Right to die
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Life is precious. If it becomes intolerable you may want it to stop but is it fair to ask others to do that for you? There's a fine line here.
For me the question is a philosophical one; it depends upon how you would answer questions about life after death, right and wrong and the value of life itself. The problem is that questions of this nature are tied up with spiritualism, deep emotions and personal experiences. It is hard to have a debate without referring to these emotive themes; thus a gulf appears between the rationalists, who may appear cold and uncaring, and everyone else. Many of us don't seem to have this problem when it relates to our pets- we stoically accept the responsibility we have to end their suffering, yet our own species does not seem to be afforded this type of mercy. I suppose my opinion would be that it is ultimately a matter choice for that individual, because we all have different concepts of what is intolerable. The question of whether it is fair to ask someone to help us depends upon the person we are asking and their feelings about the above questions. I personally hope that I would have the strength to help a loved one or friend if they needed me, however, it would be nice to say goodbye to that person with the right support and without the spectre of society’s judgement hanging over me.
I would strongly suggest watching The diving bell and the butterfly. If you want a brilliant view of someone with 'locked in syndrome' watch this film. You can experience the devastating effect it has on someones life and how it feels to be trapped in a body without being able to use normal lines of communication. I think the law should be changed so people in such a terrible situation can be allowed to end their torment. Like the previous post said, we wouldn't leave animals in this amount of suffering so why should we be left to suffer in the name of humanity, surely it would be kinder to let people like Tony have their wish. There is no tougher decision to make than to end your own life so i have total respect for him for having the strength to make the choice. At the end of the day you do not live another persons life. How can you truly know their pain and suffering?
We currently have systems and Law that acknowledge and respect personal choice through DNR, mental capacity and personal legal Wills. These are based on the ability of each of us to make a decision about our lives and maintain the privilege of choice that a free society extols. It is tragic when our ability to choose to be pain free or live with little dignity and respect is removed from us. This debate will determine just how humane we are.
We currently have systems and Law that acknowledge and respect personal choice through DNR, mental capacity and personal legal Wills. These are based on the ability of each of us to make a decision about our lives and maintain the privilege of choice that a free society extols. It is tragic when our ability to choose to be pain free or live with little dignity and respect is removed from us. This debate will determine just how humane we are.
We currently have systems and Law that acknowledge and respect personal choice through DNR, mental capacity and personal legal Wills. These are based on the ability of each of us to make a decision about our lives and maintain the privilege of choice that a free society extols. It is tragic when our ability to choose to be pain free or live with little dignity and respect is removed from us. This debate will determine just how humane we are.
In my opinion, our advances in clinical skills and technology to provide assisted living have not been matched by similar advances in our moral and ethical development to provide assisted dying.
As ever, it is much easier to treat a patient as a series of problems to be fixed (extending the quantity of life), rather than seeing them as a whole person (taking into account quality of life, too).
The medical profession has a duty to work on this very challenging issue. We need to actively inform the public debate, not stand on the sidelines. We have the power to extend patients' quantity of life, but appear loathe to become involved in the political process required to help the 1000s of patients and families stuck in this tragic limbo.
Surely this is all about care?
Most seem to be so appalled by the situation of locked in patients that the attitude seems to be 'let them die'.
This was the situation at Stoke Mandeville, until Dr Guttman arrived and radically changed attitudes to the para and quadriplegic patients. This was brilliantly portrayed in the drama on BBC the other night.
What has happened to the old fashioned ethos of care that was once the philosophy of medicine and nursing? Is the attitude that 'we can't do anything to help, so just let them die' a right one?
Far better in my view to care for the patient so that they feel important and genuinely cared for, in a loving environment where they don't feel a burden and their distress is recognised and eased instead of being reinforced. Rather like the original hospice care started by Dame Cicely.
Isn't thus what care for the patient is really all about, instead of seeking an easy way out all the time?
There is a flip side to this conversation.
