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Original poster

Euthanasie, dont legalise in UK.

459 replies

MrsMarkieParkie · 08/04/2023 00:48

I just read that 8% of deaths in Canada last year happened via euthanasia. This doesnt sit right with me. Also, as described in the article, the protocol seems mostly the same as the US death by lethal injection.
Do we want this in the UK?

OP posts:
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10
PuttingOnTheKitsch · 09/04/2023 10:10

We live in a country where people with learning disabilities live on average 20 years less than the general population and have a much higher rate of avoidable deaths and people want to give the state the power of euthanasia. No thank you.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2021-leder-report-into-the-avoidable-deaths-of-people-with-learning-disabilities

2021 LeDeR report into the avoidable deaths of people with learning disabilities

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2021-leder-report-into-the-avoidable-deaths-of-people-with-learning-disabilities

Luckydip1 · 09/04/2023 10:11

PuttingOnTheKitsch · 09/04/2023 10:10

We live in a country where people with learning disabilities live on average 20 years less than the general population and have a much higher rate of avoidable deaths and people want to give the state the power of euthanasia. No thank you.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2021-leder-report-into-the-avoidable-deaths-of-people-with-learning-disabilities

It's not giving the state the power it's giving individuals their own choice.

SoupDragon · 09/04/2023 10:12

We should be given the choice. I’ve watched family members slowly die in pain from cancer. It is an awful way to go. Euthanasia should at the very least be on the table for terminally ill patients.

This.

We wouldn't put an animal through what I had to watch my family members go through.

IShouldGoToSleep · 09/04/2023 10:13

Teenangels · 08/04/2023 17:42

I watched my Mum, die from Dementia less than 5 weeks ago.

It was a death I would not wish on my worst enemy, she had no hope of recovery and she died without eating or drinking for 2 weeks, she was thirsty but as she could not swallow we could not even wet her lips.

In this country we should give the person and family the right in the last few weeks to decide that they be given an injection.

I will never get over what I witnessed.

Sorry for your loss 💐 I agree with everything you've said. I watched my mum die two years ago and it was horrific. Death is not discussed as much as it should be and we are led to believe death will always be this peaceful, gentle thing. But it can often be harrowing ...

AveragePerson5 · 09/04/2023 10:14

There are many women who are forced into abortions they don't want by their partners.

There doesn't seem to be adequate safeguarding to stop that.

There are women who are forced into marriage but that doesn’t mean we never allow marriage.

There will always be abusive people. Safeguards can never be 100%. That isn’t a reason not to have laws and processes that are largely beneficial to people.

As people are living longer more of us have seen what often happens in the last months and weeks, when you can’t have the hoped for morphine induced pain free sleep. It is becoming more acceptable to talk about it. We are extremely shocked and angry by what we have seen our relatives go through. We are terrified the same fate lies ahead for us and others.

JamonEverybody · 09/04/2023 10:16

Having watched my dad die slowly and painfully over 6 month last year, losing all dignity and basically becoming a living skeleton, yes I fucking do hope euthanasia becomes legal in the uk.

Mirandawrongs · 09/04/2023 10:20

My dearest friend took his life in Canada through MAiaD.
He was supported, not encouraged through the process. It was what he wanted.
His death was peaceful, gentle and dignified - just as he was in life.

R.I.P Mike xx

GooglyEyeballs · 09/04/2023 10:33

I want it in the UK for myself. After watching people I love decline and spend decades in pain too immobile to enjoy the world or even take themselves to the toilet. No way. I want to go out with dignity. I honestly think it's disgusting the way people are forced to live well beyond the expiration of quality of life. It was like watching a science experiment where the doctors see how long they can keep the game going for. It haunts me to this day.

AxolotlOnions · 09/04/2023 10:35

PuttingOnTheKitsch · 09/04/2023 10:10

We live in a country where people with learning disabilities live on average 20 years less than the general population and have a much higher rate of avoidable deaths and people want to give the state the power of euthanasia. No thank you.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2021-leder-report-into-the-avoidable-deaths-of-people-with-learning-disabilities

I've read that report, 49% of the people with learning disabilities or autism who died, died from a preventable cause. It's pretty depressing reading for an autistic woman with autistic children! I'm still pro-euthanasia. Not because I trust the medical profession, I have had many bad experiences that have left me feeling unheard, scared, threatened, abused, assaulted... But because if I am likely to be killed by the medical profession anyway, having it be painless would be preferable!

Teenangels · 09/04/2023 11:15

magicthree · 08/04/2023 23:51

I feel that TV is to blame to a point. Death is not someone lucid, talking to relatives, then passing away with a smile on their face moments later. Active dying can take days, and then it is things like terminal agitation, secretions (the death rattle), all odd patterns of breathing, things like suddenly sitting up etc.

While that is unpleasant for the person sitting with the dying relative/friend, the person who is dying is unaware of those things happening, it is peaceful enough for them. I recently sat with my DF for several days as he was dying and I didn't find it so terrible, although admittedly I wasn't there when he actually died, but I found the whole thing far less stressful than I had imagined it to be. It was in fact a lot easier than what happened before, when he was delirious and thought everyone was his mother.

I can assure you that my Mum was very aware of what was happening to her, she was choking 5 days before she died and had to be turned into her side.

My mum was saying help me, she was trying to sit up, cried out in pain.

How can you be certain that the person has no idea, you can't.

MyopicBunny · 09/04/2023 11:24

AveragePerson5 · 09/04/2023 10:14

There are many women who are forced into abortions they don't want by their partners.

There doesn't seem to be adequate safeguarding to stop that.

