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AIBU?

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Original poster

Right to die campaigners release harrowing video *WARNING GRAPIC VIDEO IN LINK**

37 replies

Soubriquet · 14/09/2017 14:43

Right to die campaigners have released a video that is deemed too disturbing to show on YouTube

It shows a true story portrayed by actors, of the suffering a man, Greg Sims, dying of brain cancer.

Aibu to think that everyone should have the right to die with dignity?

VERY DISTRESSING VIDEO IN LINK. PLEASE DONT WATCH IF SENSITIVE
link to video

OP posts:
FrogFairy · 14/09/2017 15:00

It won't play for me but I totally agree with you that we should show mercy and help those who are suffering to die with dignity.

Shoxfordian · 14/09/2017 15:02

I agree everyone should have the right to die with dignity and euthanasia should be legal

guilty100 · 14/09/2017 15:02

I can't watch that, but I agree with assisted dying provided proper safeguards are in place.

ConciseandNice · 14/09/2017 15:04

I've watched my best friend die, in what was luckily, very respectful, quiet way with his pain managed. The converse of this doesn't bear thinking about. Why anyone wants to deny a dignified end to a life of any creature is beyond my comprehension. It is not too much to ask. Ever.

KurriKurri · 14/09/2017 15:08

I can't get the video to load, but I agree with you.
I am pro euthanasia, my mother is currently in a state of a sort of living death after a massive stroke. She is ninety five, the stroke took away her movement, and her sight, she is incontinent, bed bound (can't even sit up if propped up) she can only eat thickened liquid food, can't speak, and she weighs about six stone an dis skin and bone. The best we can do for her is to have do not resuscitate in her notes, and no treatment if she gets something like pneumonia. I know she would not want to live like this and neither would I. It breaks my heart, I have no idea how long she will carry on in this state. Sad

DJBaggySmalls · 14/09/2017 15:12

YANBU, I am pro elective euthanasia. I should have the right to ask to be put out of any suffering at the end of my life.
There are some truly awful ways to die that are natural, including from CJD, Huntingdons, or pancreatic cancer. I count myself lucky that I live in the UK where - for now at least - we have free to access healthcare, and nurses can administer diamorphine for pain relief. Its banned in the USA.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 14/09/2017 15:22

I am not sure if I can handle this. this is fucking really upsetting

that said, I am confused. we all know that drugs exist that conk you out for the final days . Fucking hell my dad had them , Fentanyl for one. god bless him they came in, and knocked him out and he passed in a chemical daze. he never suffered like this and my god. Thanks to god he didn't

I don't know enough about this but I am curious as to why this poor fellow wasn't sedated

yecartmannew · 14/09/2017 15:24

What breaks me is that when the end has come I have been able to have my beloved pets pts in a calm, quiet and dignified manor while they were comfortable and happily surrounded by the family.

In fact not have done so would have resulted in prosecution for unnecessary suffering.

And yet I would not be allowed to assist a relative to pass in the same way and would be forced to watch the torment with no way to ease the suffering. Pain cannot always be controlled sufficiently. It just does not feel right to me.

JamPasty · 14/09/2017 15:36

See also the Facebook group "Flora's Voice". The images of Flora will not leave you, and nor should they because what the system allows dying people to go through is truly barbaric.

BouncyFlouncy · 14/09/2017 15:37

I've lived this and worse with my Dad as I nursed him until he died, only in this country, at home with virtually no support due to a lack of beds/funding/my fathers wishes.

It's fucking awful, no one should suffer like they did. Let people go with dignity ffs.

NooNooHead · 14/09/2017 15:57

I thank the NHS for being there for my DB when he was terminally ill with bowel cancer this year. His pain relief helped immensely in the last couple of months and hopefully eased his journey a bit before he passed.

I think if anyone got any horrIfic diseases like CJD, Huntington's, Alzheimer's etc then the kindest way to go with euthanasia is far better for them and their families. Watching someone slowly pass away from cancer is dreadful, but I can't imagine how sad it must be when it comes to diseases that affect your mind too.

I couldn't watch the video, I think it would be very upsetting and I don't need to be reminded of someone dying awfully of cancer at the moment. 😢😖😔

SilverySurfer · 14/09/2017 16:00

I agree and to that end I add money to a savings box on a regular basis to ensure that at the first sign of me getting dementia, I have sufficient funds to pay for a ticket to Switzerland and Dignitas. There's not much that scares me but the thought of getting dementia terrifies me (oh and spiders Smile

I understand the arguments against, coercion by relatives etc but a person should have the right to choose.

