed by an attorney and signed and certified by a Notary and witnessed. My Husband has a copy of my Living Will and a second was given to my Dr, If my husband says no treatment for a life threatening condition and a board of Dr's believe that I can make a full recovery--then my Dr has the final say in the matter. However you must trust your Dr enough to know what you would want, Also for personal reasons,none of my organs will be donated for any reason. Berneta

[jackyk]

i work in a care/nursing home and think that the choice should be available.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_not_resuscitate

we have the above in place where requested by clients/families. this might help you word yours tigers fan or at least help you research it more

[Tigers Fan]

Still stuck!

I gotta get my finger out! This thread prompted me to do something about Dying With Dignity and I obtained the papers but shelved it for a year - getting the wording right was clearly going to be difficult. Had a serious crack at it last summer then shelved it again to finish during the long winter nights - and its stll shelved.

I guess my problem is that I don't trust the unknown medics who will be treating me in hospital, by the roadside or where-ever. I want to prevent them keeping me alive just because they can and condemning me to a life of purgatory - and obviously don't want to die when a simple intervention would give me an 'x'% chance of living normally again. Where oh! where do you put that 'x' on the scale??

Indeed, Berneta, for me too, it's about quality of life, not quantity. If I can't have both, then I choose the former.

TF

I did buy my funeral last summer, so progress is being made!

[Berneta]

Dying with Dignity

Hi TF, obviously you won't carry the Living Will around. That means that you have to have a trusted family member or friend or Dr who when notified of your condition by the hospital, will bring in the Living Will bearing your instructions. It can be as complicated or simple as you wish, If you are brought in alive---but cannot survive without tubes or machinery--then the Living Will gives instructions to disconnect you and let you go. I have no funeral plans, as I have instructed in my Liviing Will that I want to be immediately burned and my ashes scattered. No funeral, no showing of the body, no prayer service, etc. Dead and gone leaving a good memory --thats what I want. All my family agrees, that they can have a gathering in place of a funeral, if they want to. Its a very difficult subject, and its best if you make sure your family knows what you want done. If you don't trust anyone--you need to assure yourself that your lawyer will make sure its carried out as you wish, as soon as he learns of your condition. XOX Berneta

[symmit]

I'm pretty much on the fence on this one - on the subject of living wills I want the decisions to be made by those around me who love me, not by myself.

I think it's a big and very personal issue, however I wouldn't object to there being a way to obtain the drugs required for a peaceful end for anyone who wants it. After all you can always end it in thousands of ways, some peaceful, some not.

Beachy head, street drugs, sleeping pills, wrists. Take your pick.

[jackyk]

hmmmmmm im sure i replied to this? maybe not

[Berneta]

The End

Hi Symmit, there are many ways to end our lives --some painful and some not. The Living Will covers what will happen if we are in a state in which we can't speak for ourselves. (for instance a brain injury that we can't recover from) It gives the Drs, family, hospitals, and perhaps even a judge-- an idea about what we wanted to do in case we are not able to say it, or do it for ourselves. As a Nurse's Aide I have seen a lot of people suffer and die terrible deaths because their religion (or that of their family) prevented their disconnection from machines that were keeping them alive. Of course we want our loved ones to live well, and die a peaceful painless death--but sometimes that isn't possible. Death brings all kinds of questions. I personally don't want any of my family to have to agonize over keeping my body alive by artificial means-- or letting me go naturally. Most Drs will give pain killers when needed. The question is should we have the right to say what is enough--and go when nature has decided its time to. A question we alone can answer for ourselves. And its a question that will increase as technology increases as the years go by. We already put in all kinds of transplants now--someday a brain transplant may even be possible. Are we an individual? Or only the sum of our parts? x Berneta

[claireR]

Assisted suicide is now in the hot thread because of issues concerning such matter. At present, there are only three states wherein physician-assisted suicide has its legality and now, Hawaii might already have Death with Dignity law and the state could possibly be the 4th to enact a “Death with Dignity” law enabling terminally ill individuals to commit physician-assisted suicide. This gave rise to some arguments about the matter because it's very known to us that many are against suicide and more specially the assisted suicide because of the Christian belief that nobody has the right to end one's life and the Supreme Being is the only one who has such right but considering the fact that most terminally ill individuals don't want to prolong their suffering, many believe that the dying should be able to determine their own death if they desire to end their suffering.

[Tigers Fan]

If everybody minded their own business, the problem would go away. Those who believe in our right to choose our own ending could die with dignity, assisted by competent people. Those who object to ending their own lives can live on and die of "natural causes".

I get hot under the collar when someone imposes their belief system on me.

I want the right to end my life lawfully and leave everyone else to make their own decisions. What is left to discuss?

TF