Debate: Should Euthanasia Be Legal?

[Blah11]

Yeah Parkinsons is one of the more horrible diseases My mum is charge nurse is a specialised parkinsons ward and actually, 1/10 people with parkinsons develop dementia so most of those with such advanced parkinsons arent 'all there' at all. Not that it makes any difference really.

 

[Blah11]

So for patients who don't have the capacity to make the decision for themselves.. should their power of welfare attorney be able to make it for them?

 

[buttonnose82]

my FIL has parkinsons, he went from being totally independent & active to what i described above in less than 5 years, he doesn't have the dementia ...... as of yet

 

[~RedLily~]

i think in certain circumstances yes. there should be some sort of councelling so that the person can be fully aware of what they are doing and also to be assesses to make sure that this it was the person wants and they are not being pressured into doing it. a lot of people with terminal illnesses arent afraid of death but the suffering before hand.

 

[Blah11]

see I have watched 2 grandparents die of lung cancer in the past 3 years (1 was less than 2 weeks ago) they both had very dignified, painless and peaceful deaths.

I tend to agree with you.

Isn't it funny how those in the health profession are more against it lol

 

[buttonnose82]

So for patients who don't have the capacity to make the decision for themselves.. should their power of welfare attorney be able to make it for them?

nope, i think it should come from the person themselves when of sound mind if it is to come from anywhere

 

[Chaos]

I would have thought if they were in enough mind to know their disease was going to get really bad, that they would have planned in advance and make their wishes known with some kind of living will or advanced directive explaining their wishes, that if they become so bad they can no longer mentally function, that they wish to be peacefully let to die via euthanasia. Kinda the same as a 'do not re-suss' order.

Power of Attorneys in a way make that choice every day with turning off life support machines.
I think a POA should have a say to represent the the express wishes of the person, but not them alone should make a choice, Drs and such, medical evaluations and so on should be considered if the person really has no clue what is going on.

 

[buttonnose82]

see i don't see a DNR & euthanasia the same thing at all ..... one is not administering treatment to prolong life, the other is *usually* giving of medication to cause death

 

[Blah11]

I don't think they're anything alike either. A DNAR form can be issued without the patients knowledge too. Infact, they often are. It's a medical decision.

 

[Chaos]

see i don't see a DNR & euthanasia the same thing at all ..... one is not administering treatment to prolong life, the other is *usually* giving of medication to cause death

No, you're not understanding what I'm saying. I mean that if a person is of sound mind and understands that an illness is going to be terminal and is going to be nasty towards the end, they then should have something put on their medical file, signed by them saying that if it gets to a certain stage (for example can't make their own choices any more), they wish to die via medical means .. euthanasia, the same way that you can have a DNR order kept on your file to express your wishes about dying/not having life saving measures done.

 

[buttonnose82]

see i don't see a DNR & euthanasia the same thing at all ..... one is not administering treatment to prolong life, the other is *usually* giving of medication to cause death

No, you're not understanding what I'm saying. I mean that if a person is of sound mind and understands that an illness is going to be terminal and is going to be nasty towards the end, they then should have something put on their medical file, signed by them saying that if it gets to a certain stage (for example can't make their own choices any more), they wish to die via medical means .. euthanasia, the same way that you can have a DNR order kept on your file to express your wishes about dying/not having life saving measures done.

I get you now, sorry

 

[buttonnose82]

I don't think they're anything alike either. A DNAR form can be issued without the patients knowledge too. Infact, they often are. It's a medical decision.

yup, we only discovered FIL had one when the dr in the hospital left his notes open and i spotted it

 

[Chaos]

see i don't see a DNR & euthanasia the same thing at all ..... one is not administering treatment to prolong life, the other is *usually* giving of medication to cause death

No, you're not understanding what I'm saying. I mean that if a person is of sound mind and understands that an illness is going to be terminal and is going to be nasty towards the end, they then should have something put on their medical file, signed by them saying that if it gets to a certain stage (for example can't make their own choices any more), they wish to die via medical means .. euthanasia, the same way that you can have a DNR order kept on your file to express your wishes about dying/not having life saving measures done.

I get you now, sorry

Blame the kid getting me up at 530 on my lack of ability to explain things properly lol.