There are women who are forced into marriage but that doesn’t mean we never allow marriage.

There will always be abusive people. Safeguards can never be 100%. That isn’t a reason not to have laws and processes that are largely beneficial to people.

As people are living longer more of us have seen what often happens in the last months and weeks, when you can’t have the hoped for morphine induced pain free sleep. It is becoming more acceptable to talk about it. We are extremely shocked and angry by what we have seen our relatives go through. We are terrified the same fate lies ahead for us and others.

I understand where you're coming from, I really do. But death is irreversible. There are also situations where someone is told they have weeks or days to live but in the end they live a lot longer.

gelatogina · 09/04/2023 12:04

MyopicBunny · 09/04/2023 11:24

I understand where you're coming from, I really do. But death is irreversible. There are also situations where someone is told they have weeks or days to live but in the end they live a lot longer.

Show quote history

I don’t think you understand at all. If someone has a terminal diagnosis and wants to end their life then that is their own choice. So what if they could have lived one more week or month in terror and pain? Why do people like you get to take that choice of a peaceful and dignified death away from them.

at the moment if you want to go to Switzerland to end your life, people are going far too early when they will have some quality of life left because they are scared of leaving it too late and being too ill to travel. And of course this is only an option for those who can afford it. The poor have to roll the dice and take their chance.

better a week too early than a day too late is the saying for animals. Why can’t we apply the same compassion to ourselves?

PinkiOcelot · 09/04/2023 12:04

@Teenangels

I’m so sorry. I’m going through the same and it’s horrendous. I think this will live with me the rest of my life. Flowersx

712oohahh · 09/04/2023 12:05

Yes.

I'm only speaking for myself but YES I want this in the UK. If I'm ever in a situation where there is no prospect of recovery, where I am in pain and suffering for a large proportion of my daily existence then I would definitely definitely want the CHOICE to end my life. I may not choose to, but I want that choice available to me.

gelatogina · 09/04/2023 12:06

And for all those saying yes, of which there are many…please make your voices heard.

lobby your MP
join campaign groups

nothing will change unless we force it to

GoldenAye · 09/04/2023 12:20

pointythings · 09/04/2023 09:29

@GoldenAye actually your example of 'the animal is near the end of its life' bears a great deal of resemblance to the situation for humans, so you've shot yourself down in flames right there. When one is dying of cancer and in agony, 'near the end of life' captures the situation perfectly.

I should have clearer there. My meaning was 'lifespan'. If an animal is reaching the end of its natural lifespan, then an owner might be more likely to euthanise rather spend a great deal on treatment. This might be the same for humans, but slightly different if someone had a terminal illness but not old.

GoldenAye · 09/04/2023 12:25

@AnotherSaturdayNight

I don’t agree that people tend to put animals down because they can’t afford treatment. Sure some might, but the majority don’t. There are loads of threads on the Doghouse asking how will I know when it’s time to PTS. Most people are worried about prolonging the suffering of the animal because they can’t bear to part with them.

So that's a few different reasons you've listed - of course, it's always difficult to part with a pet. But to deny that the cost of treatment isn't a major reason is disingenuous. Vet costs are bonkers.

pointythings · 09/04/2023 12:25

Why should any creature whether human or animal be forced to live in unbearable pain?

GoldenAye · 09/04/2023 12:28

pointythings · 09/04/2023 12:25

Why should any creature whether human or animal be forced to live in unbearable pain?

Who are you directing that at?

Teenangels · 09/04/2023 12:33

PinkiOcelot · 09/04/2023 12:04

@Teenangels

I’m so sorry. I’m going through the same and it’s horrendous. I think this will live with me the rest of my life. Flowersx

Thank you, I am sending you all my thoughts and love (very unmumsnet).

If you ever need to offload people just message me.

Alargeoneplease89 · 09/04/2023 12:49

No I don't want it, like everything else an inch turns into a mile. Look at the equalities act and how levelling up for women are has now turned into a trans shambles. Something starts off with good intentions and turns into chaos.

Jonei · 09/04/2023 13:01

Alargeoneplease89 · 09/04/2023 12:49

No I don't want it, like everything else an inch turns into a mile. Look at the equalities act and how levelling up for women are has now turned into a trans shambles. Something starts off with good intentions and turns into chaos.

Indeed. Who would trust any government to deal with this responsibly. And even if one happened to deal with it responsibly, it doesn't mean the next one will. Humans are too corrupt it would seem.

AnotherSaturdayNight · 09/04/2023 13:08

GoldenAye · 09/04/2023 12:25

@AnotherSaturdayNight

I don’t agree that people tend to put animals down because they can’t afford treatment. Sure some might, but the majority don’t. There are loads of threads on the Doghouse asking how will I know when it’s time to PTS. Most people are worried about prolonging the suffering of the animal because they can’t bear to part with them.

So that's a few different reasons you've listed - of course, it's always difficult to part with a pet. But to deny that the cost of treatment isn't a major reason is disingenuous. Vet costs are bonkers.

We don't treat animals more kindly, and they aren't humans.

I don’t agree with the first part of what you said. They don’t have to suffer like humans do. I have witnessed this suffering. Owners have to make difficult decisions when it comes to the cost of treatment. It is kinder to PTS than leave the animal to suffer.

Luckydip1 · 09/04/2023 13:18

I would rather I decide when and how I die not the government which is the current position.

PinkiOcelot · 09/04/2023 14:03

Teenangels · 09/04/2023 12:33

Thank you, I am sending you all my thoughts and love (very unmumsnet).

If you ever need to offload people just message me.

Show quote history

Thank you ❤️