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.

Yes!
I've seen end of life care <shudder> and how bad dementia can get too.

I.do.not.want.to.ever.get.to.end.of.life.care

I have told DH too, not that he could do anything, unless he was prepared to smoother me and face a murder charge.

We treat our pets better.

Definitely. I don't want DS to have to feel obligated to visit me in a care home for years while I dribble and stare blankly at him, having no idea who he is. Just end it please.

Totally

Absolutely yes. I have no life insurance, as no children or mortgage, and leaving everything to charity, so no issues there. More worried about being in pain, hopeless, unable to care for myself, or unable to recognise my loved ones.

Yes I absolutely would, I sign all the petitions etc I’m not even ill at the moment but I’ve felt this way all my adult life ( but would have tried to hang on when my children were young). I’d sign one now for future use if it were legal. All my family know my wishes i love life and want to enjoy it for as long as I can but after that what’s the point? I joke I’m saving up tablets ( not really a joke and it’s something I’m seriously considering). I’ve seen older relatives live on for, in some cases years, in a state you wouldn’t keep a dog alive in. I had one older relative who though ill was doing okay right up to the last minute, then they literally dropped down dead. Who wouldn’t want to go like that?

Yes.

Yes, 100 per cent. I saw my best friend die in terrible pain, and she was receiving palliative care.

I'm just glad that where I live , Australia, assisted suicide is already legal.

Yes. If I could sign up now I would.

God yes. I really this will be possible in my lifetime (pardon the pun)

really HOPE this will be possible that should have said

100% yes I’ve seen many deaths the majority painful and lingering. I’m not even sure I would fight a terminal illness it would depend on my quality of life. We all end up at the same destination when we die I don’t understand why anyone would not want to be helped along before the journey becomes unbearable.

I would sign something now stating the terms where I would like to die rather than live. It should be a preemptive option.

Yes I would absolutely do this! The insurance matter is a consideration however if it gets to the stage of requiring significant amounts of care then the costs of that could well balance a reduced pay out.

Absolutely yes. I've always been in favour of it, but after watching my dad die a slow and awful death from Huntington's disease, it's cemented my view of it.

You sign now, before you get dementia.

I would do it in a heartbeat

Yea definitely. I watched my grandparent die from dementia. It's an awful disease. I wouldn't want my child and family to have to see me get to the worst stages. People should be allowed to decide for themselves.

Yes I would. My dad has dementia and it is misery for him and everyone who loves him

Yes, I looked into going to a clinic overseas but it was such a difficult and long process.

Yes! Currently got a front seat to my 62yr old dad declining with dementia everyday. The scary thing is that physically he is in great shape so it is not inconceivable that he might live for another decade plus, but with the rate of cognitive decline over the last 12 months he will be a shell in the next year or two. It seems unbearably cruel to keep someone alive in that state. I just hope and pray that when it is my turn to go down the same road (rare, hereditary type
of dementia) that there is either treatment available by then or at the very least assisted suicide.

Yes.

I wouldn’t, but I would want a very clear plan not to admit to hospital/not for aggressive treatment once I am past a certain stage of frailty. I’m quite happy to be kept comfortable at home, to slip away. I would not want surgery or any other heroics if it wasn’t likely I’d return to independent living afterwards.

I would yes

Yes.

No, I wouldn't. And I don't think it's a good idea. There is too much uncertainty about death to know if the alternative is worse. I'm an atheist and Don't believe in an afterlife but who knows? I'm scared of death and I like being alive though I think that once you are dead nothing really matters.

The only time I can see myself wanting to die was if I was in unbearable pain or (I would like to think) if my being alive would cause my children unbearable pain somehow. I might change my mind later but even then how could I ever know that I wouldn't change my mind again? I respect if people of sound mind decide that they can't bear life anymore or just want to not be alive for some reason but it's not something that anyone should be asked or allowed to.comitt to in advance. In my view.

Life and whatever it throws at us is finite. Death is not. Being alive (even if undignified...) Is not something I would easily sign away.

Yes, I absolutely would do this. I’d be happy to sign it now and outline that if I reached a certain level of cognitive decline, I would with to be assisted to die. It’s outrageous that we put people through years of horrendous confusion and pain, when very few people would opt to live like that. The same with terminal illnesses. Who wants that last couple of months of severe pain and very limited quality of life? Virtually no one.