I wouldn't want to be in her position

[MentalSarcasm]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7644094.stm

The High Court has been told of the "dilemma" facing a woman with multiple sclerosis who fears her husband could be prosecuted if he helps her die.

David Pannick QC, appearing for Ms Purdy, told the court: "Her dilemma is that she wants to delay her suicide as long as possible.

"She wants also to avoid the danger of her husband being prosecuted for assisting her.

"If he is likely to be prosecuted, then she is much more likely to travel abroad to commit suicide sooner rather than later."

___________________________________

I don't think I'll ever understand this. If your pet dog or cat is terminally ill people will take it to a vet to be "put to sleep" because "I don't want it to suffer".

But we can't let people show the same mercy to our fellow human beings? To the point where there is the option of prosecuting their loved ones for going to a country that will do this for them?

[Fidgits]

i think the concern would be effectively 'legalised murder' - someone is fed of looking after their ill parent/spouse, knocks them off and claims it was what they wanted...

[Shaw Tarse]

MentalSarcasm said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7644094.stm

I don't think I'll ever understand this. If your pet dog or cat is terminally ill people will take it to a vet to be "put to sleep" because "I don't want it to suffer".

They would be critisied for cruelty.

MentalSarcasm said:

But we can't let people show the same mercy to our fellow human beings?

We should be allowed to make a provision for this.

[Risotto]

MentalSarcasm said:

I don't think I'll ever understand this. If your pet dog or cat is terminally ill people will take it to a vet to be "put to sleep" because "I don't want it to suffer".

But we can't let people show the same mercy to our fellow human beings? To the point where there is the option of prosecuting their loved ones for going to a country that will do this for them?

The problems arise when Mr & Mrs Greedy turn up with their rich but incapacitated relative and claim the relative asked them to bump her off if she ever became incapacitated.

[Shaw Tarse]

Risotto said:

MentalSarcasm said:

I don't think I'll ever understand this. If your pet dog or cat is terminally ill people will take it to a vet to be "put to sleep" because "I don't want it to suffer".

But we can't let people show the same mercy to our fellow human beings? To the point where there is the option of prosecuting their loved ones for going to a country that will do this for them?

The problems arise when Mr & Mrs Greedy turn up with their rich but incapacitated relative and claim the relative asked them to bump her off if she ever became incapacitated.

A fair point.
So we should be allowed to make a request for this while compus Mentus(?) witnessed by 2 doctors/lawyer?
I've seen people with late stages of MS/cancer/Motor Neurone,with no quality of life
For me personally bring on the needle.

[The Ben]

How about to sort this out, why cant the law be changed so that if someone in her position wants to die, a court grants the right for her to be helped to die, perhaps not the husband doing it, but more a doctor... But it would only be legal if a judge made it so, therefore no legalised murder...

[MentalSarcasm]

Well, for those interested, she failed to have the law clarified:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7697200.stm

I don't understand why people are so against assisted suicide? If we have strict laws and guidelines governing it then bring it on!

[V8mate]

It becomes more difficult to manage when the reason for wanting to accelerate your death comes about through a sudden incident rather than a long illness.

For example, an horrendous car accident leaves you unable to communicate. How do you tell your relatives or doctors that you'd rather they turned the lights out than treat you?

[HundredthIdiot]

V8mate said:

For example, an horrendous car accident leaves you unable to communicate. How do you tell your relatives or doctors that you'd rather they turned the lights out than treat you?

(to music)

"If you want the life support, clap your hands."

[MentalSarcasm]

V8mate said:

It becomes more difficult to manage when the reason for wanting to accelerate your death comes about through a sudden incident rather than a long illness.

For example, an horrendous car accident leaves you unable to communicate. How do you tell your relatives or doctors that you'd rather they turned the lights out than treat you?

That's why, in America, they have "living wills" which state what you want done in such an event. That too would need to be carefully legislated.

But in this case, she says she wants to die, she just doesn't want her husband to be dragged to court because of it. She can either die on her own in a strange country or die with her loving husband by her side, and I hate that our laws try to force people to go with the first rather than the second.

[Jasandjules]

This story makes me feel very, very sorry for her, despite never having met her. I just cannot understand why we don't permit humans to die with dignity in this country.

[thinfourth2]

Jasandjules said:

This story makes me feel very, very sorry for her, despite never having met her. I just cannot understand why we don't permit humans to die with dignity in this country.

The main issue i think is when does the right to die become the duty to die.

This is the point that someone belives it is their duty to die rather then hang on and spend their estate rather then passing it on and not wanting to be a burden upon their relatives.

Though the fact that the goverment don't want us to have the final say in our life might also be a factor