34 year old assisted euthanasia

With apologies to those who have lost loved ones (I have lost many, young and old), no everyone likes being alive.

Kate1949

With apologies to those who have lost loved ones (I have lost many, young and old), no everyone likes being alive.

I think that is hard for many people to understand unless they've actually been there (and I have). Some of us are lucky enough to find a way back from that dark place - but many others don't.

Me too MissI. I'm glad you came back.

I recently lost a very close friend who opted for Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) here in Canada where MAID is legal. I'll refer to her as "S".
S had had a serious, chronic physical condition since childhood which resulted in hospital admissions which became more frequent as she aged. However when at home "S", who lived alone, managed to live a very happy and independent life and managed all the usual daily living activities without help. She always said she would never go into residential care. Unfortunately in March her condition deteriorated further and she was admitted to a seniors unit in hospital where I visited her. One afternoon I visited "S" said, "CocoPops I can't look after myself any more". She knew she would not recover and regain her independence again. The options of residential care or 24hour care at home following hospital discharge were discussed at length with her medical team but my dear friend was not interested . She had all her marbles and some!
"S" applied for and was assessed and approved for MAID. She told me she had seriously been thinking about it since Christmas. The day before it was to be carried out she appeared firm in her decision. calm and happy. I left her at 3 pm before her son brought her grandchildren to say Goodbye. The following day MAID was carried out with her son present who said his Mom had died very peacefully. It was a very stressful time for all but I feel very grateful that MAID is available for those who want it.

I saw a woman on youtube who had been battling an illness.
I got to follow her struggles, as she gave a "warts and all" rundown of the issues she faced.

Eventually, she was given some kind of deep sedation, meaning that she died in her sleep.

I think she may have been in Canada.

Would that be a similar thing?

Her partner would make short videos, and you could hear snoring in the background, which was the sedated woman.

I found it quite shocking, but certainly very humane.

She was in her own home, with her pets and her wife, and had called a halt to her suffering.

My darling daughter took her life 6 years ago, she went in the night alone to the river , jumped from the bridge

I am surprised that medical science could not treat her pain and suffering. Surely there are other options.

I remember that time, Annie.
Just terrible, terrible times.

When I said "her" in my post, I was referring to Jolanda, specifically. Anniebach I am terribly sorry for your loss.

I don’t feel able to judge this young woman.After seeing someone I know in dark places from being a young child and going into adult life with depression and always having this overwhelming sadness within them is hard. This person is well loved has received many years of mental health help but the darkness never leaves them. Watching the pain this person has suffered for years and the pain they go through daily makes me not want to judge anyone who feels this is their only way out.

Truffle43

I don’t feel able to judge this young woman.After seeing someone I know in dark places from being a young child and going into adult life with depression and always having this overwhelming sadness within them is hard. This person is well loved has received many years of mental health help but the darkness never leaves them. Watching the pain this person has suffered for years and the pain they go through daily makes me not want to judge anyone who feels this is their only way out.

I agree.
I wouldn’t presume to judge what makes life worth living for someone else.

I am not judging her. I am judging a society that thinks legal euthanasia wont have implications for the most vulnerable in our society.

There may be implications for the most vulnerable of course but currently, the opportunity to safely, legally and peacefully end this life is unavailable.
We were blessed with good staff on the ward where my husband was receiving end of life care. They were kind, considerate, skilled professionals. We had a tiny side ward so a level of privacy. My husband was kept reasonably comfortable. By day 5 one of our adult children wept for her dad. She said we wouldn’t let one of our dogs suffer like this.

But assisted dying for mental illness sufferers l?

I totally agree, Iam64. I know that if the option had been available for both my mother and mother-in-law, they would have chosen it rather than endure the long, drawn-out deaths they did. As you say, we do not let our beloved pets suffer in this way, so why should humans not have the option to pass with peace and dignity?

Anniebach

But assisted dying for mental illness sufferers l?

Why do you perceive mental health suffering to be less than physical suffering Anniebach

Galaxy

I am not judging her. I am judging a society that thinks legal euthanasia wont have implications for the most vulnerable in our society.

It could have terrible implications.

Assisted dying is such an emotive subject, and I think if (when) it is allowed in this country, there will need to be strict safeguards in place.

I generally agree that if we are “of sound mind” we should have control over how we leave this world, One of the dangers is of course that elderly and the chronically ill may feel a burden to their families as they become more frail, and governments (and families) could in future see assisted dying as a solution to the costs involved with social care!

I hope we will remain a caring and compassionate society, but that is not always apparent even now.

I am a humanist with no religious beliefs and as an organisation humanists are strongly in support of assisted dying.

If this young woman is untreated bipolar she can't be expected to be reasonable. Once her feelings of sadness and hilarity are more level she will be in a better emotional state to make big decisions.
Again, in the present dire state of mental health care under the NHS a suicidal individual can't take care of such a big decision as to end her life.

Caleo

If this young woman is untreated bipolar she can't be expected to be reasonable. Once her feelings of sadness and hilarity are more level she will be in a better emotional state to make big decisions.
Again, in the present dire state of mental health care under the NHS a suicidal individual can't take care of such a big decision as to end her life.

The woman in question isn't from the UK.

Farzanah, my principles chime with your own . Would you agree that challenging anecdotes such as the original post are good for urging us to arrive at reasoned decisions as to safeguards?

Euthanasia cannot be discussed in a vacuum; it is always in the context of the society around. If that society does not value the proper care of people both at the end of life (with high quality terminal care) or the care of people during life (quality mental health services, specialized pain relief) then the idea of euthanasia is totally different to a society where these things are prioritised and valued.

Of curse people will want to end their lives if care services are poor, if pain relief is poor, if mental health services are poor.

And that is what we have now. The NHS is dwindling: end of life care is farmed out to to voluntary funded hospices; mental health services are not fit for purpose; people live in pain awaiting surgery; pain relief is sporadic and falls far short of what is medically possible; care for those who are disabled is fragmented and lacks dignity.

If we create a society where those in need are respected and helped, there will be less need to seek life's end. We do not have a magic wand to wave away all ills, but I am damn sure we can do better than this - it is a question of will.

Exactly Luckygirl3. Excellent post

Mental pain can hurt just as much as physical pain, if in a different way

If someone is in that kind of mental or physical agony, has tried for a long time to treat it and nothing alleviated their suffering... I'd respect their choice

Such a choice is to be respected, but it would be better if that were in the context of a caring society and good services for both mental and physical health and for care.