to ask how many of you would consider ending your lives at Dignitas or a similar clinic when you are elderly?

[signedsealeddelivered]

I've seen old age and I don't like the look of it. My family, genetically, all die of the same thing and it is not a pleasant death. It is a slow, suffering, confusing one where the mind and the body are both affected. I realise not everybody's experience is like this, but just wondered if these thoughts enter other people's heads too?

I don't see old age as pleasant (I mean 80--85+) Your partner is likely to die before you if you're a woman and you're straight, your friends die, your children have their own lives and you have very little to give them apart from financially (which you could also do via an inheritance.) You're hardly physically up for childcare of Grandchildren or extensive travel. If you have a dog or a pet, it's difficult to walk it or care for it. There are often a few chronic health problems if not a few serious health problems too. Illnesses hit you harder, falls hit you harder. You often stop driving and lose your freedom. There's also confusion, memory loss, muddling things up. Then there's the physical, emotional or financial burden you would potentially put on your family if you had to go into a home or receive care.

This is not a state I'd want to live in while the essentials of my body continued to tick over, and I'd rather take matters into my own hands and decide when I pass away.

I'm just wondering if this is a common thought amongst others too?

Aack, someone who starved self to death because it was only way they could exercise right to die. :(

I haven't decided for me. But I'd prefer Dignitas over starving myself to death. :( I was very grateful my mother died suddenly (much her preference instead of death after long illness). My ailing elderly grandmother cried & prayed out loud for God to take her (many months of that before she actually died).

At this point in my life I'd say I never would - death terrifies me.

I wouldn't go to Dignitas because travelling that far would be very stressful. I'd like to die at home, at a time of my choosing with my family around me, and be compos enough to talk to them and say goodbye.
I really could not stand incontinence, being ill, looking terrible. I see these problems of old age kicking in big time at 90 + and as I just could not tolerate having "carers" I'll probably have to do it on my own if the law isn't changed.

Yes, I would consider it. Very old age looks hideous to me. I'd much rather go when I decide I'm ready, than linger on in poor health. Of course, I could go with a bang at some point - fine - but if I was old, frail and not enjoying life any more I'd want to end it rather than soldier on, unhappy, and being burdensome.

Itmustbemyage thank you- although this isn't an immediate thing, I am still young, but fear that in the future I will be facing a diagnosis of Alzheimer's and cannot bear to have that happen to me, coward that I am.

This is an interesting and thought provoking thread.

Along with many others on here I would like the opportunity to decide the time and manner of my death.

But I've not heard of many cases of it actually happening. Are they just not publicised? Or is at as a PP said up thread that when it actually comes to it not many people decide to go through with it. Or is it lack of ability/means?

I would. But it's easy to say now, mid life. Most older people cling on fur dear life. Whose to say we won't feel like that?

My best friends dad has suffered greatly and is currently in a hospice. Both he and she are ready for him to go now, which is a difficult thing to actually verbalise.
If I knew there was a pill, that made you just drift off, without getting prosecuted as a criminal, I'd get him (and one for me for later life) now!!

There is a film out now where a wealthy young man, with no severe pain problems, is applauded for driving his wheelchair off a cliff and leaving his money to his girlfriend. It worries me.

So just because he isn't in pain he shouldn't have the choice.

Of course I understand, Penfold and bran, that a choice does not mean everyone has to choose it. But if the choice becomes normalised, and you are a kind selfless person, how do you justify to yourself that "I

So the choice shouldn't be given to anyone in case a selfless person does it and doesn't really want to? People should just die in horrible ways?

I am sorry, but as I said, I have helped care for my grandad. He has dementia and went in a home 6 months ago. This weekend just past he had a massive stroke and lost all control over his left side. I sat by his bed for 3 days solid while he kept telling us (as best he could as his left side wouldn't work) that he wanted to die. I then watched an infection take hold. Watched while he called for his mum, wife and dead son.

Even the morphine didn't calm him down.

He had no chance of recovery and we were told at the hospital that he wouldn't recover and to not go home.

So no, I don't agree that everyone should have to suffer a painful death. Because some people are so selfless they may do it, when the don't want to.

I also don't see the problem in choosing to die because you don't want to be a burden. I don't want dh or my kids having to give up their lives to care for me. It's not selfless.

And no I don't think anyone should make the same choice as me.

But I don't want to be cared for like I cared for my grandad. That's my choice. It doesn't make it any less valid than someone who chooses different.

I'm autistic and will never have children, so there will be no-one to look after me in my old age. I am poor now and will be even more so in the future, as my disability limits my earning potential.

I am only alive because it would hurt my parents and siblings too much if I killed myself. I have always felt this way since being very small.

It goes without saying that, at a reasonable age, after my parents have died and the second I cannot take care of myself anymore, I shall be offski!

It will come as a profound relief to be honest. I am actually rather looking forward to it - a nice long rest is how I see it!

I'd like the option, and it would be wonderful if there was a clinic in London or somewhere in the UK definitely.

I think it's very comforting knowing there is the option and knowing that when the time is right, you can take the option.

