Prue Leith and Assisted Dying.

[Jaichangecentfoisdenom]

I happened on this discussion earlier today, on LBC:www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/david-lammy/prue-leith-makes-case-for-assisted-dying/ I've made it clear to my family that when the time comes, if I'm suffering from a terminal illness, I'm off to Dignitas in Switzerland - but I'm lucky, we can afford it. Religious reasons aside, what would you want for family and yourself?

Death sentence?

I thought the vast majority want the death sentence brought back but it never will be (hopefully)

Thanks for the info to the link. Very interesting debate but I'm still pro-assisted dying after listening.

I feel the sane. As does my mum. Unfortunately it's a minefield / hard to get what you want.

"I guess the doctor could have been telling you that the symptoms weren’t controlled and that they would give more medication to control the pain but a side effect of that may be that he could die sooner."
@taybert Thank you, that makes complete sense.

Yes, exactly. My mother has had dementia for 9 years, and has been in a care home for the last 5 of those. A DNAR was agreed nearly five years ago but as you say that has proved irrelevant, there has been no event requiring resuscitation. She has just slowly declined. She is now entirely dependent on the carers, she is incontinent, immobile, has to be fed pureed foods, has no idea who anyone is and has no comprehension what's happening.

As far as we can tell she is not in pain. But she is sometimes distressed and her quality of life is zero, it is just an existence.

Where is this amazing "care" that pro lifers say we should be getting instead of euthanasia.
I've worked in the NHS for 40 years and apart from a few excellent hospices it doesn't exist.
I am a member of dignitas and have saved up enough money to go there and end it when I feel the time is right.
Just as I assisted all my beloved pets to die when their end came. Its my right and my right only to decide my own fate and I don't want to have to survive some ghastly botched suicide attempt.

This. The moment I got a diagnosis of dementia, if capable I would commit suicide. I don’t want my family to see me fade out and become someone they don’t recognise, nor do I want that for myself. I’m all for it.

The best care in the world can’t spare you the pain and indignity of many conditions.

amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/19/die-pain-government-assisted-dying-survey

I think we need to be kinder about the medication we give to keep people alive.
I know personally I won't be taking any medication.
I think it would be better if we reevaluated if it was ethical to prescribe life extending medications. Or at least if we should be having discussions with the patient before doing so.
Surely thats better than killing ourselves off ? Letting us die naturally

That's from the 'Today 17 people will likely die in unimaginable pain article. It also provides a link to the Inescapable Truth report from Dignity in Dying.

https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/DiDInescapableeTruthWEB.pdf

I was pro until I read how it's turned out in Canada. Dear god. Not good at all.

In theory I am pro-assisted dying.

My main concern is that this government will no doubt use it as a reason to further reduce health provision which would lead to people taking this option before it becomes necessary.

I couldn't agree more with assisted dying as the way I had to watch my father suffer was horrendous 😢 you wouldn't leave a dog in that position so I don't understand why you would leave a human, it was torture to watch my father and I ended up with ptsd due to this.

I wouldn't want to put my children and family through that and would rather die with dignity

I'll be having "assisted dying".... legal or not.

Would you think like that about a beloved pet? Dying is an unpleasant business. My grandparents withered away in a home, doubly incontinent, barely verbal and confused. My dog was given an injection by the vet and curled up in her bed and went to sleep surrounded by familiar smells and faces at the end of a long and happy life.

I know which one I’d consider the more dignified end.

I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean about how it's turned out in Canada? Googling just finds me links to the laws in place. Nothing about bad consequences. Could you put up a link to what you have read, please?

There have been articles where disabled people have been offered assisted death when requesting treatment.

Some people want to carry on as long as possible some would prefer to die at a time of their choosing. It’s not mandatory it’s a choice to be made by informed individuals.

Perfectly workable. Anyone (with mental competence) can set up an Advance Medical Directive , in writing, signed and witnessed specifying exactly what treatment they will accept or refuse in the future.
Its free.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/advance-decision-to-refuse-treatment/

beta.compassionindying.org.uk/living-will-advance-decision/

Then do this now.

beta.compassionindying.org.uk/living-will-advance-decision/

I think it’s harder with regards to dementia. (Aunt had it, but was actually very happy and thought was in a hotel not a nursing home).

Cancer etc where people are screaming in pain, vomiting their own faeces, blinded, confused, scared etc absolutely. I’ve seen people suffer. I don’t want to suffer.

I didn't know about this programme so will go and watch it now.

Thanks, @2bazookas. I don't currently live in the UK, and it is more than likely that I won't go back to live there. Where I live now, there is no chance that a Living Will would be acceptable, or medically assisted death allowed. I need to think again. Probably best to just put the money aside separately, clearly labelled for Dignitas.

I am pro assisted dying, but I do not want to go to Dignitas and pay $20,000 or whatever it costs to do that.

I want the UK government to do it for free. It will save a lot of money and why export services we can do at home?

Keep assisted suicide British!

That doesn't really help with the assisted dying part of things though. It's only for refusing treatment. As so many people here have found, there can be a long time with dementia before life-sustaining treatment is necessary. And it's wanting to die before you get to that point that isn't workable. You have to take the decision when you are still capable, which is probably before you might really have wanted to.