There are patients who wish to live, but the doctors have to leave them to die, even though drugs are available that might preserve their lives.
An important point is that these people have lost their ability to end their lives and if they rationally decide their lives are intolerable -they are looking to us to help them end their torment
I can't imagine how absolutely terrifying it must be to have no control over your own destiny
So much research has led to treatments that reduce the opportunities of a quick and appropriate exit to this world. Many very elderly people in nursing and residential homes linger on in limbo which is distressing to them and their families. One 98-year-old lady said to me yesterday 'I have had the most wonderful life--- but the last 2 years have been intolerable, I have been more than ready to go for 24 months--- but I still get given antibiotics--- I would not have let my cat go through this.' She has expressed this view on many occasions, is rational and does not come over as depressed. She took out an advanced directive 11 years ago when she was well but this has not given her the protection that she wanted. More people are going to be in this situation in the future and the topic does deserve public debate. Research needs to consider appropriate death as well is life.
I agree that there needs to be research about the end of life to encourage planning - including the option to die when we have had enough from our lives. This is such a difficult topic and I am concerned that by expressing a view I will expose myself to the wrath of pro-lifers, so am posting this anonymously. Hardly anyone plans to live in a care home, it is usually a crisis move from home or hospital. We just end up there because there is nowhere else to go when we are unable to live in our own homes. Choosing to die is definitely not an 'easy way out' but a really tough decision. I have had a living will for many years and will support my family in their life and death choices. Although I agree that clinical treatments and assistive technology have advanced considerably the missing element is whether we want to change our lives and learn new skills to access these technologies (the example of Stoke Mandeville refers to younger people) - many older people don't use walking sticks and are reluctant to modify their homes.
The decision to die is not taken easily, but having to die early (going to Switzerland) due to the lack of options in the UK is not humane. As a society we should be discussing this in a balanced and supported way without the fear of persecution and prosecution.
Every person is unique, but as a human race we are genetically programmed to fight to live, but our genotype is also programmed to die. Somewhere amongst all the discussion on euthanasia is a rarely discussed point I would like to introduce: the strange phenomenon that there appears to already be a choice element in dying and those who have worked in palliative care do see dying people simply ‘letting go’ of life shortly after seeing the loved one or making it to an a important date/event.
The problem is not whether he should be allowed to let someone kill him but rather how on earth do we enshrine that right in law in a way which avoids even the slightest loophole.
To my mind it seems virtually impossible to allow such acts without opening the door for murderers to claim the victim had asked (or that they believed that was wanted).
I don't know enough about the law but I suspect that the court cannot rule on just this case (in which case he should have won). More likely is that a favourable judgement would have set legal precedent and, indirectly, a new law which would not have had the extra safeguards one would want.
Surely we need to tease out some different scenarios:
1) where an otherwise healthy (or at least viable) person expresses the wish to die - for whatever reason
2) where a person with a chronic or terminal condition expresses a wish to die
3) where a person with some severe impairment is unable to express any wish, but is considered to have a very poor quality of life and so should be allowed to or assisted to die
These have rather different ethical and practical considerations.
There is the separate question of whether clinicians should be required to enact a person's wishes. Clearly withdrawing treatment if the person wishes it must be respected, but is there either an ethical or regulatory duty to support those seeking death either by active involvement or at least assist by prescribing suitable drugs to be taken or directing to other places where such support may be available?
Clearly governance controls to avoid or at least limit the potential for abuse will be critical.
Jennifer K is correct. I witnessed this with my own mother. She had end stage lung cancer and was heavily sedated although she knew we were with her - she actually spoke a couple of words to me before she passed away.I could see her struggling and said to her "let go mum"
Shortly after she did.
We ought to be strong enough to let folk die and to assist them if we know that is their wish.The problem is how do we have a system that is watertight and not open to abuse?
Life was never meant to carry on to the bitter end. As the lady said - she wouldn't let her cat go through this
