Assisted suicide

[Goodfella]

What are your views should it be legalised, like it is in Switzerland?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Agree with it, if I could sign a legal document that said the first sign of alzhemiers etc. take me round the back of the nearest building and dispatch me with a bullet to the base of the neck I'd sign it right now.

A stupid, extreme example but you get my drift.

 

[Woodchip]

It would lower the NHS deficit (sp?) as well.

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Agree with it. Can we sign other people up as well? Not necessarily with their knowledge?

I vote Norman "hic" Baker

 

[Goodfella]

I personally think it is down to the person and their immediate family, if they all agree and a doctor can verify that their isn't much that can be done, then i have no problem with it.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

i'm well for this but only if its valid, with a doctors letter and some form of consent from the person

 

[Beach Hut]

i'm well for this but only if its valid, with a doctors letter and some form of consent from the person

So what if the doctor is paid off to sign the letter and there is a huge insurance claim paid ?

Very tricky subject once the laws change open to abuse.

 

[Woodchip]

So what if the doctor is paid off to sign the letter and there is a huge insurance claim paid ?

Very tricky subject once the laws change open to abuse.

Simple. You write a clause into the policy saying that the client will be examined by one of the insurance company's own medical examiners.

Also if the GP was found to be open to corruption he can wave bye-bye to his licence to work in the medical profession, like Dr Shipman.


EDIT: If you want to be really strict say the policy won't cover assisted suicides. Problem solved.

 

[Yorkie]

People who are dying have good days and bad days.
On the bad days they will feel like commiting suicide but then will have a good day a couple of days later when a member of the family make them laugh etc.
It's too open to abuse.

Hospices are wonderful, caring even happy places where the whole person is treated. As much pain is relieved as possible and people die with dignity.

 

[jonogulls]

Hospices are wonderful, caring even happy places where the whole person is treated. As much pain is relieved as possible and people die with dignity.

And how many people, do you think, get a place at a hospice?

There are 3411 hospice beds in Britain. Most of us haven't got a chance of getting a bed.

 

[Yorkie]

And how many people, do you think, get a place at a hospice?

There are 3411 hospice beds in Britain. Most of us haven't got a chance of getting a bed.

Macmillan nurses at home as well.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Having worked with people with alzheimers there is no way on earth I'd want to live like that, I still remember having to get an escapee who was walking up the road at midday pushing a zimmer frame with his trousers round his ankles showing off his net undies that kept his incontinence pads in place and he never noticed a thing. Utterly soul destroying.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

I completely agree with it - you would put a dog down if it was suffering, why cant you put down a person who was suffering?

 

[Yorkie]

Having worked with people with alzheimers there is no way on earth I'd want to live like that, I still remember having to get an escapee who was walking up the road at midday pushing a zimmer frame with his trousers round his ankles showing off his net undies that kept his incontinence pads in place and he never noticed a thing. Utterly soul destroying.

That is the point though. Once you are like that, then you don't know you are.
How could you make an informed decision to commit suicide?

 

[jonogulls]

That is the point though. Once you are like that, then you don't know you are.
How could you make an informed decision to commit suicide?

So your argument is basically 'you don't realise you're f***ed and have no control over your body so it doesn't really matter anyway'.

If I want to die with dignity, why shouldn't I? Why should you tell me that I have to live with the immense suffering that many people have to endure?

 

[Theatre of Trees]

I'd write the agreement now, as I would not want to see my family in tears because an elder relative shouts at them because they don't recognise who they are. I would not them to know that I have to have two people hold me down so they can wipe my arse because I've crapped myself again and because I don't realise what has happened remove the pad because it's uncomfortable and laid it on the top of the sofa for everybody to see.

I remember one old lady who didn't know what day it was or what planet she was on crawl across the room whilst she had the runs and having removed her pads. Her family walked on saw a zigzag line of shit across the floor and promptly walk out never to visit again because it was too upsetting for them.

I swore blind when doing that job that I would never ever want to let that happen to me because it kills the ones you love. I'd much rather be dead than spend the night howling and shouting and being given doses of temazapan to get me to sleep. Having to be fed, washed, dressed, your arse wiped, your privates cleaned, your pads changed twice a night irrespective of whether you're sleeping or not. I would much rather die particularly if I did not know it just to save my loved ones the agony of seeing me rotting away whatever dignity I had left.

 

[Bwian]

A good friend of mine was diagnosed with ALS (Motor Neuron Disease) at the age of 34. He went from being an athletic, ice hockey, football and baseball playing, beer drinking normal guy to somebody reliant on others to wipe his ass for him within a couple of years of being diagnosed.

He never got the opportunity of an assisted suicide but I know for certain he would have taken that route. Who wouldn't when even having a dump takes away every last ounce of dignity? There isn't a hospice or McMillan type nurse on the planet that can restore a person's dignity when the simple act of taking a piss means either an incontinent pad or a stranger helping you to piss in a bottle.

He died eventually at age 44. His wife couldn't take the strain and asked his parents to take over for his remaining 4 or 5 years after untold years of constant caring.

 

[Pevenseagull]

yes please

 

[Da Man Clay]

Most certainly.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I would agree with it.

My mother works at the Martletts hospice and some of the patients there want to pain to go away, and can't do anything about it. Despite decent care, people should have the choice.