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.

I completely agree.

If other countries have legalised it and brought in safeguards to prevent abuse, I don’t see any reason why we can’t too.

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.

They're not offered it if they are unable to eat or drink for some reason. Everyone knows what the outcome will be, yet nature is left to take its course when the humane way would be to administer an overdose and shorten the process.

I was a nurse for many years - I've seen this too many times. I've seen patients have good deaths - where the pain relief did what it was meant to do - and I've seen too many suffer needlessly because we just couldn't control distressing symptoms adequately.

Who is to say that someone like my DS or someone with dementia has no quality of life or isn't happy when given the right support?

Oh yeah totally. Which is why I would only support it in cases where the person has clearly expressed their own wish when they have mental capacity.

EmeraldShamrock If the family have to do it for them, how can be know whether it is the families idea or theirs?

teyem It doesn't have to be like that. We are not talking about someone someone in the depths of depression doing it impulsively.

Somebody could consider it carefully, discuss it with their family, research the most effective method. In those circumstance it wouldn't be hard to do it yourself.

Agreed. Makes me very sad.
It requires guidelines. But that would be fine.

Agreed, @Gobbolino7825

research the most effective method. In those circumstance it wouldn't be hard to do it yourself.

Unless you can get hold of a reasonable amount of pentobarbital from a reliable source, it can be quite difficult to do it yourself reliably and successfully, and definitely painlessly (especially as the other most effective method, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. It's not easy to get hold of a handheld firearm in the UK).

If you are physically incapacitated, it can be impossible to end one's life without assistance.

This is my thoughts.

Readytogogogo

I don't really have the time to write this properly but feel I must write something. I'm very commonly work with people at the end of life, and with vulnerable people. If euthanasia is legalised, I don't think there can ever be adequate protection to ensure that people haven't been pressurised into making that decision.

What about advanced directives? Written when the individual is able to express their beliefs.

It’s disgraceful that people are forced to exist in such awful conditions.

I think the way of nudging terminal patients on their way with larger doses of painkillers was stopped as a result of Harold Shipman.

The Queen's grandfather - George V - was euthanised. His physician gave him two consecutive lethal injections at 11pm on 20th January 1936 - 0.75 gram morphine followed by 1gr cocaine. The physician's actions were to help the King to die with dignity plus to make the presses for the morning papers... His actions went against the wishes of the Royal family - he didn't even consult them before acting. Can you imagine that now?

With correct protocols in place, it could work but given the NHS's ongoing organisational problems I fear it might too difficult to achieve.

My mother made an advance directive. She has dementia and I have Power of Attorney for her Health and Welfare. Her care home and GP have been informed that any form of intervention other than painkillers is not required. I fully intend to follow Mum's wishes when the time comes.

As for myself? Dignitas or planned suicide as long as I am physically/mentally able.

I'm Dutch. My grandmother had an assisted suicide in the Netherlands in 2006. I couldn't be there, but lots of family were there with her. She was 100% compos mentis (her health problems were incurable and purely physical) and she was in control every step of the way. It was peaceful, pain free and dignified.

If the UK doesn't get its act together I will be budgeting for a one way trip to Switzerland should the need arise.

So because some might be pressurised no one should be allowed to end their lives with dignity? They have to use potentially painful and unsuccessful methods that leave them even worse off or suffer needlessly because other people might abuse it? I'm really glad we don't take this attitude towards reproductive rights. Bodily autonomy is just that, it's much akin to the right to terminate pregnancy, making it illegal will not stop it, it will make it unsafe, which is what we have now when it comes to not permitting assisted suicide.

I'm really glad we don't take this attitude towards reproductive rights.

Agreed. I'm so glad the litmus test for wanting an abortion isn't having the will to risk your life and make do with a coat hanger so that society doesn't have to have any part in it.

I can't see it working tbh.

Saying that other countries do it so we should is fine so long as we also replicate their family culture, social care and health care systems that make it an active choice and not a symptom of failure.

I watched a close loved-one die of MND. It was an experience the like of which I hope never to witness again.

I was young at the time and had never even heard of Dignitas. If I had, I'd have helped her. No question. And I shouldn't have needed to, because it was her body, and should have been her choice.

All-too easy to be philosophical about ethics when we're not the ones doing the dying.

It works in other jurisdictions...

But when people travel abroad to access a euthanised death noeuf, they haven't CE from a place with that family culture, social care and health care systems that make it an active choice.

They just had the good luck to a) be able to afford it and b) got onto the job early enough to make the journey.

The people left behind are those suffering outside of those conditions. How is that reasonable?

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Exactly

CE = come

Teyen no they haven't all done that I agree. I don't think euthanasia should be anything over than an option when despite good social and health care systems life is unbearable. The way we treat carers, homeless, sick etc is pretty crap in this country - it's not safe or ethical to offer death as an alternative

Four years ago my mum, a wonderful and fiercely independent lady, was diagnosed with MND. Three and a half years ago, I travelled with her to Zurich where we spent the most precious 3 days together prior to accompanying her to Dignitas. At Dignitas she swallowed the pentobarbitone, told me how grateful she was for all the people who loved her and for all those she had loved, and how lucky she was to be in a position to choose her time to leave. 5 minutes later she fell asleep. 20 minutes later she peacefully died. I feel incredibly privileged to have shared this experience with her and incredibly sad that this is not an option open to all that wish to take control. She was an amazing, brave and wonderful lady...I miss her.

I'm sorry for your loss, Atreus. The peace and dignity your mother had in death should be open to all, IMO. I am glad she had that as part of her life .

Thanks again, Cherry - with that last post you've filled a few gaps in my knowledge

I especially accept what you said about family insisting on unwise treatment, and I guess it's "the other side of the coin" from those who'd seek to hurry grandma up before the care home swallows all her money

Easy to see why it's such a big and thorny subject ...