assisted suicide

[madchives]

i remember as i am sure a lot of people do dr. don low
from his info during the sars outbreak.
he 'dumbed down' the info so i could understand.
(personally he was a doc at the hospital i was born in)

was sad to hear when he had the brain tumor, and sighingly sad
to hear how he has died, without any input really into how
he did and of course susan rodriquez quotes seem appropriate
'whose body is this?' and 'who owns my life?'
in the video dr. don's eye had to be taped
open as he had lost the muscle control.



her situation was also heartbreaking

[Patty Smyth]

I am for it under controlled circumstances. I've seen way too much suffering.

Personally think doctors don't want to admit it when they are wrong and can't help people. I think that is one of the stumbling blocks to passing legislation. I think it's ego over ethics.

Dr. Kevorkian got it right.

[Patty Smyth]

He says it a 4:49 , "I wish they could live in my body for 24 hours and they would change that opinion."

[madchives]

He says it a 4:49 , "I wish they could live in my body for 24 hours and they would change that opinion."

exactly where the logic/feeling lives patty.
i do hope his wife is not quite telling the truth and he did have a quiet passing,
he more than deserved it, but does everyone when/if we want.
am glad he did the vid brings the subject back to the surface once again

[vesper]

OK i admit I'm sympathetic to some people who wish this, and wish there was a way to ensure those people get help.

But once you start this, then it becomes expanded to putting mentally ill people under, pressuring elderly to do this and in time, government looking to save a few bucks by appointing a representative to make these choices for some people.

Now that in europe they want to expand this to children and people who are depressed, you can imagine it will be only 10 - 15 years until judges or officials will have the power to impose choices on people.

[Lynn49]

Well, I for one certainly do have an opinion!

I watch my best friend of over 20 years go from a vital, happy woman, in two years pleading for death and a release from the torment of ALS! I honestly don't know if I could have been by her side without assisting her.

Much before she was diagnosed we each saw a documentary which took place in Europe...it may have been Norway (?), where people in their final days are admitted into a lovely, home-like facility...their loved ones pay them one last visit, they leave, and that evening that person dies. She and I talked about it and both agreed that's the way we'd like to go. Unfortunately she was forced to endure weeks of pain and humiliation! She died a tragic death.

Vesper, I, too, thought that way...that it would be a slippery slope, but that's not the case there. Admission is carefully determined by many doctors in various fields before a person is approved for that program. It's humane...it's a beautiful end before suffering begins. Until I was in the kind of pain where I wished for death, I don't think I fully understood the desire, the need to leave this earth.

Death isn't what scares me....dying, is.

We treat our animals more humanely than we treat humans.

[vesper]

If the line is drawn there... as I said, I am all for it.

But when they expand the definition to includes depressed 16 year olds.... nope!

I'm deeply sorry about your friend.

Well, I for one certainly do have an opinion!

I watch my best friend of over 20 years go from a vital, happy woman, in two years pleading for death and a release from the torment of ALS! I honestly don't know if I could have been by her side without assisting her.

Much before she was diagnosed we each saw a documentary which took place in Europe...it may have been Norway (?), where people in their final days are admitted into a lovely, home-like facility...their loved ones pay them one last visit, they leave, and that evening that person dies. She and I talked about it and both agreed that's the way we'd like to go. Unfortunately she was forced to endure weeks of pain and humiliation! She died a tragic death.

Vesper, I, too, thought that way...that it would be a slippery slope, but that's not the case there. Admission is carefully determined by many doctors in various fields before a person is approved for that program. It's humane...it's a beautiful end before suffering begins. Until I was in the kind of pain where I wished for death, I don't think I fully understood the desire, the need to leave this earth.

Death isn't what scares me....dying, is.

We treat our animals more humanely than we treat humans.

[TrueNorthTreasures]

I believe the program/service you mentioned might be in Switzerland.

The Suicide Tourist (documentary)

http://video.pbs.org/video/1430431984/

[thriftygranny]

I listened to a radio interview with Susan Griffiths right before she left for Switzerland to complete her wishes.She made a huge impact on me, a very brave woman.Here is the link to the news article.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadia...land-1.1253308

[Lynn49]

If the line is drawn there... as I said, I am all for it.

But when they expand the definition to includes depressed 16 year olds.... nope!

I'm deeply sorry about your friend.

Thank you, Vesper...I miss her every single day....

[Lynn49]

I believe the program/service you mentioned might be in Switzerland.

The Suicide Tourist (documentary)

http://video.pbs.org/video/1430431984/

That might be the one, TG...I'll watch it through again...It may be the same clinic, but perhaps another documentary was made for that facility...thanks, Hon...I only with my soul-sister could have had that opportunity....

[TudorChick]

I am all for it. Always have been. We treat our beloved pets with more dignity and respect than our fellow humans and cherished loved ones. My husband is against it. He is also against burial. These are my wishes..I had to go get a living will because my man i love most won't honor my wishes. he wants me cremated which i do not want, he also wants my organs not be donated, and he will not allow me to die as per my DNR i have in my will. I feel i should be in charge of my life, even my own husband is fighting me should anything happen. These are my wishes. I wish for DNR, organ donation and burial. He will not allow this so i had to make a living will in case something happens to me. I could never imagine fighting for how to die with my husband!!

[Lynn49]

Oh, TutorChick, I'm so sorry you had to go to those lengths to have your wishes recognized. I hope those papers are in the hands of someone who respects them....

[madchives]

so sorry lynn to hear about your best friend, how wicked
it must have been knowing and yet being trapped by laws etc.

and yes it is true that we have been able to help the animals
more than people, even when it is obvious.
but in those situations we had the 'power' not the gov't/laws.

not sure about dnr now but my brothers and i overrode my mom's
as we figured she didn't realize that if she had a stent operation
she might need a breathing tube, and was in no state to answer.
sighing for all the good that did.
but is something one needs to consider.

i know this is a very difficult conversation, but is so heartbreaking
to see people who really need/should and want to be somewhere else
not be allowed to, especially when one thinks they may not be physically
able to themselves and need help.
and why should anyone need to leave their own country (if they can) to get
be able to legally.

as for the slippery slope, would be hopeful whenever we have
a federal gov't that cares enough to pass this, they would also be one
to include making sure we (don't slide) are all protected from that.

[madchives]

that is very sad to hear tudorchick, and as lynn said protect your wishes.

i guess when a couple get together this subject and others do not always show up until they do.
and if you love the person just add the paperwork, sounds better then breaking up maybe.
good lord beginning to sound like i am reading dear abby, sorry.
and not intentionally trying to up lift the topic