Assisted dying

I have very mixed feelings on this subject as do many of my friends. The main concerns being that some vulnerable individuals could be persuaded into opting for assisted dying especially if there is money/property involved and, on the other hand, we do not want to see our loved ones suffering.

MPs must be allowed a free vote and should take the views of their constituents into account.

Do you trust the process and those involved, implicitly?
How have you get to that state of affairs?

I'm a Canadian. We have had assistance in dying for quite a while now, and it was a huge blessing for many many folks.

The process for those applying for MAID [Medical Assistance In Dying] is rigorous and well monitored.

The person applying must be mentally competent and be able to give final consent at the time the procedure is done.

** I am a strong advocate of 'Advanced Consent' which would allow a person to choose ahead of time the criteria they want used to access MAID. For example in cases of dementia, at this time they are not able to give final consent so languish away in a care bed.
We are working hard to get Advanced Consent added.

Totally for it

I’ve never been a fan of Esther but all credit to her for keeping this issue on everyone’s minds

Condolences mabon

That sounds reasonable as long as greedy relatives don’t have access. Often a family member who rarely, or never, visits can appear and take over. Happened recently with some in laws and it’s the last thing those genuinely grieving needs.

I'm sorry to hear that, mabon.
My condolences to you and yours.

I agree, My daughter in law has been battling cancer for seven years, in unbearable pain until she was rushed to hospital on Thursday, she died there.

I worry about that too

I believe everyone should have the choice. The law - when changed - needs to be written very carefully to avoid any opportunity for coercion

In answer to another post, my Mum had a living will but when she got flu in her care home a young doctor visited and was determined to give her antibiotics. My sister and I battled with him not do give them. It was horrendous as you feel you are trying to kill your Mum. In the end, he relented and she didn't die then anyway! Carried on for another miserable 4 years just lying in bed.

I made a similar decision for an aunt, Luckygirl3, but although she had well advanced dementia and the umpteenth UTI (was refusing food and drink) she wasn’t in nearly such a dreadful state as your poor dh.

I was given the option of sending her to hospital for drips, or leaving her where she was (lovely care home) where she’d be given palliative care, but where she would otherwise die.

She was late 80s, and I knew perfectly well what her former self would have wanted, but I asked the lovely GP anyway, what he’d do if it were his much-loved aunt.
He said unhesitatingly that he’d leave her where she was, where she’d be well cared for- it would only happen again, probably quite soon, anyway.

Plus of course hospital is a truly terrible place for anyone with dementia, when they can’t understand what is going on, or why.
She continued to refuse the offered food and drink, and drifted away quite peacefully after about a week.

I believe it’s the patients choice, If I was suffering terribly with no hope of getting better, I would like to make my our decision to end my life.

SillyNanny321 and catd, am also with Dignity in Dying.

My mother in law was put on the Liverpool Pathway, with my husband’s consent, we had never heard of it, but were assured it would be quick and peaceful. It was neither, she hung on for a week, very distressed, not knowing who we were. Horrible memories for my husband and children who were with her a lot. So much kinder to have helped her along, she wasn’t in pain as far as we could tell, but she was dying, and it was horrible for her.
I would live my life so much happier if I could be sure I could leave on my own terms.

I totally agree with SillyNanny321. I too have been with Dignity in Dying for years to campaign for this option. I am tired of some MP's stating that everyone is entitled to good palliative end of life care. Well thanks. It just isn't available. My children know my wishes. There is only one certainty in life and that is that we all will die. I want the choice of my own type of death and shall continue the fight until I achieve this choice. I hope the bill gets passed.

Again, who is going to ensure that a persons views are accommodated, each and every time they change?

I'm all for it, always have been.

We allow MORE dignity for our beloved pets than we do our relatives. Not all of us need a vet to tell us, "let go". The dog I lost just over 2 years ago, was epileptic but she was otherwise healthy. The side effect to the medication was ataxia and the last weekend with her, she came running in like a loon and crumpled to the ground. The look on her face when she looked at me as she pulled herself up, again, I smiled at her, told her good girl, grabbed my phone, walked outside and sat in the car in tears telling the nurse, it's cruel to keep her alive. When the nurse saw her (as we already had a regular appointment,) she was shocked by her condition and told me that the greatest honour is the ability to be able to make this decision for her.

When my beloved died 7 months later to the date, I couldn't even speak to the vet, mum had to do it, as it broke my heart knowing she was going to die, just days after falling ill.

Both of them were cremated and joined some of the others on the mantle.

Mum has always said she wants the works, have to keep her alive. Well, 2 weeks ago I got the resus talk off the Dr at A&E as she was half dead! Even On the Ward, slowly recovering I was thinking about it. When she came to, the Wards Dr, asked about the respect form and explained it. We weren't pressured. It made mum think, because the "works" etc are brutal (chest compression and the rest) and her condition, it didn't take a genius to see, it could have done more harm than good.

None here want mum to die, but surely she SHOULD be allowed to die peacefully and with dignity if needs must?

Yes, have checks and safeguards etc, but it's WRONG that a person has to die in pain. Mum is on some of the strongest pain killers you can get and still has pain, yet there are those who would deny her them as she needs to "manage" her pain better. That's codswallop.

Paracetamol is seen as a good painkiller, it doesnt work for everyone, doesn't touch me, took 10 once in 1 day, still had pain, boy did that annoy me!

I personally CANNOT see the point of allowing suffering, I am not religious and I know the Church is against this, but people SHOULD be able to end THEIR lives when they want without consequences, free will after all!

I'd want a flexible and changeable loose arrangement.
Who is going to oversee that, and ensure it happens when, how, and where it happens?

I agree with GrannyGravy13.

With proper guidelines IMO this really needs to be a choice we all have when the time comes.

Apart from the pain and indignity, I can’t help thinking how much money it would save the NHS and yes, I’m aware this sounds brutal, but not everyone will have the option of a hospice. My sister is a volunteer at her local hospice and says it’s a lovely place but it struggles financially to keep its head above water.

If civilised countries like Canada and New Zealand can make it work why can’t we? I feel sure it will happen eventually so why not now. I’d feel comforted to know the option was available for me if I chose to end my life.

Are/ Is

No one group of people are full of altruistic individuals.
Mps, medics, families...

I am against assisted dying as I think I have made clear, but I think I am even more against having a referendum about it.