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Would you volunteer to be euthanased?

If you were old and sick and pretty much brassed off with life, and if you were offered 'a way out' i.e, a shot in the arm, or a whiff of cyanide gas, and then peace, perfect peace. Would you go for it?


Created By on 17/08/2016

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Love Bug
7th Dec 2016 01:43:00
0
Thanks for voting!
No I wouldn't. We need to stop making people feel a burden and taking up resources
Jazzy27
22nd Nov 2016 23:45:44
1
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Yes if I was suffering enough. You wouldn't let am animal suffer so why should people?
Sni
15th Nov 2016 17:15:55 (Last activity: 22nd Nov 2016 23:39:39)
2
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I think we should be given the choice since I believe quality of life is more important than the length of it. In other words, I believe we should be in control of the ageing process, not it be in control of us. Being healthy and fit, yes I would option of euthanasia. However, whether I am still of the same mind if I last until I become infirm - that is another issue.
Response from jeanmark made on 15th Nov 2016 18:54:07
I agree with you Sni, many of us may change our minds when we do become infirm as we tend to adapt to changing circumstances.
Response from Jazzy27 made on 22nd Nov 2016 23:39:39
Yes I agree
quilp666
1st Nov 2016 07:55:11
2
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It should be a human right and only the choice of the person concerned.
Susanmkbr
31st Oct 2016 23:51:46
1
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Totally. To suffer and just want a way out should be a human right. Provided the person is fully capable if making that decision. I would want that 100%.
Iris2u
31st Oct 2016 20:49:36
1
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After watching my Husband die after 12 yrs coping with Alzheimers I would be glad to be offered a "way out" that`s not a life it`s a sentence. One of the cruellest complaints of this century, not for the person but all the family and friends helplessly watching the final days.
Capricorn
15th Sep 2016 10:22:44
1
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I watched my Mother change from a lively , funny person and for me , I would certainly opt for a trip to another Country which has the compassion to offer euthanasia .
celtwitch Original Poster
27th Aug 2016 14:56:04
-1
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I had a steak last week and I rather suspect that the beast that it came from had volunteered to go to the abattoir!
Joeby52
27th Aug 2016 05:29:57 (Last activity: 27th Aug 2016 14:35:38)
1
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I would, for two reasons.
1) If I was in pain with no relief in sight and suffering from something incurable.
2) I'd hate to put my family through the pain and anguish of watching my slowly deteriorate.
Response from Capricorn made on 27th Aug 2016 09:50:30
Hi Joeby52 It is a thorny subject at the moment . Did you ever see a Film "Soylent Green", ?
I think it is still available on Amazon . Edward G Robinson and Charlton Heston are the Stars
and it's a futuristic World which I am sure will be the norm sometime in the future.
Response from Joeby52 made on 27th Aug 2016 14:35:38
I do Capricorn. The dead were turned into food for the living.
pjran
27th Aug 2016 12:32:12
2
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Yes I believe in euthanasia and we should be able to choose. Loved ones shouldn't be prosecuted if they help.
Capricorn
26th Aug 2016 09:17:27 (Last activity: 27th Aug 2016 10:02:53)
1
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Yes I would and why someone has to go all the way to Switzerland for relief is a crime. They shoot Horses if they break a leg , why deny dignity for a Human being?
Did anyone see the T.V. programme where the Man could only communicate by way of a stick in his mouth to communicate on his laptop and wanted to be put out of his misery. Next morning it was reported that he had died , no comment from the Family and my guess was he had been given an injection by a Doctor .
Response from Alan247 made on 26th Aug 2016 14:26:35
If it had been my wife i would have granted her wish and would worry about any comeback
Response from Capricorn made on 26th Aug 2016 22:55:30
Hi Alan 247, did you mean "not worry " . My Mother suffered from severe dementia and it was pitiful to see her , this is why I believe in euthanasia and have made my wishes known and my 2 grown up Sons have accepted this.

Incidentally, the deficit for the NHS is horrendous and rising , I'm sure that at some stage Euthanasia will be practised in Britain .
Response from Capricorn made on 27th Aug 2016 10:02:53
Incidentally , if your Mother or Father go into a Home because everyone in the Family has to work, make sure you vet the Nursing Home before she is admitted.
Kazzaj
17th Aug 2016 23:27:21 (Last activity: 26th Aug 2016 09:27:28)
0
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Hi all I'm New to this site and this is my first comment. I work almost every day in nursing and residential homes. I hear it all the time from people I want to die! I wish I was dead! But in reality if the option was given would they take it?? Who knows are we that brave?
Response from Capricorn made on 26th Aug 2016 09:27:28
I think most people who have passed their 3 score years and 10 , unable to communicate would find it a blessing.
Treehugger1
17th Aug 2016 21:33:48 (Last activity: 25th Aug 2016 20:51:58)
4
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Yes absolutely, no question. I don't believe in the medical profession's practice of life at all costs and if it's become unbearable then why extend it.
We don't prolong animal's suffering so why should humans suffer?
It seems some in authority feel they have the need to play God and keep us alive whatever our personal feelings which is not humane.
Response from Kazzaj made on 17th Aug 2016 23:36:15
I agree we often say the same, but you know i help care for people who basically are just shells of their former selves unable to speak, move or do anything BUT it amazes me how the human spirit carries on,continuing to eat, drink and breath clinging to life still!
Response from jeanmark made on 23rd Aug 2016 13:38:53
Treehugger1, I don't think the majority of medical practitioners do adopt a practice of life at all costs but there is such a thing as the law which makes euthanasia illegal in this country. Last time it went to the vote there was an overwhelming rejection to changing the law as there were fears (possibly unfounded) that people would eventual abuse the system! People are still able to refuse 'active' treatment for themselves and can have this put in writing, even before they become ill.
Response from Treehugger1 made on 24th Aug 2016 20:40:59
Yes if only everyone had the foresight (and financial capacity) to refuse active treatment in advance jeanmark but unfortunately most don't and then are at the mercy of the medical prefession. My Mum has dementia but still knows us so that is good but her brother my dear uncle also has dementia, recognizes nobody and is to all intents and purposes gone now; and yet the medics at the care home he is in continue to insist on treating him for recurrent bouts of pneumonia and effectively 'bringing him back'. I believe it would be far kinder to not treat him and let 'the old man's friend' take him to a peaceful end and relieve his suffering.
Response from jeanmark made on 25th Aug 2016 15:00:45
You don't have to have the financial capacity to refuse treatment but probably do need the foresight. I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, my father had dementia and for the last 4 years of his life had difficulty in recognising my mother, he didn't recogniser me or my sisters. However, each time he developed pneumonia my mother was asked whether he was to be treated as he didn't have the capacity to consent one way or the other. Following discussion with us she would always say 'don't treat and give palliative care only' but he always appeared to survive the infection. He was always a cantankerous old devil and obviously decided he would go when he was ready! That just demonstrates that 'the old man's friend' does't always go the way you expect. Does your uncle have direct next of kin that could intervene by speaking on his behalf? I only say that as I have experience of relatives often requesting treatment when the medics have believed it wasn't in the patients best interest.
Response from Treehugger1 made on 25th Aug 2016 19:57:51
Unfortunately his only remaining immediate next of kin is my Mum and she's obviously not capable of intervening so it looks as if the saga will continue 🙁 , but thank you for the advice.