 

[buttonnose82]

see i don't see a DNR & euthanasia the same thing at all ..... one is not administering treatment to prolong life, the other is *usually* giving of medication to cause death

No, you're not understanding what I'm saying. I mean that if a person is of sound mind and understands that an illness is going to be terminal and is going to be nasty towards the end, they then should have something put on their medical file, signed by them saying that if it gets to a certain stage (for example can't make their own choices any more), they wish to die via medical means .. euthanasia, the same way that you can have a DNR order kept on your file to express your wishes about dying/not having life saving measures done.

I get you now, sorry

Blame the kid getting me up at 530 on my lack of ability to explain things properly lol.

nope blame my baby bump that seems intent of giving me baby brain recently!

ugh i should be making favours not here but i love debate

 

[Charlotteee]

Okay, let me explain,

My Grandma has Huntingtons disease, there is a 50% chance i will get it, I am going to get the blood test done soon to see if i am a carrier.
This disease is a dominant gene, if i am a carrier, i will get it, no two ways about it.

I have seen my grandma, lose physical abilities, and her speach is slurred, she has to take at least 10 pills a day, is in a wheelchair, has a stairlift, and bath lift, and needs help getting dresses, having her toe nails cut etc etc. Simple things, that if i couldn't do my self would really upset me.

She is just about mentally with us, eventually she will lose this. Having seen her, i dont want to be the same. I want to be able to sign a letter, saying i want things to end in a medical way when i lose my mental abilities.

Just my choice x

 

[emilyjade]

this is a hard one but i think yes,
the only thing about it would be that people not really needing to use this 'service' would and that shouldnt/couldnt happen.

my grandad who died a few years back had an awful illness and its apart of leukemia- only 13 or 14 people had this and all died from it. . he had the most awful time weeks becoming closer to his death he couldnt talk, eat, drink go to the loo nothing! if he had a choice maybe he would of wanted to 'go early' and save all my family for the awful things they had to see of my grandad becoming a different man he was a stranger, he didnt even look like my grandad. My family i think would of had peace if he died that way instead of dreading the day to find my grandad dying and he could of died with a bit of dignity left

 

[cherryglitter]

I do agree that euthanasia should be legal, but I think there should be certain guidelines set in place. Ie someone having to be counselled for a long time about what they are actually thinking of doing etc.

I've worked with the elderly and it's hard to tell what is going through someone's mind when they're suffering from a degenerative disease. They may have said in advance that they would want their life ended, but how do you know at that point that that is truly what they want? It's a difficult one. Although it seems like their dignity and standards of living have dropped, they may be the happiest person in the world, because they are simply, alive! It all depends on the type of care that person is receiving.
People can obviously write living wills where they state that they wouldn't want to be resuscitated in certain circumstances, (strokes, heartattacks, etc) I can't see how this can be any different to euthanasia. It's about making a decision about your own life be it in advance or at the time.

I do think humans should be able to make their own decisions about euthanasia, but like most people have said, with a lot of medical intervention and counselling.

 

[Floralaura]

Given a chance between dying slowly, wasting away, struggling for every breath and movement, being totally reliant on others for everything whilst my family stood by and had to watch this happen to me not knowing when they would get that call to say i had gone (quite possibly alone in a hospital)..over being able to choose when to go, to be able to say stop and that enough is enough and say my goodbyes and have someone with me whilst i took my last breath..then i would choose euthanasia over naturally
BUT
What about those who are told they have months to live then live for years afterwards..what if they were told they had 6mths to live..4mths later they opt for euthanasia yet had they not they would have lived for another 3 years and lived a 'normal life'?
AND
What about the Children..the Babies born with life changing illnesses, the toddler who gets terminal cancer..who chooses when their life ends if they can't?
I think if it were legal it would be abused, misused and misunderstood..who would be the final say in who gets to live or die..God, a DR, You or your family?
So no, i actually dont think it should be legal, even though I wouldn't want to suffer in death I cant use that as a reason for it to be legal.

 

[Chaos]

I think if it were legal it would be abused, misused and misunderstood..who would be the final say in who gets to live or die..God, a DR, You or your family?
So no, i actually dont think it should be legal, even though I wouldn't want to suffer in death I cant use that as a reason for it to be legal.

What I think needs to be remembered, that in some countries it is actually legal and happens every day.

 

[coccyx]

cancer can be a painless/peaceful death

it is quite rare really that it is painful/uncomfortable death

As a palliative care nurse I disagree. Not all Gp's in community are up to date with recommended medications / dosages. Also not keen to listen to macmillan nurses recommendations.
I do think it should be legalised, with strict legislation. Do not believe in God, its my life and mine to end.