@MemoriesOfUs Cancer is such an end all to everything, we enter into that conversation with so very little knowledge. ‘They can do so much nowadays’, it really is such a disappointment, a betrayal, when you come to understand it. I think that’s why, now, I’d like another option. Assisted dying, should be on the list with all the other terrible choices. I remember my wife being convinced to sign her DNR, the consultants spelled out why it may be a good idea, why can’t they afford the same weight to assisted dying?
Do you mind me asking what your wife actually wanted?
@Sarlyn I very much agree with you, I don’t think anyone should have advocacy over another life and when to end it, I wouldn’t suggest that we should in any way be able to argue for that. I was more thinking of myself, in my wife’s situation and the options that would be available to me, having experienced what my wife went through. My wife wanted to live as much as she could, I very much encouraged that, did everything I could to keep things as normal as possible, tried as much as I could to give her the end she wanted. But I don’t know now, having done that, if I’d want to do the same thing. I’m not denigrating her choices, very far from it, but I’ve been part of her death in a way she never was, and because of that I don’t know if I’d choose the same path, I suppose I’d like options.
This isn’t about making the decision to end a loved ones life, it’s about the person with the terminal illness having the right to decide if they want to end their life.
When you get to the death and illness is nature argument and man shouldn’t intervene, where do you draw that line - specialized surgeries and advanced cancer and pain treatments or do you stop basic anti biotics and vaccines? It’s all interference with nature from that point of view
I don’t think anyone should have advocacy over another life…but then what about the medical people who have to do that? Someone has to end that person’s life? Administer the injection…did you know that Vet’s have the highest rate of suicide in any profession? They are the one’s carrying out the euthanasia. There are far bigger implications. Also not everyone has a bad death, how do any of us know what our end of life will be?
Yeah cancer is most dreadful disease and you realize very quickly when you go through it how indefinite it all is and they don’t have hard and fast answers, even in the diagnosis. I’ve read of a lot of cases of cancer with undefined source. Without source can’t treat it - it’s palliative from get go.
Also had the discussion on the dnr with the doctors and why you should sign it and you’re right, it’s very much aligned with the assisted dying/choice
@Sarlyn If you look at Dignatas, the person has to be mentally aware and able to administer the drugs of their own volition. No one has to give the injection, unlike the moral disaster that exists in the NHS where it comes down to the next of kin and the consultant on ward at any given time. As things stand, responsibility is put on medical staff and family, I’d rather have that responsibility for myself
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The discussion I would advocate is a big shake up in the NHS/medical profession in understanding care/compassion and ensuring everyone has a good death as far as they can reasonably carry out.
End of life care is appalling and yes I have witnessed it first hand. I have an ongoing complaint with a certain hospital with regards to end of life. 6 yrs and slowly making some progress
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I have been offered compensation but it’s not about money, I witnessed my father’s appalling end of life and I was determined that nobody should go through that so I fight on, even though it has taken a huge emotional toll but they know that. Medical professionals know that none of us know what end of life is until it’s actually happening. More education is needed and families, loved one’s should have access to the whole process so all are prepared. It’s thrust upon us with emotions already hanging by a thread and then it’s us that have to deal with the aftermath. No wonder people have Ptsd
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@Sarlyn if you have terminal disease such as cancer, it’s not going to be a good death, no matter how you cut it
It’s a slow, painful degeneration of your body until you wither away.
A person with a terminal illness should have the right to decide at what point along that journey they want to exit
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@Sarlyn I believe that the explanation of end of life is purposely held back by medical and palliative doctors, because it would result in a lot more rogue assisted deaths if people knew what they were in for
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It is accompanied suicide regardless and profitable at that …sorry just my opinion
@MemoriesOfUs
I totally understand as I have been through it but at any point in anyone’s life they can choose to exit, it’s not difficult, it’s called suicide so why pay 20k to a company who at the end of the day profits financially? It’s morally wrong and what about people who can’t afford it? What happens to them?
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@Sarlyn Medical intervention in any respect is profitable these days, always has been since Doctors won the argument back in 48 not to be included as civil servants. Assisted dying can be described as suicide, people will profit, capitalism is what we have. If assisted dying was offered on NHS, would shareholders make a dividend? It’s very much what I was wondering when I started this thread. I think that this subject will become more urgent as time passes, more of us are able to exchange our experience of what we have witnessed. Even with the daydream, ultimate health service, for a lot of situations, there needs to be a way out for the person who is suffering.
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There won’t be an NHS soon, it’s broken and primed ready to be privatised.
How do you see assisted dying becoming an option in the UK? How would it be processed?
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@Sarlyn
Point of assisted dying is to have a painless death, not have a more painful death by trying something that might not work and take hours/days to kill you, or leave you with injuries and right back where you started.
Someone dying of terminal illness and at the point of considering this, isn’t physically able to execute a definitive suicide.
It’s a private medical service offered - ensuring a painless dignified transition and handling all the ensuing details.
It should be up to the patient if they want to use that service and pay for it or not
A private medical business exists to make profit
Dignitas is registered as non profit, even though there are some disclosure criticisms
@Sarlyn I very much see it starting like this, people of very different backgrounds having an open debate about the whys and wherefores. Beyond that, there’s quite a few countries and regions to have a look at who have implemented legislation and see how they have done e.g. Switzerland, Canada, Oregon. This subject is being discussed, debated and implemented, there are paths to look at.
@Walan a start would be to decriminalise it, so if you want to and are prepared to pay, you can go to Switzerland without being arrested on re entry just for being there by your loved ones side
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Everyone should have a peaceful death not just those that can afford to pay for it…death is the card we are all unfortunately dealt with, I find it grotesque that only people who can pay for it get to choose to go out on a fluffy white cloud…but then this is what it comes down to putting a value/price on death…morally and utterly wrong but that’s my opinion
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@Sarlyn that’s very much my point, why should anyone have to pay for the privilege? Shouldn’t it be access to anyone who chooses it? Shouldn’t we all have that option if it’s what we want.