I've read so often of people with terrible terminal illnesses, illnesses that cause constant pain, destroy their quality of life, and impose a huge burden on their partners and family, wanting to die but being unable to do so. The stories are quite heart-breaking.
Those who oppose assisted dying always raise the spectre of unscrupulous relatives wanting to get rid of someone and claim their inheritance, but in other countries where it's legal I gather there's scant evidence of such behaviour.
People can be so desperate to die that they arrange it discreetly with their doctor and family, who cover it up by presenting the death as due to natural causes. Or they travel to the Dignitas centre in Switzerland, which enables assisted dying for members of the organisation.
I would hate to be suffering from some appalling terminal illness but be unable to end the misery. I would want to finish with my suffering at the earliest opportunity. I don't see anything commendable about enduring such hardship until the bitter end - which could be decades away.
I wouldn't want Jenny to have to put the rest of her life on hold in order to care for me, with all the messy and distasteful tasks that would involve. Why should she have to make such a sacrifice?
(Assisted dying may in fact be legalised in the rest of the UK. The Assisted Dying bill is currently progressing through parliament, but I've no idea when it would become law. The bill is modelled on legislation that has been in place in Oregon, USA, for 23 years, since adopted by nine other American states plus the District of Columbia, five Australian states and New Zealand)
Given how families can sometimes squabble over Wills I understand that a lot of safeguards will need to be in place to ward off the unscrupulous, but I mostly agree with assisted dying for those who are suffering and want to end their pain.
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Ms Scarlet: Yes, there will have to be strict safeguards to ward off any dodgy manoeuvrings.
DeleteI too support voluntary euthanasia and have been part of a lobbying group here to get legislation introduced and passed.
ReplyDeleteRamana: I'm glad to hear that. Why should people whose life is no longer worth living be forced to plod on regardless?
DeleteI support voluntary euthanasia. I was pleased to read that a bill is going through parliament.
ReplyDeletePolly: I didn't know about the English bill until I googled the Jersey bill. Scotland is also considering an assisted dying law.
DeleteI'm pretty sure I heard or read it somewhere.
DeleteI agree with everyone too. Hawaii did pass that bill in 2019.
ReplyDelete"Hawai’i is the 7th U.S. jurisdiction to enact a death with dignity statute. The Our Care, Our Choice Act went into effect on January 1, 2019.
In January 2021, SB839, a bill which seeks to remove barriers to accessing Hawai’i’s Our Care Our Choice Act, was introduced. If passed, it will reduce the waiting period from 20 days to 15 days, will authorize attending providers to waive the 15 period if a patient is imminently dying, and will authorize advance-practice nurses and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to participate in patient processes to qualify. Hawai’i’s unique geography and limited number of physicians have proven to be a barrier for patient access. The bill moved successfully through the Senate and then stalled."
We'll see what happens. It's so sad to force people to continue to suffer at the end of their lives.
Kay: I hope the problems are ironed out and Hawaii can join those other American states that allow assisted dying.
DeleteAs I recall our state allows death with dignity. I contribute to a national organization called Compassion and Choices which lobbies for it.
ReplyDeleteJean: Compassion and Choices looks like a great organisation. "Its primary function is advocating for and ensuring access to end-of-life options." Excellent.
DeleteI certainly support the Right To Die or Death with Dignity legislation, other wordings used, as we have in California and numerous other U.S. states. There is the risk of such a law, like any law, being abused so it is important that those who authorize a death act judiciously. We need to familiarize ourselves with the criteria that are required to be able to apply the law as they are not necessarily simple and can vary in each state.
ReplyDeleteJoared: Usually I think several health professionals have to monitor the process to make sure everything's done properly. As you say, any law can be abused and you just have to do what you can to prevent those abuses.
DeleteI think registering way ahead of time outlining what illnesses, mobility and other limitations would be the reasons for self termination. I am very clear on my DNR wishes.
ReplyDeleteI've been close to appalling extensions of life when the patient's wishes were so clear to the spouse way before.
Some blog friends have terminated and actually video'd their peaceful ending to a few of us, surrounded by those they love and the music they love and flowers and pets.
I sure want to go that way rather than suffering needlessly and unable to communicate.
XO
WWW
www: Jenny and I made living wills (statements detailing in what situation we would want to end our life) some time ago, so our wishes are very clear. I rather liked the euthanasia centre in the film Soylent Green!
DeleteMother was all in favour of euthanasia...but at her choice, not that of health professionals. The reports of DNR notices being made on disabled people and those in care homes without the knowledge of their families during the incarceration period for the virus makes me too worry about the involvement of health professionals - not so much those on the ground, but those making the guideleines for them to follow. Mother, in her nineties and in hospital for pneumonia, was confronted by a bossy woman who wanted her to sign up for DNR....on the grounds that her quality of life could not be good - despite being mobile after hip and knee replacements. The ward sister told me that the reaction was volcanic and voluble, but how would a more suggestible person have reacted?
ReplyDeleteI know that this is anecdotal rather than theoretical, but in my experience the anecdotal is very revealing.
Fly: I've also heard of elderly patients in the UK given DNR notices without their knowledge or permission. Or the knowledge of family or friends. Quite disgraceful and unprofessional.
DeleteWe have living wills. I honestly don’t even know what the laws are in my state.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: We both have living wills too, so our wishes about assisted dying are very clear.
DeleteI think assisted dying should be allowed everywhere. You can take your pet to the vet and have them euthanized when they are sick and in pain but you can't do the same for yourself or a loved one? That's just crazy.
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