NooNooHead · 14/09/2017 16:07

I had a kind of 'dementia' type experience when I had post concussion syndrome and it was bloody awful. The moment I fondly describe as my 'Alzheimer's' moment going into the street and not recognising it was terrifying - I sure don't want to go through that for years until I don't know who I am or anyone else is. It is far better to go with dignity being compos mentis than not knowing where you are or anything.

coddiwomple · 14/09/2017 16:08

I haven't researched the subject, but remember reading that some people were left to die by removing their feeding tube. I don't know how much is true, but if it is, is that the best we can do? Just let people starve and dehydrate? Shocking is not a strong enough word

It's a very difficult topic legally, you want to avoid excess the wrong way, but of course I agree, anyone of us should be able to die in peace, with dignity and pain free. How can that be too much to ask?

Coffeetasteslikeshit · 14/09/2017 16:12

As soon as I know I'm terminal, I'm taking a heroine overdose. Cheaper than Switzerland.

I can't believe we still allow people to suffer so badly at the end of their lives.

MissionItsPossible · 14/09/2017 16:12

I can't watch the video but I am pro-euthanasia too.

Coffeetasteslikeshit · 14/09/2017 16:12

Ha! Now there's a fine typo!

Aeroflotgirl · 14/09/2017 16:14

I agree totally, you would not put a dog through that as its cruel, why is it not for humans.

TammySwansonTwo · 14/09/2017 16:17

I have been very pro euthanasia - my mother had terminal stomach and bowel cancer and starved to death. It took a month and in the end it was so distressing I can't even tell you what she had to go through, it would no doubt really upset people to read. It made no sense to me that she had to suffer this way with no hope of recovery.

However, I fear this is always discussed with able-bodied privilege and I have severely disabled friends who are terrified of assisted dying laws getting through as they have no doubt that severely disabled people will be killed as a result, without their consent.

FilledSoda · 14/09/2017 16:20

In my naivety I thought that sedation and morphine would be administered to make the end of life painless.
Why doesn't that happen ?
Is it because morphine would hasten the end?

yolofish · 14/09/2017 16:23

my best friend's daughter died aged 19 yrs and 6 days from glioblastoma (brain cancer). It is a particularly cruel form of death to endure, or to watch, because the conscious mind understands EVERY single loss - speech, sight, hearing, the ability to eat, move, have control of your own bowels and bladder. We have now started a charity for research into the disease - and already had some breakthroughs.
I simply dont understand the mentality of anyone who says that any life is better than no life. we don't do it for animals - we have the kindest right of all, the right to euthanasia, for them - why cant we allow people to make the same choice.

I support Dignity for Dying.

Ozzde · 14/09/2017 16:30

I have always been pro-euthanasia. Even as a teenager I couldn't understand how we can put pets down as it's kinder than suffering yet as humans we are not afforded the same priviledge to decide for ourselves.

After watching two family members slowly die and what it puts the rest of the family through, I understand it even less.

Herechickychicky · 14/09/2017 16:33

I know this is an actor, but I have the same question as others: wouldn't patients in that much pain and on end of life care pathways be sedated/ on high levels of morphine etc?

I am desperately hoping for someone to come and say yes.

Blackcatonthesofa · 14/09/2017 16:37

I don't understand why euthanasia is not possible inmost parts of the world. If someone is terminally ill and suffering, why should a stranger be able to decide that the law is that they cannot choose a dignified death? Why should they suffer till they have a horrible death? What's the point?

I have been present at a euthanasia in Belgium. They brought her to sleep first. We spent some time with her. The docter later came in to give her the injection. It was all done very respectfully. The docter stroked her hair for a short moment and said goodbye too. She instantly died. She was gone in two minutes tops. It was very calm and easy. We held her hand theoughout it. It was the easiest death that I have seen. I wouldn't mind having such an easy death. It wasn't cold or calculated. Nothing was rushed. The wishes of the immediate family was taken into account too.

NewDaddie · 14/09/2017 16:37

I watched the video & I'm still on the fence, but maybe that's easier for me because of my able body privilege and I because I haven't had to witness someone very close to me suffer like that.

In an ideal world I think all options should be available in palliative care, all drugs (legal and illegal), and euthanasia. But at the same time I'm not confident about safeguarding.