'Assisted Dying'? Yes or No?

[WifeOfMacbeth]

Am thinking about this one at the moment.
Are you in favour? Against? Not sure?
I'm also wondering whether views change as we get older....

Yes please. My body my choice and I hold anyone who tries to prevent me from making my own choices in the lowest regard.

I am in favour

But only just

I found the programme Better off Dead? very informative. Clearly reflects the dangers and the risks which are very real.

100% yes and not just because I could bump off my toxic mother

It's a bit more complicated than that though when you start considering things like capacity and consent, fluctuating mental health conditions, elder abuse and those who stand to gain from the death of a vulnerable person.

I'm in favour of it ,but they need a better system than what they're currently proposing.
I don't want to linger in a pain for however long it may be, possibly unable to communicate. Hopefully I may not ever need it but I want the right to choose if the need arises.
Those who say no already have that choice, good for you, but don't stand in the way of those of us who say yes, because if the boot was on the other foot you'd say it was unfair.

THIS

I've watched parents and friends die (I'm old) so used to be theoretically in favour - BUT - having investigated the Canada situation I have no faith that the main criterion for giving agreement for an individual will not be be that "no one gives a damn about them". Those with no one to advocate for them are particularly at risk.

I've seen people die without good palliative care, and with it. If we only put our resources into decent hospice provision and had some robust discussions about the best end of life care, then we wouldn't need this.

The principle of double effect has been long understood in medical ethics, if you take action to relieve pain, but it has the effect of hastening death, then that is ethically sound. For some reason that has been lost sight of.

My DSis died in a Hospice, of a very fast acting, aggressive cancer, and at the end was on fentanyl. It was my first experience of a hospice and the difference between her treatment in hospital and the hospice was like night and day. the hospice was wonderful.

Hospice care was not available for our DDad however because he did not have a "life limiting disease" like cancer, it was just old age, so he died alone on a ward, waiting to be moved to a nursing home. We could only visit during set hours.

It was obvious he was dying, it could have happened in a calmer, more gentle environment with all of his friends and family able to visit.

Better end of life care is what is needed.

Yes in favour

Against. But I am also against prolonging life in dying people. Lett nature take its course

you wouldn't let a family pet suffer a slow and painfull death, so why must a human go through it.

having watched a very close and dear friend spend 13 agonising weeks suffer until his final passing with no dignity, i absolutely 100% agree with it!

Yes

I do think we need a wider conversation about realistic medicine and resuscitation though - for many people needing a resus, we are not bringing them back to a meaningful existence. Its horrific. Post ‘attempt’ resus situations are bloody awful, read referrals and often wonder why we put people through the things we do when they made their wishes clear at the time and given the choice I am 99% sure would say the same feelings were still there - but they now haven’t got the capacity to make that choice, so they’re left in an utterly terrible existence.

Totally in favour. I've been sat with my DGM for 2 days now as she's in the final stages of life. You wouldn't do this to a dog!!!!!!

Yes, I am in favour.

The thing about NOT having assisted dying is that I might be in a situation where I would need to arrange my own death before I'm so ill that I can't do it myself. So I could potentially have to die a year or two earlier than I would need to, to be sure that I haven't left it too late. And I wouldn't be able to say goodbye to family because I would want to be sure that they didn't know in advance to avoid prosecution for assisting suicide. So, for instance, if I planned to travel to another country it would need to be while I could still book my own flight and get myself on to the plane and my DH wouldn't be able to travel with me or even know the reason why I was travelling.

Sometimes I want changes in legislation for the good of the whole population or for the good of a vulnerable section of population, but this one I want for me.

Yes for me. I used to be a firm no but then I got cancer. I'm fine now but that made me want a planned exit.
My mother died at 85 of heart failure and absolutely begged for it to end.

Yes, but I’ve got a degenerative illness. It’s my decision and no one else’s. 🤷‍♀️

Until you have sat at someone's bedside throughout their last few days and held their hand while they suffered a gruesome, appallingly horrible, prolonged, agonising and inevitable death, then you can't really have an opinion on the matter.

It’s a legal minefield . I wouldn’t work in the area of assisted dying.

I’m for it, yes. As someone else said this ‘slippery slope’ warning has come time and time again with huge societal change such as gay marriage, abortion etc.
An excruciating painful and prolonged death is so cruel. As others have said, we treat our animals with more kindness.

Not correct. I do have that experience, and I send my heartfelt sympathy for what youve been through, but disagree

You need an awareness of potential adverse consequences, fully understand the risks, for everyone, etc

Absolutely yes.
We have the familial form of MND in our family. To literally watch so many loved ones bodies fail completely but be totally aware of what is happening has been horrendous.
Even with the best palliative care in the world that is no life.
I’d much rather die in a calm way with my family around me than drive off a cliff while I still have the ability to drive. But there is no way I’m going to end up trapped in an inanimate body.

Yes, this is true for me also.

It's only your prejudice that would lead you to believe that holding the hand of a loved one at death after a protracted illness is the preserve of those who are pro-assisted suicide.

I think the benefit to the individual cannot be held above the vulnerable who will find their life with suffering diminished, in an economic and social climate that would funnel people towards the better off dead options.

It's utterly churlish and arrogant to think that we would manage better than Canada in this regard.

I dint want palliative care! It’s basic for many at the moment and many pets get a better end. We just prolong human life for the sake of it. We are not pragmatic and we should be.

I would wish to go before anyone considers palliative care. If others want it, so be it. It’s unlikely to be a great death with it as it stands. I am in favour of me deciding what’s right for me. I can make my own mind up. Charities provide palliative care or care homes or hospitals. Hospitals for the elderly are dire places to be. Care home? Some are good. Being taken away from home to a hospice isn’t great. Managing a lingering death at home takes deep pockets or armies of relatives. None appeals.

Yes 100 %.

However, the rich and powerful will corrupt it with organ harvesting so needs to be a robust system. Look at how even now the impoverished are stripped of their beautiful hair to provide human extensions and wigs.

I have no intention of suffering so will do whatever I have to in order to make sure I don’t.

No.

id rather we spent mi eg and effort on good palliative care.

there are so many dangers and risks to assisted dying it’s a no from me