BMA drops opposition to assisted dying
Discussion
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/14/bm...
Long overdue, in my opinion. I know certainly my father would be keen to explore this route when the time comes, having seen his mum suffer with dementia for many years.
Long overdue, in my opinion. I know certainly my father would be keen to explore this route when the time comes, having seen his mum suffer with dementia for many years.
I know for sure that if I get a terminal illness that involves a relatively gradual decline, or some life changing injury occurs that entirely robs me of all physical independence, I'd want to have the choice to end my life at a time that suits me.
Proper safeguards need to be put in place to prevent abuse, but I've never understood why we make people suffer until the inevitable comes as a relief.
Proper safeguards need to be put in place to prevent abuse, but I've never understood why we make people suffer until the inevitable comes as a relief.
Rivenink said:
I know for sure that if I get a terminal illness that involves a relatively gradual decline, or some life changing injury occurs that entirely robs me of all physical independence, I'd want to have the choice to end my life at a time that suits me.
As long as your arms still work, you have the choice, it's called an exit bag. Yes, but to make that work you need an account at BOC or similar and someone to hump a big cylinder of Argon (other non-life supporting gases exist) to where ever you are sitting. Certainly if I got something awful, it’s what I would do. Got a TIG in the garage, so no one needs to incriminate themselves buying gas.
I’ve seen too many relatives kept alive long after their sell by date by the medical profession. One took 7 years for his body to actually die.
I’ve seen too many relatives kept alive long after their sell by date by the medical profession. One took 7 years for his body to actually die.
amusingduck said:
Rivenink said:
I know for sure that if I get a terminal illness that involves a relatively gradual decline, or some life changing injury occurs that entirely robs me of all physical independence, I'd want to have the choice to end my life at a time that suits me.
As long as your arms still work, you have the choice, it's called an exit bag. What if you have a neuro-degenerative disorder, and you simply forget that your plan was to end your life before things get too bad? I rather think I'd want to leave it to the last moment possible. And that obviously might risk ever doing it at all.
Rivenink said:
Do you?
What if you have a neuro-degenerative disorder, and you simply forget that your plan was to end your life before things get too bad? I rather think I'd want to leave it to the last moment possible. And that obviously might risk ever doing it at all.
That’s the really depressing bit about people going to Dignitas before they get so incapacitated they can’t travel. I remember an interview with one bloke who said “I’ve probably got 6 months left, but if I can’t get on a plane, I lose the option”. Our current laws are quite frankly, cruel.What if you have a neuro-degenerative disorder, and you simply forget that your plan was to end your life before things get too bad? I rather think I'd want to leave it to the last moment possible. And that obviously might risk ever doing it at all.
NoddyonNitrous said:
I would not want the executioner role to be taken on by a doctor. Far too much conflict of ethics for me.
DOI - doctor.
So long as the Doctor is specialised in "end of life" care, and was not at any point involved with or responsible for my prior medical care, I don't see where the conflict of ethics arises. DOI - doctor.
General Practitioners should be kept very, very far away from it. They shouldn't even be allowed to discuss it with patients, and simply refer them, *if asked* to an independent service.
Rivenink said:
NoddyonNitrous said:
I would not want the executioner role to be taken on by a doctor. Far too much conflict of ethics for me.
DOI - doctor.
So long as the Doctor is specialised in "end of life" care, and was not at any point involved with or responsible for my prior medical care, I don't see where the conflict of ethics arises. DOI - doctor.
General Practitioners should be kept very, very far away from it. They shouldn't even be allowed to discuss it with patients, and simply refer them, *if asked* to an independent service.
Terminator X said:
Not a fan of it myself, what's to stop dodgy relatives "assisting" the oldies on their way for inheritance money?
A huge amount. Look at how it operates in Switzerland and the Netherlands. There are massive safeguards in place to protect against exactly what you are concerned about.Fundamentally it's a matter of freedom and choice: either you believe that people should have the freedom to choose the moment and manner of their own passing, or you don't. If you do believe that, then the discussion changes into how it operates rather than whether it's a good idea or not.
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