Right to die

[rodm]

I think the issue is when partners influence the decision for the other partner. If the decision is to end it all then their subconsious may be making the decision because they do not want to see their partner suffer anymore. The patient themselves may also wish to end it early to save their partner further grief.

If the decision is euthanasia then it must be made by the patient without influence from the other partner.

Doctors make decisions of life saving treatments based on the cost of the treatment, survival statistics, etc and if history proves them wrong are they to be held accountable? We are in an era where a lot more medical treatments and life extending medications are only available to the wealthy. To me withholding treatment is the same as accelerating the end so do we ignore these becuase it is a monetary issues?

The waters are muddy and I hope I never have to make the decision to turn off a life support system for a loved one.

[dzcook]

My mother has a no resuscitate cant think what its called the proper name anyway arrangement with her doc and that’s also at the hospital ( as far as I know ) being if she can only be kept alive with tudes and artificial means then she doesn’t get it and they are only to make her comfortable and pain free which I think is a good idea
But I wonder if this old chap had that would they have let him go ? anyway as it looked like a crime scene
and also how far gone was he when they found him ?
seems strange to me that the gas only killed one and not both at the same rate because you would assume that they went to bed at their normal time and turned the gas on then
anyway just a couple of thoughts on it

[Gingermick]

She was sicker, I think.
It was a bit of a silly way to do it as it put all their neighbours at risk, but I imagine they thought there was no alternative.

[rrich]

I pray to God that something is available and legal when it is my time.

[silentC]

Until more is known - really known, faith is all we have, and natural death is preferred over voluntary.

Trying to understand what you're suggesting here. It sounds suspiciously like you're saying that because we don't really know what happens after we die, we should take the safe option, which is to assume that because some religious groups insist that it's a sin to take your own life, that this should have some bearing upon whether euthanasia is allowable. I'd prefer to leave religion right out of these debates and I wish our politicians would do the same. If a person who is religious decides they want to take their own life, that should be between them and their 'god'. If they're not religious, then what right does a religious person have to judge them?

[jimbur]

Trying to understand what you're suggesting here. It sounds suspiciously like you're saying that because we don't really know what happens after we die, we should take the safe option, which is to assume that because some religious groups insist that it's a sin to take your own life, that this should have some bearing upon whether euthanasia is allowable. I'd prefer to leave religion right out of these debates and I wish our politicians would do the same. If a person who is religious decides they want to take their own life, that should be between them and their 'god'. If they're not religious, then what right does a religious person have to judge them?

SilentC is spot on in my mind. We vote for the politicians and after every election have to abide by the result. Perhaps the politicians should consider any religious interest they have as the same as a pecuniary interest and abstain from voting if their beliefs affect the making of a logical decision.
Jim

[joe greiner]

What I meant is that natural death is preferred by me, for me. An individual's faith, or non-faith, should be sufficient to guide their decision to take their own life. Euthanasia is an entirely different matter, because the judgment is controlled by someone else. Advance directives can illuminate the decision, but in the absence thereof, I see no alternative except to err on the side of caution. Religion doesn't need to be included, and probably shouldn't be. I think we agree on that.

I'm of the current sentiment that religion(s) may be the worst thing that ever happened to God. And that opinion is a Work-in-Progress too.

Joe

[jimbur]

can't disagree with much of what you say Joe.
Reminds me of the joke argument over the length of a piece of string. The rabbi stopped the argument by saying "at least you both agree it's a piece of string". The talking can't stop..
Jim

[dai sensei]

... I'd prefer to leave religion right out of these debates and I wish our politicians would do the same..

And lawyers

... I spent more than six weeks in hospital watching my wife die a slow and painful death. If my convictions/morals/beliefs had allowed me to I would have administered a fatal dose of morphine..

I felt for you Mick, it was not long after my father died. He took 4 years to die after his second stroke, bed-ridden, no function down one side, had his intelligence, but no basics. I visitted as often as I could and each time he begged me to kill him, but i couldn't. He was a proud man and was recognized at the top of his profession throughout the world, he did not deserve to die the way he did.

[jimbur]

Been there and it's no place where anyone should have to go.
Jim

[johnc]

Like Neil I've recently been there myself, to be honest if I'm ever in the position where there is no hope and all you have left is a few weeks of suffering and indignity, then you should be allowed to bring on the morphine and get it over and done with. I'm sick of the religious right, what I would like to see is more compassion and less barstadry from those who wish to impose a cruel morality on people who are at the end of there time on earth.

[jimbur]

Like Neil I've recently been there myself, to be honest if I'm ever in the position where there is no hope and all you have left is a few weeks of suffering and indignity, then you should be allowed to bring on the morphine and get it over and done with. I'm sick of the religious right, what I would like to see is more compassion and less barstadry from those who wish to impose a cruel morality on people who are at the end of there time on earth.

Cruel morality sums it up.
Jim

[Gingermick]

He pleased guilty and got a 2 year sentence wholly suspended. Hope his life improves from here on out.

[artme]

Ithink we are all morally "set up" as youngsters and for most in these forum I suggest that means there was astron religous copnonent in that "setting up", even if the family were not church attenders
Without being open to other standards or views of morality we are crippled by this upbringing when decisions are to be made. Not that another standard will necessarily make life easier. This confusion makes stories like this one alll the more poignant.

I watched my first wife die froma brain tumor. Not a pleasant experience. All I wanted was for it to be over for her and I spentsome time feeling guilty about that.

My own mother is 87 and her mind is more confused each week. She wants to be with dad, but is always pleased to see us and loves my globetrotter´s reports.

LOML´s mother is an unwell 83 and is confined to bed. While here I talk with her every day but she becomes confused and rambles.

Would I have acted to end the life of my first life and would I do it for the two current cases? Certainly not. And why not? Because I am just as confused as I was About 25 years ago.

Perhaps it´s better if I remain confused.