Should society take another look at human euthanasia ?

[greglepore]

The problem is it requires statutory immunity for health care providers, and its a political no no zone. Just look at abortion.
DNR's are easy, relatively. Don't restart my heart. Don't vent me.
But kill me? When? How? How do you write a document covering the bases that not only sets forth your intentions but binds your heirs? It's a rare doc that's going to risk a lawsuit from a distant relative without statutory protection, which, above, isn't happening.
So, what ya do is, hoard opiates. Tell a couple folks you love and trust that you know have cojones. Go from there.

[dewolf]

I watched my mother start dying of lymphoma when I was 13. In the last few days of her life, I’d have gladly given her the needle myself. It was horrific as a young teen to watch her waste away. Needless to say I’m all for terminal illness euthanasia.

[A930Rocket]

Both Ms. Rocket and I have DNR/Living will‘s/etc. Having seen my dad suffer for years with dementia and Parkinson’s, there’s no way I want to live like that. My mom is 94 and starting to get dementia along with other health problems.

I’d like to have an exit strategy before I get to that point.

[unclebilly]

Legal in Canada. I have 2 friends whose elderly loved ones have taken this option. One was 101 and just done, the other was a close friend’s mother in poor health.

At the end of the day, medical advances have allowed our bodies to outsurvive our brains and live far, far longer than they would have otherwise. When the brain is no longer functioning and the body still sorta works, what’s the point? I guess I will find out in 30 - 40 years…

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Legal in Canada. I have 2 friends whose elderly loved ones have taken this option.

I support it providing an impartial set of eyes or two approve.

(Odd, reminds me of the joke where the hospital can deny some of the names parents give newborns.)

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I support it providing an impartial set of eyes or two approve.

(Odd, reminds me of the joke where the hospital can deny some of the names parents give newborns.)

I tried to remove the possibility for any questions to be raised wrt my DNR by placing my home and most of my money into a trust managed by my kids. No other family members will be involved and no one can successfully challenge who inherits what.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by greglepore

The problem is it requires statutory immunity for health care providers, and its a political no no zone. Just look at abortion.
DNR's are easy, relatively. Don't restart my heart. Don't vent me.
But kill me? When? How? How do you write a document covering the bases that not only sets forth your intentions but binds your heirs? It's a rare doc that's going to risk a lawsuit from a distant relative without statutory protection, which, above, isn't happening.
So, what ya do is, hoard opiates. Tell a couple folks you love and trust that you know have cojones. Go from there.

I wouldn't think it would be that hard with a couple/few meds. I'm thinking something like muscle relaxers and sleeping pills maybe. I'm not sure that it's fair or a good idea to ask someone else to do the deed. Do it yourself or let nature take its course. But then I haven't been in the situation myself, clearly.

[daepp]

Hard "No"

[Crowbob]

My unmarried brother with no children sustained a massive brain bleed. Neuro Doc described to my sister and I what we were looking at on the MRI. He further described what his residual function would be if he survived. We decided to ‘pull the plug’.

Mom refused.

The discussion that followed was unpleasant. One that I care not ever to be involved in again. Anyway, she finally agreed. It was not very long afterward that we all three knew we’d made the right decision.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

It was not very long afterward that we all three knew we’d made the right decision.

That's good that your Mom came around. Has to be hardest on a mother.

Sorry for your loss.

[911 Rod]

I feel that we should be able to choose when we still have our wits.
But then what if we change our mind?
I had the very difficult decision with my mother. She had a brain tumor and then a stroke during surgery. After months in the hospital, she declined every day till she just laid there and screamed in pain if anyone touched her. She stopped eating her soft foods that were hand fed to her and I figured it was her way of saying she was done. My sister had them put a feeding tube in without talking to me. It just extended her agony. I had to get the doctors together to have a meeting with my sister to stop the feeding. Hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Still makes me teary. The she was moved to Hospice which is the most beautiful place on earth.
Before she even had the feeding tube put in a nurse was in a bad mood and vented to me.
She said that the night before she put her dog down that was in way better shape than my mother. Something should have been done to stop her pain much earlier.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

perhaps we should..
rabid animals don't get third or fifth chances..
neither should the 2 legged ones..
don't waste space or time..
it would clean the cesspool and others would learn..
and I will choose my bridge companions..
over todays trash all day long..


Rika

That's rough.

I'll go with case by case. But then we have to set up a review board. I'm not in favor of that. Has to be a coalition of doctors and immediate relatives. We know the doctors will CTA, so it won't happen frequently.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

The dementia posting made me think of this question . When a loved one is mentally gone but the body keeps going should euthanasia be an option ?

It should only be an option if the demented person has written clear instructions with specifics about their condition that would trigger euthanasia. I can't see a situation where anyone, even a loved one, says, "Dad is physically OK but mentally gone, so we're going to put him down."

I had to put a dog down last summer and I still revisit the decision, question myself, wonder if I really did the right thing, over and over and over. It's an impossibly hard decision to make.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by masraum

I wouldn't think it would be that hard with a couple/few meds. I'm thinking something like muscle relaxers and sleeping pills maybe. I'm not sure that it's fair or a good idea to ask someone else to do the deed. Do it yourself or let nature take its course. But then I haven't been in the situation myself, clearly.

I agree in principle, but if you're not able to do the deed yourself (I've been temporarily quadriplegic, so have a frame of reference) having a backup plan is needed. Yes, it'd be awfully hard on the designee, and I'd forgive them if they couldn't.

[Skytrooper]

I think it would be correct and right to have that option. Who here wants to be in that condition ? I certainly do not.

[hughc]

I've watched a few videos of people that have "supposedly" crossed the bridge for 5, 10 or 20 min. The videos are interesting if you want to believe them and in all cases they claim the other side is utopia. Some of them even claim they didn't want to "come back".
Maybe there is some truth in the saying "they've gone to a better place".
Might be better than just "vegetating".

[Crowbob]

I look at those anecdotes about crossing over and then coming back with skepticism. I’ve concluded that they went to a better place just before they died. It seems reasonable to me that the sensation of peacefulness is an evolutionary mechanism animals have been endowed with to avoid having to experience the unpleasantness of, say, being eaten by a lion.

[Zeke]

You would assume once the fight is over that the animal goes into a state of shock.

[HardDrive]

I honestly think it is barbaric to not have the option.

[Por_sha911]

Should society take another look at human euthanasia ?

Only if I get to chose who is a candidate. If anyone else sets the guidelines then the answer is NO!

(My obvious point is that I am not in favor of euthanasia and I don't trust the govt or doctors to make those decisions). How about if we can do retroactive abortions on certain politicians?