dr. jack kevorkian on 60 minutes
 

just seen Dr. jack on 60 minutes i guess he just got out of jail---(8 years already)......i guess i have mixed opinions. I know we have laws that say he should not have done what he did, but on the other hand he only helped people who were suffering and ultimately were going to die. If i have to lean one way or another i would have to agree that our government should allow us to have assisted suicides and it should be up to the individuals choice. I believe oregon is the only state in the region that allows doctor assisted siuicides. I know that if it was myself or any of my family members that inevitably were going to die and were suffering terribly i would have no problem with it........any way i'm anxious to hear other opinions on this "right to die" topic......thx

I'm hoping some liberals call upon his services;)

Re: dr. jack kevorkian on 60 minutes
 

You do realize that everyone is ultimately going to do, and there are times in life we go through a lot of suffering.

On the other end of the spectrum, modern medicine often allows people with terminal diseases to prolong their lives for a few weeks or months, often with excruciating pain.

I'm all for allowing people to choose to end their lives painlessly.

Thanks to all the good Dr's specialized in pain management for terminal patients ... is all what I will say after I lost my mom and dad to cancer ... both in less than a year.

+1, jordi.

I'm visiting in the Netherlands right now and here Euthanasia is permitted by the law. They have a very good system in place, requiring interviews with independent physicians to ensure that that truly is the patients desire and that the patient is competent to make that decision.

Even with such a good system in place, it is still one of the most difficult decisions to make as a patient. How do you decide a date? Should it be today, tomorrow, or maybe next week? I don't think that anything can prepare you for that until you have to face it.

The point I'm trying to make is that even with a very good legal and medical system in place, it still is an extremely complex issue. However, I do feel that just having the option can be a great relief to a terminally ill person as it gives them at least some type of control back.

There are some pains that even near-lethal doses of morphine won't help.

Re: Re: dr. jack kevorkian on 60 minutes
 

My Father died of bone cancer about 16 years ago. At one time we discussed his pain and the fact that the drugs (IV morphine) were not able to help. He asked me that if it got too bad if I could "assist him" with an easier way out.

It never came to that but as I was flying medivac at the time, the tools were available. Glad that I did not have to use them... still he spent the last 6 months bedridden and it must have been hell for him.

Back in May 2001, my father died from emphysema. Not to preach, but to any smokers out there, pray that lung cancer gets you first.

They made mention on 60 Minutes of assisted suicide going on at hospitals all the time. Here is what our family went through at most difficult time of our lives to that point.

That previous Fall, dad stated in his natural wit that when the ground thaws (Minnesota), he was ready to be the first one in. By Spring his skin had lost the pink color and he was ashen from lack of oxygen in his blood. The oxygen tank and tubes aimed at his nostrils weren't enough any more and any physical exertion caused him hours of discomfort trying to catch his breath.

He was admitted to the hospital that spring day. After monitoring him a few days, it was mutually decided by the doctors and family the time had come to say goodbye. While it was tough to see him linger for almost 5 days without food or water, the drugs kept him smiling occasionally. In the end he got his wish and was buried at first thaw. Essentially, he died from lack of nourishment, but the death certificate says complications from emphysema.

He might have lived indefinitely on mechanical support or confined to a bed, but why prolong the pain and suffering for not only him but all of us who suffered with him. He was a great man who deserved to die under his terms. We like to think he did.

My grandfather (Stan) died from COPD a year ago February 24th and fortunately wasn't in any pain and was fully aware of his surroundings until his last breath. He had a "good death" and it was peaceful and everything I had hoped it would be since he meant the world to us. He died in his bed, in our house, surrounded by his family and with a smile on his face.

I wish others could die this way and not have the horrible experience of pain, confusion, fear, etc...

I don't support "euthanasia" per se, but I fully support and encourage active pain management. Hospice helps a great deal and they need to contacted earlier in the dying "process" than they usually are... just my .02 worth.

my ex-wife did a helluva job working as a hospice nurse here in arkansas. she really got close to her patients and their families, but had to take breaks from time to time..the job could just get so emotional. i think they called it 'caregiver's fatigue'. still, i was invited to visit a number of families with her and it was always special to see this special bond.

I have lost both my parents to cancer. My dad went first and he was a proud man and at the time of his death the "standard" was to go to the hospital, be put in a morphine coma and hang on until the end. It was not the way my dad wanted to go. My mom passed last year and passed at home with the care of a great Hospice worker who provided her and the family great care and support. But in both cases had there been a option to end the suffering earlier I think we would have chosen that option as the quality of life had long passed. I'm not a religous person so that doesn't / didn't impact that decision. Not a easy decision for anyone to make and every situation is different. Either way I still miss my parents and always will.

another good word for hospice care from rfuerst. again, it's indeed a great service that they provide.