⚠️ Suicide pods - warning ‼️

MissAdventure

Some people with dementia are quite content, though.
Rare, but it happens.

Yes, some are. Unfortunately, dementia affects different people in different ways. My mum was relatively content in her own way for several years until her condition to deteriorate quite rapidly and in the latter months, she was literally just a shell. Anything which had made her 'her' had long gone and she was no longer actively living - merely existing. Many a night I sat by her bedside just willing her to go - as it was no life at all for her.

MissAdventure

Some people with dementia are quite content, though.
Rare, but it happens.

I agree with you. I have a relative in their 90s. A difficult unhappy woman for most of her life and the start of dementia was awful. She's probably happier now than she's ever been. She loves her carers, she is in a lovely home, she sits in the communal area while there is singing and music. Yes she needs help with personal hygiene, she doesn't recognise close family anymore, maybe it isn't dignified but she is happy.

I find it incredulous that someone, anyone, thinks palliative care is satisfactory in all cases. It's not. Dying people suffer, some for many years. Their bodies and/or minds may waste away quickly or slowly, taking their independence and dignity with it. Pain is not always assuaged by a cocktail if medication. Medics can be fearful to provide enough medication to quell the pain as this may kill the patient (yes it was different years ago). I've watched people die the most horrendous deaths - noone deserves that.

Some people with dementia are quite content, though.
Rare, but it happens.

I agree with 15MissInterpreted. If you have ever had a relative die from dementia as I have, you will see there is a great need for doctors to step in and do the humane and kind thing for suffering humans. There is nothing right about having a person slowly suffer, for years, losing the ability to walk, to see, to swallow, to shower, to use a toilet, to speak, etc
... I would never let a beloved pet suffer like that yet I had to let my beloved parent suffer. Hospice and palliative care don't make it better in certain situations. The only helpful thing they could have done is too give a massive dose of morphine, which wasn't done of course. There must be better ways to die. I will probably buy some fentanyl or morphine in advance for myself. I won't be one waiting for laws to change. I think it is important to write up this plan when you are not ill so it is written with a logical and sound mind and discussed with your family.

I have always believe in my right to end my life when I wish to do so, and in a comfortable manner.
Having watched my husband spend over two weeks in local hospice waiting to die, plenty of pain relief, little else. Each time he woke up he was bewildered as to why he was still there. Food given, but not actually fed with it.
I would never expect anyone else to take their own life under any circumstances if they felt it was wrong and not for them, but I expect people to also respect my feelings that I want to have that choice as to when and how.
My choice, is lethal injection in my own home.

What a marvellous dignified way to go Framilode. If only everybody has this option. My old collie has a much better death than my poor grandmother who unbe-known to us was being slowly starved to death! I don't understand why this last intrinsic part life of is not discussed more openly & frankly in a wider public arena. It's as though death is still a taboo subject for any. 🤔

My father was 'helped ' on his way by his caring GP, This was the 1980's and probably wouldn't happen now. So he had a good death on his own terms.
I have a Dutch friend whose mother, in her 90's, lived independently. She had had enough and was worried about falling and not being found, or being in hospital and losing her dignity.
She asked for euthanasia and after seeing two doctors this was agreed. She informed her family and they all came to see her. She had the right to change her mind up to the last minute but she was adamant.
She had a lovely time with her family, had her injection and slipped away painlessly.
To me this seems humane and compassionate.

Bellasnana

Whilst I’m all for having the right to choose one’s own end, I personally would not like to get into one of those pods. Too claustrophobic! I know that sounds daft when contemplating one’s suicide, but I’d prefer a peaceful end in my own bed.

Not claustrophobic because the lid is glass. I saw the item yesterday on J Vine. As someone pointed out you could be in a forest looking up at the trees or looking up at the sky. Much better than being in a room in an office block.

My father died from cancer. I and my family were with him in hospital for a week waiting for him to die. I'd gone to see him and whilst I was there he had a sort of fit. My siblings and mum came to the hospital and we were there for 8 days.
on his notes one of the doctors had written - "Family - TLC"
even after nearly 40 years the image of him at the last stage are what comes to mind when I think of him.

My FIL announced that there should be something like a telephone booth where you entered, put in some money and you died. This was about 20 years ago. I thought he had the right idea.

One's own bed is the best place probably, if at all possible.

crazyH

Yes, I read about it. And saw something about it on TV. I dont know why anyone would want to die like that. Palliative care is so good, no one needs a ‘suicide pod’ - it’s illegal anyway and the last I heard, the police has swooped down on the forest and the inventor.

