Coronation St; Haley, should we get the option?

[Isitmebut]

Maybe not the best subject to bring up on what is meant to be the most depressing day of the year, but Corrie IS making the news on the subject of Euthanasia, but does anyone have any thoughts on the subject, or how the Corrie writers handled it?

Frankly I’m very much for it rather than be watched suffering by my family and generally being a pain to everyone, including the NHS, but admit that CURRENTLY I am healthy the question of my mortality does not bother me. So as I don’t do any dangerous sports, or jump off wardrobes, as I play things relatively safe, I just think that when my time is up, itsuuup, one way or another.

P.S I did watch the last act by Haley, and thought that is WAS well done and in some ways, brave of them to attempt it, but I may be on my own. lol

I was uncomfortable with the episode. I'm not quite sure specifically how to verbalise it though. One part of me says that is such a coward's way to go - it is suicide, and the people left behind were still reeling over her diagnosis, but now have to deal with this on top of it. I could see where someone might feel angry and cheated out of time spent with that loved one. The other part of me can see the point that she wanted to die with dignity. I just don't know if I could do that, actively end things. Obviously we don't know what we'd do in that situation, but I could see myself saying at some point "that's it - no more treatments, just let it run its course." But actively ending it? I'm not sure I could do that. Who really knows though.

The acting was good, but god it seemed so cruel to Roy's character. And seemed a bit selfish that she put that extra burden on him IMO.

I haven't seen Corrie but I disagree, Alice. If you can't be selfish when you're dying relatively young, when can you?!

I believe strongly that people should have the right to choose when they are done. I think it's perfect reasonable to find peace with your own deaths, and act accordingly. That said, I'm quite terrified of dying so I can't imagine ever doing anything more than prolonging the inevitable.

The option should be there for people in extremis, so that they can choose the time and place of their death without fearing for the future of the loved ones they leave behind.

Death does not scare me. Dying in hospital does.

I don't really think there's ANY right answer on this one. Sorry, but while I do feel people should have the right to choose, at the same time, I have seen what suicide does to those left behind. For someone already reeling because they know they are going to lose someone to illness, the final blow of suicide can make them feel robbed of what little time with that person that they had left, in addition to the devastation. So yes, we'll have to disagree on this one. IMO it seems selfish to some degree. I'm not saying I don't understand why they're doing it.

I haven't seen it yet but read a couple of reviews and can well imagine the two actors played it beautifully as they usually do.

But I'm pondering how it helps the euthanasia debate either way - she committed suicide, didn't she? No assistance, sound mind etc. Was she worried about the choice being taken away from her later if she couldn't manage to do it herself? Was that the focus of why she did it? Or did they not really touch on that in which case it wasn't really about euthanasia/assisted suicide at all!

Yes evertonmint that was why she did it, she had seen a friend die a few weeks ago and she was not mentally "there" anymore at the end, Hayley was terrified of getting to that place as she had a traumatic childhood being trapped in the wrong body (transexual) and had already started having episodes of being confused so wanted to get it done while she could choose to do so and be lucid enough to say a final goodbye. It's a really tricky issue, I can see why she felt she wanted to choose her own time to go before being trapped in a nightmare but I really felt for Roy when he was begging her for just a few more days .

We should have the right to choose, providing there are adequate guidelines in place.

All this fuss about human rights in every conceivable situation apart from when the suffering of the individual has become unbearable. Doesn't make any sense.

As with so many other examples it is easy to make decisions and judgements on behalf of others but try walking in their shoes first! We seem to show a lot more concern for animals. People should not have to worry about how to end their life in such circumstances they should be shown care and compassion in what ever decision they make.

Agree with evertonmint, we already have the option of whether to commit suicide or not and always have done (religion aside). It's getting someone else to help you do it that's the problem.

It used to be illegal to commit suicide. If you tried and failed you would face a criminal prosecution. It was decriminalised in 1961, so within living memory.

don't watch Corrie (why bother, you get all the plot on the news) but I think voluntary euthanasia should be available. We make people suffer where we put animals out of their misery.

how it is controlled and policed - that's the hard bit.

Well you could be prosecuted for trying to commit suicide but not if you did the job properly, so still an option if you were really determined.

I believe in the right to assisted dying in theory but there are so many tricky nuances, there are more questions than answers.

How do we draw the line that forms somewhere between a terminally ill person close to death and a person in intense mental pain?

How do we make sure that no person feels that society is pushing them to this option?

I don't watch soaps, but it is impossible not to be aware of some story lines. My life is mine and I will be the one to decide when and how to end it. I have a comprehensive living will, which is regularly updated with the benefit of legal advice, as my great fear is being incapcitated by a stroke/locked-in syndrome. However, should the situation arise that I might have to end my life early, rather than risking placing the decision with another, I will do
it. To me, death is a state of non-being, so I do not fear it.