Assisted suicide
Discussion
I’ve had a quick search but couldn’t find any recent posts on this thorny topic
Bearing in mind the current situation would it not now be worth introducing a carefully monitored system to cater for those who wish to end their existence prematurely. I’m sure although,I’ve no way of verifying this, but there must’ve have been many who have suffered a very undignified end that could otherwise been averted. A lot of resources are used to keep people alive who’d given the choice would rather pass away. Time for society to stop feeling good about itself in keeping the aged and infirm alive against their wishes.
Bearing in mind the current situation would it not now be worth introducing a carefully monitored system to cater for those who wish to end their existence prematurely. I’m sure although,I’ve no way of verifying this, but there must’ve have been many who have suffered a very undignified end that could otherwise been averted. A lot of resources are used to keep people alive who’d given the choice would rather pass away. Time for society to stop feeling good about itself in keeping the aged and infirm alive against their wishes.
Bearing in mind the current situation would be the worst thing to do considering that the world's upside down so objectivity is out the window.
This aside, I'm not against it in principle if someone's determined to check out. In practical terms I don't see how it can be properly safeguarded. Underlying depression, pressure from family, no pressure from family but not wanting to be "a burden"... Other than, say very late stage very terminal cases where it's better to go this week than suffer terribly for another fortnight.
This aside, I'm not against it in principle if someone's determined to check out. In practical terms I don't see how it can be properly safeguarded. Underlying depression, pressure from family, no pressure from family but not wanting to be "a burden"... Other than, say very late stage very terminal cases where it's better to go this week than suffer terribly for another fortnight.
hutchst said:
The current situation? It seems that if you're unfortunate enough to contract this virus, you either die or you get better. It wouldn't be much benefit to people that die, so I'm assuming you want to apply it to the people that get better?
It's a safe assumption that there are other situations.There may be people who already had a poor quality of life due to illness. Now that quality of life has reduced further due to the lockdown. They could easily make what they consider to be a rational decision to end their life.
There may be people who are about to be moved into ICU and onto a ventilator. It is currently possible to sign an advance statement saying you do not want this to happen But the alternative would be palliative care. Again they may decide a quicker more pain free exit would be preferable.
My dad used to say frequently that he didn't wish to spend his declining years in a home on a plastic seat with his trousers round his ankles. His solution was for us to row him out to sea under cover of darkness and push him overboard.
Oddly, the older he became, the less frequently he said it.
Oddly, the older he became, the less frequently he said it.
OP, have a good think about this
The time and money has already been spent trying to save a persons life before they reach a real bad state
Once a person is known to be definitely dying, there isn't much time or money to be saved and the person is not able to request termination
Makes sense?
The time and money has already been spent trying to save a persons life before they reach a real bad state
Once a person is known to be definitely dying, there isn't much time or money to be saved and the person is not able to request termination
Makes sense?
Louis Theroux did an interesting documentary on this very subject in the US, it's still on iPlayer.
This is legal in 7 or 8 states and is being considered in 20 or so other states. People who qualify are given lethal medication and left to decide if/when they wish to do it. Although they cannot be assisted, they have to be in a state where they are able to administer it themselves.
As for the current situation I don't think it's of much help. It's more aimed at those who don't want to experience a big decline in quality of life having been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
This is legal in 7 or 8 states and is being considered in 20 or so other states. People who qualify are given lethal medication and left to decide if/when they wish to do it. Although they cannot be assisted, they have to be in a state where they are able to administer it themselves.
As for the current situation I don't think it's of much help. It's more aimed at those who don't want to experience a big decline in quality of life having been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Its a subject that will never go away - even if it becomes legal it'll get petitioned to go back the other way.
Went through a scenario a few years back where it would have been gratefully received.
A grandparent got severely ill, recovered, ill again, recovered, ill again
After this non stop for around 5 years, he had had enough, he didn't want to be here.
He couldn't do anything he wanted to do (driving, cycling, etc.) and even sitting in the garden became an inconvenience.
In the end he was ill for 8 years, and we had to watch him become half the man he was.
I'd whole heartedly support the subject, with a barrel load of caveats and clauses, but a yes/no answer will 100% be yes.
Went through a scenario a few years back where it would have been gratefully received.
A grandparent got severely ill, recovered, ill again, recovered, ill again
After this non stop for around 5 years, he had had enough, he didn't want to be here.
He couldn't do anything he wanted to do (driving, cycling, etc.) and even sitting in the garden became an inconvenience.
In the end he was ill for 8 years, and we had to watch him become half the man he was.
I'd whole heartedly support the subject, with a barrel load of caveats and clauses, but a yes/no answer will 100% be yes.
Penelope Stopit said:
OP, have a good think about this
A part of the point I was enquiring about was those who want to die but have to live to the bitter end because society wouldn't let them. So with C19, they had a ghastly painful end to their life where in fact they could've died peacefully sometime beforehand given the choice..It's not just about the money.Euthanasia, under strict guidelines, has been legal for years in the NL (since april 1st 2002)
Practice is still tested every now and then by legal cases, as this article from yesterday in The Guardian proves:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/dutc...
Besides euthanasia another practice in the NL is that doctors do not perform unnecessary care. Patients with an already limited lifespan due to illness are adviced (or family) not to undergo treatment. Even if it would extend life for some time, the quality of life often makes it meaningless, but at huge costs.
This is also the practice for certain Covid patients, 3 to 4 weeks on the ventilator under anesthesia is too much for weakened old patients with already underlying conditions. The quality of life due to brain damage and the rehabilitation needed will be very limited,
Practice is still tested every now and then by legal cases, as this article from yesterday in The Guardian proves:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/dutc...
Besides euthanasia another practice in the NL is that doctors do not perform unnecessary care. Patients with an already limited lifespan due to illness are adviced (or family) not to undergo treatment. Even if it would extend life for some time, the quality of life often makes it meaningless, but at huge costs.
This is also the practice for certain Covid patients, 3 to 4 weeks on the ventilator under anesthesia is too much for weakened old patients with already underlying conditions. The quality of life due to brain damage and the rehabilitation needed will be very limited,
Einion Yrth said:
moles said:
Hopefully it will come. I’m 38 and hope it arrives within the next 20 years for me to take advantage of.
It's not that bad being 58, really.Having said that I'm hoping assisted dying is available of/when I need it. Both my parents and grandparents died of cancer, and it's not a nice way to go. I'd prefer the option of an alternative less painful exit under my own control
Smollet said:
Penelope Stopit said:
OP, have a good think about this
A part of the point I was enquiring about was those who want to die but have to live to the bitter end because society wouldn't let them. So with C19, they had a ghastly painful end to their life where in fact they could've died peacefully sometime beforehand given the choice..It's not just about the money.Misunderstood something though
Thought you meant people that had contracted the virus
Keep well
Canada where I live has a medical assistance in dying program which is fairly well accepted. Not perfect, but an improvement. I would think it a good thing everywhere.
https://www.crto.on.ca/employers-blog/update-on-me...
https://www.crto.on.ca/employers-blog/update-on-me...
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