Priorities all wrong with the law.

[Noidea2114]

Today are dog was put to sleep, he was 13 with diabetes, kidney failure etc. He woke this morning completely incontinent and couldn't stand and we feel as though his eyesight was fading. I phoned the vet and he advised that it's kinder to put to sleep. When I arrived the vet came to the car and administered the injection it was very peaceful in the end.
This afternoon we went to the window of the nursing home that mil is in. She is also suffering with diabetes, kidney failure etc. Incontinent both ways, bed bound and doesn't know who anyone is anymore. She has been like this for at least 6weeks now.
I don't know if I'm right or wrong but surely the law should be changed in some way for cases like this for euthenasia be legal. The doctors have told us that they are just keeping her comfortable until the end.

I think you should be able to say ( eg in your 40's), that if you have s poor quality of life ( in constant pain etc ) that ( say after age 75 - not sure what age tbh ) you want / consent to euthansasia- I certainly don't want to be in pain / a burden on NHS and I don't want my family to remember me as being so Ill/ confused etc

I agree for the most part. My nan went into a care home last september after she had a bad fall, one of what turned out to be many falls but this time grampa couldn't get her back up. She couldn't walk or even get herself out of her bed while she was in hospital for many weeks and was showing signs of dementia though nothing has of yet been formally diagnosed. I visited a couple of times before C19 and it was harrowing, she's just trapped in her bed constantly shouting that she needs the toilet. She never wanted to end up this way but I suppose she wouldn't have the capacity to make a choice about euthanasia for herself now.

Totally agree OP. I have an advanced directive, I can only hope my wishes are honoured when the time comes.

It's what I would want for myself, that's for sure.

And I'd like to see it legalised.

I agree op, I can ask NHS do not resuscitate but cannot ask them to help me along. If I cannot make it to Switzerland I will do it myself.

Those around me know my full plans and reasons from death to funeral, understand and supportive. If I asked them to get me to Switzerland they would but I don't want that on them. Although my choice, they would feel responsible.

Of course the other way will negate any insurance policies and all this has been planned for. I'm not spending my final days waiting for the inevitable and no quality of live.

Before cv I've spent months in that position but knowing it was temporary. Life was shit and just endless pain, confusion and tiredness. Couldn't go out much and when I did someone had to be with me. Never knowing what damage the next fall would do, or even when the next dizzy spell would happen. But that light gave me hope to carry on to fight another day. And if your dying what is there to live for to give you that hope? Yey I might make it to another birthday, but I'm still dying and in pain etc. Never mind might not have the energy to blow out the candles loool.

To open it up even more..... I work in mental health and have done for over 20 years. When this debate comes up, it usually references people who have physical illness and wont get better, or can expect a long and painful end of life. I work with people who are suicidal and a major part of my work is helping people get through that and out the other side. And, to be clear, most people are really glad they changed their mind. So, I am by no means saying we should just let people get on with it and kill themselves willy nilly. But from time to time I have met people who truly just want to die and whose lives are so hard with no hope of getting better, that it feels really disrespectful to tell them that they are wrong and should want to live. I more and more believe that if people want to die they should be allowed to say so and to do so. It isnt hard to arrange a painless and peaceful death. In fact, you could make an argument that denying access to medications which could peacefully slow breathing until it stops is more inhumane as it is forcing people to use methods of suicide that are painful and uncertain. It is such a difficult subject - I agree with the poster who is concerned about the possible implications in a struggling NHS and totally understand and support the disabled campaigners who think they would be put under pressure, but surely safeguards against that could be put in place? Ethics committees exist in hospitals to decide on and debate difficult medical decisions, so there is a potential safeguard right there. But yes, DNR sometimes exists in very troubling circumstances. And then again, there is the doctor who was struck off for failing to check a DNR and resuscitating someone who had one in place.

The pain meds didn't work for my nan at the end. She was screaming. My grandfather begged over and over to die at his end. There was no dignity for either of them, just pain. I have nightmares about it.

If I ever get what either of them had I will be doing it myself rather than letting my husband go through something similar