@MemoriesOfUs @Walan , please feel free to tell me if I’m talking rubbish . But could grief be a reason given for assisted death ( isolation / loneliness) also , if these assisted deaths did take place , could organ donation be used as well , it makes you think , if your life is not worth living , could you help someone who does want to live . If monitors are reading I’m not suicidal.X
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I think we’re coming from the same place with regards to the legislation in Canada, just differing interpretations of the way it has progressed.
Perceived burden on family is always one of the doubts I’ve had with assisted dying. It shifts the decision from the institution to the individual and that does place weight on the person. And again we’re back to positions of ethics and morals.
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@Broken2222 if the pause is lifted on the existing legislation for mental illness, then in theory yes - grief could be and often is classed as PTSD
It’s a very slippery slope
I find it concerning that the only thing standing between a young girl with anorexia successfully applying for assisted dying, in Canada, is a pause in the existing legislation
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@MemoriesOfUs I’d have thought that imaginary young girl would have to convince a multitude of mature individuals and end up as a middle aged woman before she got anywhere close to accessing assisted dying.
@Walan it’s the law of unintended consequences - as you broaden the definition of illnesses that qualify and move from clearly defined terminal illness with no scope, it becomes very open to interpretation and abuse
One woman was granted assisted death because she suffered from MCS and there was second hand smoke in the building and chemical cleaners used for the hall and she couldn’t afford to move
@MemoriesOfUs Maybe Canada have went in to strong, I’m really not up on all the details. But I do think that assisted dying does have to look at chronic acute mental illness, chronic being long term, acute being debilitating, it’s a very long path compared to physical issues.
This has been part of the conversation I was hoping for when I began, where do things stop? For some of us the right to assisted dying sound like a no brainier, but in some circumstances it becomes incredibly sinister. It’s going to come up.
18 years or older and application for eligibility assessment must be completed within 90 days
If the law allows for assisted dying for mental illness - in this case anorexia - what are you convincing mature individuals of? You have anorexia - that was diagnosed as basis of the application
I would hope it’s taken more seriously when a young girl applies, but if it’s within the legal framework, there will be cases where it’s just pushed through - it’s not a central body making the decision
It’s a very slippery slope
Yeah I agree - there’s more to it if the legislation is not clearly defined and there’s unintended consequences
I do think Canada have jumped the gun on this without doing it gradually and seeing what the real life impact is
Seems it’s not isolated though, similar thing in Belgium
I’ll have more of a look into that, thanks, the only thing I see on line re. Canada relates to a 47 year old. My point about convincing mature individuals still stands, you may be able to apply for this at 18 but I doubt it’s just a matter of rubber stamping and off to the suicide booth. But as I say I have no real knowledge…
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I would hope not
The girl in Belgium was only 23 PTSD from 2016 attack by two suicide bombers that she witnessed - she was 17 at time
She tried suicide a couple of times and was on lots anti depressants etc so complex, but still, 23 is very young to be granted assisted suicide
I think we are a very very long way off assisted suicide in this country. We legislate against rather than for. It’s easier to place a blanket “no” than to have a safeguarded yes.
I think it’s cruel to make someone suffer, physically or mentally.
I asked my GP for a DNAR, I was refused as I have no physical illness, I was also advised by the medical profession that even a legal document would not prevent life saving medical treatment being administered against my wishes if it was deemed in my best interest.
I have no desire, no reason, no need to live this empty life, I’m not asking for assistance in helping me die I just want the right to do it when the time comes, without the worry someone will bring me back.
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@MoBe I agree, and this type of legislation in countries like Canada, Belgium and few other European countries are going to be cited as the dangers and slippery slope of writing assisted dying into law
I’m of the same mind as you. My dear mum took a stroke,was paralysed down one side, lost her speech and completely lost her quality of life and dignity, but lived for another 5 years.
I lost my wife last month and cared for her at home for 3 years. She was bedbound , in pain and thoroughly miserable, weighing less than 5 stone.
Neither of these great ladies deserved or even wanted their fate.
I realise that laws need to be changed, but if there is no hope of recovery and there is great pain and suffering, a person should have the right to chose.
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Guardian article:
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I think it’s absolute madness that whilst compos mentis we’re not allowed a say in how/when we die.
We can have controls in place to protect against coercion, I think those in opposition are being protectionist and lack empathy.
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