Maybe it has changed then, i don't know but my mother passed in late 2009 & my father much younger back in 1990. They were both given what is basically just under an overdose of morphine to allow the body to pass quietly. My mother couldn't breathe but after the injection felt very calm, every muscle is relaxed until the body stops working, but without the discomfort.My father certainly didn't "not suffer" during the last months of his life. Despite all the drugs they were able to give him it was patently obvious he was in constant pain. My mother had to watch him suffering every day, praying it would end.
All I can say to that is: I genuinely am glad that neither of your parents suffered.Maybe it has changed then, i don't know but my mother passed in late 2009 & my father much younger back in 1990. They were both given what is basically just under an overdose of morphine to allow the body to pass quietly. My mother couldn't breathe but after the injection felt very calm, every muscle is relaxed until the body stops working, but without the discomfort.
This is the problem, too many variables, will one illness preside over another where assisted suicide is concerned, reliant on doctors decisions as i pointed out in my first post.It's not just about pain management (if it can be achieved) - as @Somafunk so clearly explained it's about dignity and quality of life.
Having recently lost my Mum to Motor Neurone Disease, and having watched her become slowly paralysed to the point where she had very little movement beyond her fingers and a few hints of facial expressions, seeing her require 24 hour care to be washed, dressed, even as something as basic as use a bedpan... I can't help but see myself in her position and wonder what i would want.
My Mum lost a lot of her speech and was mostly left with just vowels so could be very hard to understand. But she was still sharp as a pin, understood exactly what was happening and was putting her affairs in order right up to the week she passed.
yes it can have consequences . for instance the chap i mentioned earlier was put on oral oramorph regularly and it overdosed him nearly killing him with being comatosed . the dr reduced it and he woke up and they used something else . . sometimes pain is caused by an enlarged spleen or liver and may be treated in other ways to reduce pain. thats why its important to have palliative care input in hospital patients or get them support from marie curie or macmillanAll I can say to that is: I genuinely am glad that neither of your parents suffered.
I couldn't even begin to guess if anything has changed regarding policy etc. All I know is that the nurses said it wasn't "safe" to give my father more morphine.
Of course.It will need to be rock solid tight legislation
I read this in Andy Weir’s latest book. Seemed credible; is it?If terminally ill I'd like to decide when I go. I hear a cylinder of nitrogen and a plastic hood is perfectly painless.
I suspect he'd also have to live with it had he not done anything, and I think no amount of belief (religious or otherwise) in the "sanctity of life" or whatever can prepare you for that dilemma. Don't know the specific case, but from that little description IMV he probably made the right choice and I am absolutely convinced that allowing him to walk free is the only right verdict.I can remember back in 2005 reading a newspaper article about a guy who helped his son to pass. His son had Hunters syndrome and the father smothered him with a pillow. The guy was charged with manslaughter or murder but walked out of court with an innocent verdict, but I guess he carries the weight of what he had done or had to do?
Some years ago, Michael Portillo researched methods of capital punishment and how "humane" they were thought to be and if there were "better" alternatives.I read this in Andy Weir’s latest book. Seemed credible; is it?
Should it ever become necessary, a nice big intravenous hit of diamorphine would be my preferred route to infinity.Some years ago, Michael Portillo researched methods of capital punishment and how "humane" they were thought to be and if there were "better" alternatives.
Scientists were conducting experiments on pigs and concluded that asphyxiation by nitrogen (or other noble gas) was indeed humane. Other experiments (using human volunteers) concluded that gradually reducing atmospheric pressure resulted in euphoria , unconsciousness and would ultimately result in death.
I think it’s up to the individual. I’ve seen too much unnecessary suffering on all sides to disagree with this.
I do apologise: I thought you were disagreeing.yes i didnt say i was disagreeing with you Cj , i was in fact confirming that what you said can happen on many occassions
This was the case, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/dec/13/health.crimeI suspect he'd also have to live with it had he not done anything, and I think no amount of belief (religious or otherwise) in the "sanctity of life" or whatever can prepare you for that dilemma. Don't know the specific case, but from that little description IMV he probably made the right choice and I am absolutely convinced that allowing him to walk free is the only right verdict.
To me, if you are against ending you life by personal choice then by all means don't do it, but I absolutely agree that the option should be available with the proper guardrails in place as described in some of the above posts.