There are certain conditions I consider something where I would be likely to take up the option should it arise...one of those muscular degenerative illnesses where you end up basically of sound mind locked in your body waiting till you can't breathe anymore springs to mind.

Altzheimers runs in my family too, and I appreciate it can be difficult with that, knowing when you are ready to go when in actual fact you won't probably be "ready" until you are not of sound mind. It's not a good thought.

Yes I would.
I've very recently watched my grandad die of cancer, from being diagnosed to dying it took about 8 weeks and his decline was pretty quick which was quite scary. I did say to dp when we found out that I would go to dignitas if it was me and I felt it was "the end" - where I was still mentally well enough to give permission for my euthanasia but my body is about to give up.

Absolutely .
My only concern is that the criteria is wide enough
I think you have to be in pain ? I think for dignity reasons the criteria should be wide
I saw a prog re this where a man was allowd to die with dignity
To me it is a ultimate kindness
I work in a hospital and see people in great distress
I Wd advise folk to make advanced directive s as relatives can decide for you in some circumstance

I wouldn't.

My father is 81, lives independently, still drives, great quality of life. My grandmothers died in their late 80s very suddenly (cardiovascular / cerebrovascular events) but prior to that were living happily on their own. One in sheltered accommodation, one in her own home (and walking faster than I did, opera / theatre visits weekly, gardening daily).

I see people at work all the time who are in the 85-95 age bracket and still enjoying a great quality of life in care homes, nursing homes, their own homes with help.

The OP makes this an age based discussion, subsequent posters have gone more along the lines of chronic incurable illness - but old age doesn't necessarily mean a lingering painful decline any more than being in your 30s means you can't have a chronic life limiting medical condition.

So no, purely on the basis of being elderly I would not consider assisted suicide. I adore my elderly relatives and think my life is far better with them in it alive than it would be with them gone but the mortgage paid off.

I also wouldn't consider it because I would never be able to assist a patient to die, even if it were legal. If I refuse to do it for someone else, I will not put someone into the situation of having to do it for me. Even clinics like Dignitas need the barbiturates prescribed.

I would like to able to have a choice.

I think we need new laws about this.

As someone who used to be suicidally depressed, I think that life is incredibly precious. I used to say that I'd go to Dignitas. It seemed a remote choice and the logical thing to do. But since I stopped trying to kill myself, I have developed a real fear of death and an appreciation of the small things.

I think it would be wrong for us to live in a society where anyone burdensome is quietly, professionally, clinically killed. Caring for others, whilst not pleasant, can develop empathy in a way that little else can. We need a range of people in life, so that we can learn from their perspectives.

Our culture is fundamentally stressful, punishing anyone who can't work a 9-5 and neatly slot into the system. With the right hospice and palliative one-to-one nursing care, I feel that Dignitas etc. would not have such a foothold in the public consciousness.

Whilst I appreciate that people are scared of losing themselves, I feel that attitudes like this perpetuate stigma and fear. And I speak as someone who has entirely lost their mind in the past.

Alzheimer's, Huntington's are not easy illnesses for the patient or the family. But neither are conditions like schizophrenia. I think we are in danger of erasing entire populations of people, and I don't think that's morally justifiable.

There is much talk of human dignity, but are we "dignified" in labour, in great illness (from which we may recover), at birth? Dignity is not gained by hiding people away in clinics and killing people. It just hides death, hides ageing, cloaks it all in mystery. Dignity comes from respect. A person who cannot remember their name or wipe their bottom is still a person, and they require respect. Looking down on them is to take their dignity away.

People talk about putting down animals, but we are not the same as animals. Human life is precious and unique and should be preserved. Whilst there is hope, it should be fought for. And even in terminal illness, there are moments where the person is lucid and can appreciate an old photograph or the view from a window.

I would and think it should be a choice. My life so far has been pretty shite. The only reason I am still here is because my daughter is so young. But the prospect of old age. . . no, thanks.

'Human life is precious and unique and should be preserved. Whilst there is hope, it should be fought for. And even in terminal illness, there are moments where the person is lucid and can appreciate an old photograph or the view from a window.'

Everyone's entitled to an opinion, but it's immoral to force that down everyone's throats and force them to live by dictats they don't agree with at all.

I, for one, do not find human life precious at all costs and my opinion is that forcing terminally ill people, or anyone, to endure 'life' at all costs because others think they should.

is cruel.

I think that's incredibly cruel to force others to endure.

I think it would be wrong for us to live in a society where anyone burdensome is quietly, professionally, clinically killed.

This isn't what this is about though.

It's not about being a burden, it's about lacking a basic quality of life, and about making a decision for one self, while being in a sound frame of mind
.
As for My granny had Parkinson's for years, there was certainly no dignity in that. And no hope.

Those against - Go look at the photo of tony nicklinson after his right to die was refused, and then see if you still think that this choice should not be available.

My mother died from starvation and neglect in a NHS hospital. It took 12 days.

That was cruel.

I would never want to get that vulnerable. I would much rather have the choice to end my life while I was able to do it with dignity.

I would appreciate having the option. It seems insane to me that we can put down a suffering animal, but we don't have that legal right for ourselves