Re your statement about not needing the financial capacity to refuse treatment, as I understand it after a conversation with my GP, unless you have made a Living Will the medical professionals will always treat any medical conditions they deem necessary so you are effectively 'up a creek without a paddle' if you don't have the means to pay solicitors fees?

I think this is all irrelevant anyway, as look at poor Tony Nicklinson who was 'locked in' for years and suffered dreadfully despite his and his family's fight for the right to legally end his life.
It just feels to me that we have little control over this very important matter in our lives. Very sad.
Response from jeanmark made on 25th Aug 2016 20:51:58
I so agree Treehugger1, there are many people who you really feel for when the law prevents you from easing their suffering. At least my nephew, who was 20, had his life support switched off because there was really no hope of him recovering from a sever head injury. The decision had to be made by my brother-in-law and it was so difficult for him as he was his only son.

I think it would also be difficult for the person who was charged with performing euthanasia, if you have spent your life saving life, it is difficult to deliberately end it even if you believe you would be ending suffering. Who decides what quality of life means to an individual and what are acceptable circumstances for performing euthanasia?

I think the problem with Tony Nicklinson was the courts were involved and that always causes problems. There have been a very small number of people with 'locked in' syndrome who have miraculously recovered consciousness and I think that is what frightens people in making a decision but these cases are rare.

May be I have been lucky, I have only worked in hospitals and my experience has been that when a doctor feels there is no benefit to treatment and the patient does not have the capacity to make a decision, the medical staff have always discussed it with the next of kin so a decision for no active treatment can be taken. We were allowed to let my mother die with dignity, no doctor tried to prevent the inevitable and for that we were grateful as she was in so much pain.

I do feel for your dilemma.
ericthespark
23rd Aug 2016 13:47:55
0
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Tracy Lee
23rd Aug 2016 03:21:34
0
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Fruitcake13
19th Aug 2016 19:46:19
0
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Alan247
19th Aug 2016 00:33:55
1
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It should be law, if you took your cat or dog to a vet, he looks at it and says....this poor animal is in pain and suffering, only one thing to do, the kindest thing. People on the other hand are kept alive...in pain and suffer, its the kindest thing to do
Capricorn
18th Aug 2016 13:08:29 (Last activity: 18th Aug 2016 18:04:47)
0
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Yes I would after seeing the way my Mother deteriorated and I do think it should be made available in the U.K.......£5,000 to go to Switzerland is steep. I have signed to give my body to Science did it years ago . I have a letter lodged with my Solicitor from the University and there is a clause which states if I die more that 50 miles away from the Uni, they will not accept my body.

I would say that rule is quite cheapskate because there are many uses for one's body if it is intact.
Response from jeanmark made on 18th Aug 2016 14:49:52
I don't think anyone would want my body, too many parts missing.
Response from Capricorn made on 18th Aug 2016 15:09:27
Well jeanmark you would be surprised , apart from taking parts of the Body , there is the use for Students . Your Brain is intact or you wouldn't be posting here LOL
Response from jeanmark made on 18th Aug 2016 16:09:56
I would hate to think what they would learn from dissecting my brain and it may be intact but is it functioning adequately?
Response from Capricorn made on 18th Aug 2016 17:43:52
Well you wouldn't know would you jeanmark ?? I would rather think that someone would benefit from my dead body ...anyway, this is a personal choice and what happens to my Body when I am dead doesn't bother me.
Response from jeanmark made on 18th Aug 2016 18:04:47
I agree Capricorn, it is personal choice and I commend you for yours. I will let nature benefit from my body as you are right, I won't need it.
Mollflanders
18th Aug 2016 17:42:11
0
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I don't think I would really. I may be an optimist but supposing I took that final step and some genius came up with a cure the day after. Okay, I wouldn't know about it but my family would and would be upset (I hope lol).
jeanmark
18th Aug 2016 14:59:38
2
Thanks for voting!
If (or when) I become old and sick and feel pretty much brassed off with life I want to stay around to make sure everyone else feels as miserable as me!

Thinking about it Alan247 my husband has started serving me Cheerios for breakfast, do you think that may be significant?
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