Do you believe in stopping life if

[Senator]

yeah ... as assisted suicide becomes more common, that's the slippery slope

To me this indicates that peoples' fears about euthanasia laws opening a slippery slope towards premature death is probably misplaced.

Once it is mainstream, it will be the option of choice. Cheaper than LTC. Just like cremation was once not too common, now over 50% are cremated. You just show up, listen to soft music, and die.

At some point, I can even see clones being grown that are physically unable to function normally and meet the euthanasia criteria. They can be kept alive, and when the time is right, euthanasia happens and organs are harvested and 'sold'.

Maybe the clones look human, maybe not. If I need organs, I will be glad they do it.

 

[Sunset]

Cutting off food and water is cruel for dementia. But I’m pretty sure in most advanced directives, and I’m certain in mine, that cutting off food and water is only an option if there is no brain activity. I don’t see any suffering in that case.

I have read where the person is conscious and the only thing doctors can do is cut off food and water, which I consider cruel to make a person starve to death. I suppose it's easier on their conscience than taking action and giving an injection.

 

[Nemo2]

You just show up, listen to soft music, and die.

Soylent Green.

 

[Dash man]

I have read where the person is conscious and the only thing doctors can do is cut off food and water, which I consider cruel to make a person starve to death. I suppose it's easier on their conscience than taking action and giving an injection.

I agree it’s cruel if a person is conscious. I don’t agree with euthanasia. If there is no brain activity, allowing the body to go through a natural death without heroic measures is the way to go.

 

[poorcarver]

As I am a US resident in a lot of ways it does not really matter what I want, religious and political forces have far more to say about it than I do. In my own case, I keep a close watch on brain function and when I feel myself slipping, that will be the end of the line as I cannot trust that institutions would allow my family to execute my expressed wishes.

 

[Scrapr]

Soylent Green.

Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

That was a meme in college for our fraternity. Every meal was Soylent Green. LOL

Living in Oregon with Assisted Suicide as an option is helpful. My FIL died last week Congestive Heart Failure. Before Hospice got involved he was begging for "the pill". It was heartbreaking. He lasted about 10 days on hospice. And they were very helpful and empathetic.

My little brother has brain cancer. It has been about 4 months since Dx and surgery to remove a tumor. He was doing pretty good but I think he has regressed last week. I'm going to suggest Assisted Suicide for him. I don't know what the end stages of Glioblastoma are like. He is pretty pragmatic but I have no idea if he will do it. At a minimum I'm going to strongly suggest Hospice

Mom & Dad are both in memory care. But AS is not an option for Alzeimers. So they will just linger on.

 

[Nemo2]

I'm going to suggest Assisted Suicide for him. I don't know what the end stages of Glioblastoma are like. He is pretty pragmatic but I have no idea if he will do it. At a minimum I'm going to strongly suggest Hospice

Mom & Dad are both in memory care. But AS is not an option for Alzeimers. So they will just linger on.

DW has been reading these threads and, (as she watches her own parents [-]begin to[/-] deteriorate), it saddens her; it must be heart wrenching for you....our condolences.

 

[Brat]

The husband of a friend committed suicide with a pistol as he had been diagnosed with dementia which was progressing. My take is that is that he made decision to kill himself before he become incapable of doing so.

My friend was prepared to care for him so his actions stunned her.

Oregon's assisted suicide law won't help you if you are incompetent, and you must take those medications yourself.

If I met the law's requirements I would do that. If I were incompetent I do not want treatment for serious illnesses that would prolong my life.

 

[Scrapr]

DW has been reading these threads and, (as she watches her own parents [-]begin to[/-] deteriorate), it saddens her; it must be heart wrenching for you....our condolences.

Thank you. I'm just gearing for a very hard year

 

[Penny6]

I think there is a difference between assisted suicide and respecting end of life wishes. As a nurse ive seen instances where DNRs should not have been rescinded but end of life emotions flood and its sometimes hard for family to respect that persons wishes. I have also taken care of many patients bodies on ventilations and tube feedings and some were deemed brain dead and still took family a while to decide to take them off the vent, others it was a temporary necessity to give their lungs a break and they came back full force. I have also been in a position where the patient was downgraded for end of life care from icu to the unit. Usually they get transferred to a hospice unit but that day, he was my patient. The whole family was in the room emotions ran high. He was on a bipap gasping for air the orders were for morphine. I gave the initial dose. Then the pulmonologist ordered a dose of that I would not be comfortable giving any living person under my care with the knowledge of the suppression of breathing. I was young and discussed it with the charge nurse. She took over went and gave the remaining iv morphine orders. He did die but I didn't assist. I say no. Even if the persons mental faculities aren't 100 percent there I respect the value of the life. Everyone has an end of life time. It is not always plesant or pretty. I feel like there are health care provisions in place that could lessen pain at the end stages and you still get to "die with dignity". Do i want to artificially prolong my life?- No Do I want to use artificial means to end my life?- No

 

[6miths]

The husband of a friend committed suicide with a pistol as he had been diagnosed with dementia which was progressing. My take is that is that he made decision to kill himself before he become incapable of doing so.

Oregon's assisted suicide law won't help you if you are incompetent, and you must take those medications yourself.

This is definitely an option and suicide is in the top 4 leading causes of death in the age 10 to 54 range and is number 2 for ages 10 to 34 according to the CDC. The majority of these are by firearm. It seems that many people will chose their own path despite what religious and political leaders say. This is not at all new. The suicide losses at these young ages indicate that we should be doing much better in attending to people's mental health at all ages.

Laws in Canada must be similar to Oregon as if you are not competent you will not be able to qualify. This is an area of ongoing discussion obviously as it seems that what people fear most is having severe dementia and being a needless yet heavy burden.

 

[Pilot2013]

Yes

 

[Senator]

The husband of a friend committed suicide with a pistol as he had been diagnosed with dementia which was progressing. My take is that is that he made decision to kill himself before he become incapable of doing so.

Way too messy. And if done in a home, it could make it a problem selling it. In some states, any death must be disclosed.

 

[O2Bfree]

If I ever decided to sidestep a painful and protracted passage and didn't have access to the proper drugs, I'd look into CO2. Perhaps dry ice in a small, enclosed area would do the trick neatly? Might preserve me a little better until I'm found, too.

 

[rodi]

Thanks for the interesting discussion.