Would you choose Doctor Assisted Suicide for yourself?

[MooseBreath]

Hypothetically, would you wish to sign a waiver in early stages of dementia or an illness that would one day severely reduce cognitive function? Or what circumstances would you want Doctor Assisted Suicide, if any?

I was thinking about it and I would. I don't want to live in a world without recognising my loved ones or where I cannot remember to do basic things like go to the toilet, wash myself, or eat. At that stage, for me, quality of life would be too far gone.

Maybe signing early on with very clear boundaries on what I was able to do and understand. Kind of like in the book "Still Alice".

Inspired by the thread on euthanasia and MAiD. Not here to start a bunfight, not here to discuss whether or not euthanasia should be legal, not here to discuss the ramifications of MAiD.

Interested to hear people's thoughts on the matter, purely about themselves.

100% yes. I've seen three elderly people in absolute misery due to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and general old age meaning dependency on other people for all care etc. All three of them would openly say they wanted to go.

Absolutely .

Yes. It's no life when someone else needs to feed you and wipe your bum. Or when you don't even remember who you are.

Euthanasia works as an option with illnesses like MS or MND where the body degenerates but the mind is often still intact. How does someone with dementia consent to Euthanasia?

Yes I would. I think as humans we live really excellent lives - and long lives too - but often compromised by a slow decline at the end. If I could be confident of saying "enough" at the point where my quality of life is no longer good, I would look at ageing much more positively.

Yes. I would like if you could sign some sort of contract that when you get to an age or state of health were you no longer feel that you have any quality of life that you could just take a pill and fall asleep, without any repercussions for others. I can imagining getting into my 80s, my health failing, in pain, having a lovely party with all my family, then going to bed and not waking up. Perfect.

yes, I currently have a friend diagnosed with terminal cancer. They are in pain every single day & been given about 3 months. It's really sad to see someone just suffer when the outcome will be the same

I absolutely would.

100% and desperately hope we get to grips with this issue before I get there.

Yes I would.

Yes 100% yes. The elderly parents board on here is a horrendous read sometimes. So many old people in pain, lost, confused and no quality of life. Not for me, and I wouldn't burden my children with having to care for me so if it's not made legal I'll figure a way out myself, hopefully when I still have enough marbles to do so.

Yes I would also. Any life limiting disease where you just slowly lose all faculties and dignity, then I believe you should be able to sign some sort of paperwork now. While in sound mind, as to what you want to happen in later life.

Without any doubt yes

I'd like the option.

Yes.

Watching my dad slowly die of MND was horrific, I'll never do that to my children. Having a clear and well regulated path to medically assisted death is necessary and it's shameful it doesn't already exist.

Allow people the dignity that we afford a sodding dog.

There was a very recent (in last week) consultation on assisted death which I filled in.

Article from Polly Toynbee on the subject just before the deadline to respond. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/19/die-pain-government-assisted-dying-survey?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Yes for me

I have fears for the mental health of HCP’s in elder care.

100% yes.

Yes 100%

Yes.

I think we should have the right to decide for ourselves what life we do not want to have to live.

Most definitely.

Something to think about ....The implication for life insurance would change.
Suicide voids most life insurance policies doesn't it? Would it be different if your family would lose in on inheritance etc?

Absolutely!

Yes, 100% for myself. I would like to be able to choose the time and place, when and where I would die. I'd like to be able to say, I'm ready now and to fall asleep peacefully and never wakeup.

I am not afraid of death but afraid of pain, dementia or being unable to care for myself due to infirmity. It's wrong, cruel and there should be a choice. I don't agree with the choice being made on behalf of others though, it should be the person themselves making that choice....if I had a dementia diagnosis I would want to go long before I couldn't understand what was happening.

Yes I would