Euthanasia.

[rolex]

Watching Dad slowly dieing of prostate cancer. Why on earth at the start of the twenty first century are we allowing our loved ones to die in pain? Is it because of this fictitious sky fairy?. Its totally barbaric that euthanasia is not legalised! Opinions welcomed.

[zeDuffMan]

Only a handful of MPs have experienced this kind of issue for themselves and those that haven't just see it as legalised murder, with most people just wanting to get at their relatives inheritance etc.

One day euthanasia will be made legal, but not anytime soon.

[rolex]

just want to know what kind of people stopping the legislation against euthanasia?

[Terminator X]

Trouble is if you allow it presumably all sorts of not really dying people will be put out of their misery by relatives hoping to cash in early on their inheritance? Tough one though, feel for the OP.

TX.

[rolex]

it's just absolutely ridiculous that someone in severe terminal pain cannot be put out of their misery, and to prolong that pain be offered protein drinks to make the pain last longer

[Steve Campbell]

The Hippocratic oath sworn by Drs contains a specific element in relation to this, something along the lines of "I will not poison a patient". It would also require some pretty strong legal frameworks & governance to ensure some folks don't get bumped off by "eager" relatives or beneficiaries.
I think one day it will happen, just not soon.
Best wishes for your family.

[FredClogs]

Someone's got to do it and whilst there is undoubtedly a few out there that would not balk at the task, it's probably not fair to ask Doctors and Nurses who signed up for something different to start killing people off... Sorry for you and your fathers suffering. If your tempted to take matters into your own hands I really don't think it's wise.

[The_Doc]

Steve Campbell said:

The Hippocratic oath sworn by Drs .

There is no oath or swearing in of such.

There is this: http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ most recently updated in 2013 with four key domains

There hasn't been any oath swearing for 30+ years

[J4CKO]

I think that sometimes patients in hospices get something to help them let go, not Euthanasia but pain relief and sedatives that let them relax and stop fighting, or certainly seemed like it with my granddad, and really, whatever it was, we were grateful he was no longer in pain.

There is a point we pass where we are alive but really shouldn't be, not going to get better, to be honest I would want something to make it stop, it doesn't benefit anyone, the patient, the family or the staff, it should be an option and people shouldn't have to battle or go to Dignitas, our pet Dogs get a better deal in this country in that respect, sad that its a real concern that families will start using it to bump relatives off to get a new premium SUV or whatever.

[Winky151]

J4CKO said:

There is a point we pass where we are alive but really shouldn't be, not going to get better, to be honest I would want something to make it stop, it doesn't benefit anyone, the patient, the family or the staff, it should be an option and people shouldn't have to battle or go to Dignitas, our pet Dogs get a better deal in this country in that respect

Agree with that. We're all living breathing creatures but its ok to euthanise a pet because its uneconomical to fix them but a human that is beyond being able to care for themselves physically but is still mentally able to make a decision for themselves isn't allowed to ask for their life to be ended.

[Blacksquid]

I think this sort of thing used to happen years ago. In the late 80s my wife's grandfather had lung cancer. According to my wife's grandmother, at the end he was having daily visits by the GP and was being given morphine injections. One day he told the GP he'd had enough. He was given his morphine injection and died shortly afterwards. In those days, I don't think there was any risk to GPs in assisting terminally ill patients if they felt it was in the patient's best interests.

[oddman]

Because along with Iran we are the only country in the world that keeps a place for religionists in the legislature

Why other people should be able to impose their views on an otherwise autonomous adult in the most distressing circumstances is beyond me.

[LordGrover]

The_Doc said:

There is no oath or swearing in of such.

There is this: http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ most recently updated in 2013 with four key domains

There hasn't been any oath swearing for 30+ years

I don't know what the stats are over here, but side effects of prescribed drugs/treatments is near to the top of causes of deaths in USA.

Sorry to read OP - it's not easy.

[hyphen]

Terminator X said:

Trouble is if you allow it presumably all sorts of not really dying people will be put out of their misery by relatives hoping to cash in early on their inheritance? Tough one though, feel for the OP.

TX.

The assisted dying bill from last year applied only to people with fewer than six months to live and the individual had to take the drugs themselves.. Two doctors and a High Court judge would have needed to approve each case.

Despite its limited scope, and the safeguards, 74% of MPs voted against. The feeling seemed to be that the dying would feel self-pressured not to be a burden.

[hyphen]

oddman said:

Because along with Iran we are the only country in the world that keeps a place for religionists in the legislature

Why other people should be able to impose their views on an otherwise autonomous adult in the most distressing circumstances is beyond me.

Religionists didn't stop other laws, abortion, gay marriage.