Palliative care isn’t invariably effective. A friend of ours suffered dreadful pain with end stage prostate cancer that had got into his spine. Sufficient morphine wasn’t/couldn’t be given, because it would have hastened his death - when he was dying anyway.
So cruel!
This was in Australia, BTW.

IMO people should be free to end their lives (or ask medics to do it for them) if they if lives have become a burden to them, or even if they’ve just had enough, or loathe being dependent, needing ‘personal’ care, etc.

I hate ‘nanny state’ attitudes on this, especially when people try to bring religion into it.

LaCrepescule

Yes it does theworriedwell. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a living will.

The worry would be that someone has made that decision when well but wouldn't want to go through with it when the time comes.

During covid I heard about a retired doctor who wasn't in favour of "heroic measures" to prolong life until it came to him and suddenly he was begging for help.

It must be one of the hardest dilemmas.

MissInterpreted

I have been with every one of our dogs when they were PTS, and each time, although heartbreaking, it was a very peaceful experience. I'm sorry that your experience was so traumatic.

It was ten years ago and as I said it haunts me to this day. She was the most beautiful loving dog anyone could want.

Thank you for your message, I always worry that it was horrific with out other dogs and much as my husband assures me I can't imagine it being a peaceful experience. I hope it was like you describe for them.

I just don't know what went wrong, I was almost hysterical by the time it was over and in no state to ask and I couldn't go back afterwards. I avoid driving past that vets if I can.

Palliative care was absolutely non existent in my experience.
Nobody to turn to, never sure who to phone, frequently getting "told off" for phoning, or not phoning.
Macmillan nurse saw my daughter twice in ten years, and nobody could help or advise with meds.

Yes it does theworriedwell. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a living will.

Graunty7, this represents humanity as it should be. It makes unafraid to die.

LaCrepescule

Of course, the individual has to give consent and this would have to very ratified, rigorously. If a person doesn’t have the capacity, it doesn’t happen.

So presumably that rules out dementia patients being able to access it unless they do it very early on.

I have been with every one of our dogs when they were PTS, and each time, although heartbreaking, it was a very peaceful experience. I'm sorry that your experience was so traumatic.

Of course, the individual has to give consent and this would have to very ratified, rigorously. If a person doesn’t have the capacity, it doesn’t happen.

MissInterpreted

crazyH

Yes, I read about it. And saw something about it on TV. I dont know why anyone would want to die like that. Palliative care is so good, no one needs a ‘suicide pod’ - it’s illegal anyway and the last I heard, the police has swooped down on the forest and the inventor.

I disagree. I think we should all have the right to die with dignity if and when we feel the time has come. Yes, palliative care has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, but there's only so much it can do - and after watching my mother and MiL die long, slow lingering deaths from dementia, there's no way I would want to go the same way. We don't let our beloved pets linger on when they are suffering, so why should humans have to?

Would they have had capacity to give consent or would it have to be someone else making the decision for them? It is a big responsibility isn't it, I'm not sure I would like to be the one making the decision.

I think my view is coloured by my experience of having my much loved 19 year old dog PTS. My husband had always gone with our previous pets but this time he was ill and I went and held her and it horrific, she fought so hard, the bang when she threw herself backwards was awful. I know lots of people, my husband included, have found it a very different experience but it haunts me and after a lifetime of dogs in the house I couldn't have another one. I'm actually crying thinking about it.

MissAdventure

Oh that's awful!!
Maybe not a bad way to go, though?
Snugged up with your love, warm and cosy.

Mine would probably bring me a cup of tea before he noticed my demise 😬 I might be there all day

I love the fact you can take it anywhere so your last view can be forest sea sky whatever you want. The big window has been made especially for this .
The spaceship design is to symbolise shooting off to a new world.
You are unconscious in seconds but die within minutes from a gas that is released into the pod when you press the button.
I think if you are ill in pain and crippled and it’s your thing then it’s great .
We all have choice .

I am so SO sorry for you after reading about your brother’s health. One just has to be brave and be there for him.
My brother also has been having two lots of chemo for blood cancer after a triple bypass a few years ago.
I still wold prefer that we are treated like animals if being in such pain
What does his GP suggest?

Bea65, my heart goes out to you and your family. I’ve watched my mother suffer for several months after years of treatment for breast cancer, and it’s had a last effect on me. My FiL and MiL both had different types of cancer neither lasted for long after their diagnosis, but my MiL last day was traumatic and if I had her diagnosis, I want to use when I’d had enough. I’ve also told my family when my time comes I don’t want a funeral, it’s too much for the family to endure.

I keep missing letters out, I know, before someone points it out...

Oh that's awful!!
Maybe not a bad way to go, though?
Snugged up with your love, warm and cosy.