To think euthanasia should be legal in the UK

[ThereWillBeAdequateFood]

Just that really. Many countries have legalised euthanasia for terminally ill adults. I think it’s about time the U.K. did the same?

It’s not right that it’s only an option for those with the money to go abroad to have this as an option.

Totally agree. It's a bit like abortion, don't agree with it, don't have it but mind your own business re. Other people's choices.

Another one here who completely supports this in principle, but can see the obvious risks. I'm not sure either that "no reported abuses in x country" really means much; granted major abuse might become public, but I can't quite see anyone who's "persuaded" their elderly relative - or the medics who've assisted, come to that - wanting to talk about it

On balance I'd still probably vote for this, but I'd expect very strong safeguards to be in place

Maybe if we lived in a society where the elderly, carers and disabled people were treated well so it wasn't a last resort in the face of failing mental health and respite services.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

I don’t think the Liverpool pathway is used anymore, which is a good thing, I think doctors years ago probably helped people on their way before they got to bad, I presume shipman stopped that from happening as easily

Wow 87% say YANBU! I agree. After watching my mum go through a horrible decline and drawn out death I find it unbelievable that we can’t assist people to end their life peacefully.

But why should people who are suffering now have to wait for some eutopia of social perfect to have a way out of their suffering.

Quite often you hear people from the pro-life movement say things like this, inasmuch as they say that if women had more options made available to them they may continue their pregnancy, but fortunately we decided that we won't force women to endure unwanted pregnancy and DIY abortions until we achieve a society where women have every resource they need to make an unencumbered decision.

I think yes , with very strict rules and fail safes . I think if you are old and in a lot of pain you should be able to chose a time and have your family around you and for them to know your wishes.

I do wonder if there was assisted suicide with compulsory counselling with family members and professionals all involved whether that might in fact save some people . The problem is people are not getting the help they need , and if this was in place perhaps they would get the help they need when they are desperate.

If the Liverpool pathway is legal that could you not offer a fatal dose of Morphine or whatever too?

I have never understood this. Patients aren't given food or fluid and so will die, albeit slowly, and that's legal but they can't be given a lethal dose of drugs that will prevent the suffering. What is the rationale behind that?

100% agree with you.

It's about dignity and being able to choose when you'd like to give up the struggle against a terrible illness for example.
All I can hope is that by the time I need it, it will be legal in the UK. Dignitas is an incredibly expensive option.
I think the only reason they'll legalise it here is because the NHS is failing and we soon won't be able to afford to keep people alive any longer.

Decomposing- people are often offered food and drink but at life’s end don’t want or need food. It’s the body shutting down not slow euthanasia.
The LCP is not used anymore but was only ever a tool that was misused occasionally and misunderstood frequently.
Pathways still exist and are used that consider the holistic needs of someone at life’s end.

It's a huge subject, but thinking further about this I wonder if more publicity about advance directives might be useful, to avoid some of the many cases where folk are resuscitated just to suffer again?

I believe the Liverpool Pathway's gone now - don't they call it Comfort Care these days? - but maybe there's also something to be done around treating something purely because it's treatable, even if it's clearly not in the patient's best interests?

I agree. I've watched someone wonderful die slowly and they absolutely wanted to be allowed to chose when to die and it would have been sooner than they did, with way less suffering.

DM is currently in hospital, from there she will move to the hospice shortly. It will be heartbreaking to lose her but she said the other day she wished she could go to sleep and not wake up, yet each day we watch her grow weaker and suffer mentally and physically. She knows she's dying and it will only get worse before the end comes. This can't be right.

I'm against it.

Suicide is already legal. I think if someone is competent enough to make such a big decision, they should able to work out how to kill themselves.

I'm uncomfortable with medicalised suicide. It normalises it and presents it on a par with treatment when it is the opposite.

As soon as other people are involved the pressure is involved. The best test of whether someone really wants to do it is whether they will do it themselves.

The ‘people will fuck it up’ argument is null and void when you consider we DO have nuclear power .

I agree OP and glad to see 86% also do

Patients aren't given food or fluid and so will die, albeit slowly, and that's legal but they can't be given a lethal dose of drugs that will prevent the suffering

I'm no ethicist - far less a medic - but I imagine it's the difference between allowing something to happen which will happen anyway and actively causing death

I'm pretty sure Cherry's correct about the body not needing nutrition in its last days, but I'm more worried about things like the routine treatment of things like pneumonia in extreme old age. It was once called "the old person's friend" but is now, apparently, something which has to be treated just because it can be

Suicide is already legal. I think if someone is competent enough to make such a big decision, they should able to work out how to kill themselves.
So what about people who aren't physically able to do it? Say, if they're paralyzed? They just have to suffer through?

Yup

I think if someone is competent enough to make such a big decision, they should able to work out how to kill themselves.

Successful suicide isn't a test of fortitude. Ffs. It's largely a matter of good luck (which seems like inappropriate phrasing but apt given the circumstance). And even then, it leaves the person's family to pick up the traumatic fall out of a successful suicide of finding the dead body or a broken body in the case of a unsuccessful suicide. Is this the best we can offer dying people and their families?

Yanbu. Let those suffering with horrendous illness go on their terms.
There would need to be strict protocol, exclusively for the dying or elderly.
I 'd hate to see people use it if there was any hope of recovery.
Euthanasia would give many a more dignified humane death.

Suicide is already legal. I think if someone is competent enough to make such a big decision, they should able to work out how to kill themselves
That's a silly response.
I think you'll find those with advanced cancer, ms, moto neuron disease, spinal cord injurys may not be able to physically commit suicide.
As a family member you can't do it for them.

Puzzledandpissedoff. Each person who is likely to die should have a discussion around cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a DNACPR form completed in discussion with the patient if they have capacity but with family if there is no capacity for this decision. It remains a medical decision but people should be consulted. They don’t give consent as it’s about withholding care not giving care.
As part of that discussion - which might be done by GP, in hospital, in a care home etc then a conversation about the ceiling of care should take place and that might include not giving antibiotics should a person get pneumonia.
The sticking block is usually relatives who demand everything possible is done including tube feeding people who are clearly dying, attempting to resuscitate despite it being futile and giving antibiotics. The medical profession is mindful of litigation, not unreasonably and will sometimes ‘give in’ to relatives demands rather than be accused of killing someone or neglect.

As a registered nurse and someone who sat with my dying father in law last week I completely agree.

I cant say this in real life but I couldn't wait for him to die. He had a horrible painful death. He passed away last Thursday in a Hospice.

Those people saying the person could commit suicide are spectacularly missing the point. People in this position have to make a decision while they are still physically able to do it themselves, while they still have life, time, roles, hobbies, two way relationships with family and friends.
When the person can’t speak, move (except their eyes), eat, breathe, toilet without medical interventions. When shit gets real. That’s when people should have the option of being assisted to die without the trauma of having to starve to death or dying in agony.