Euthanasia...

[NOX]

Although I am actually usually in favour of euthanasia, for some reason I'm very uncomfortable with this particular case. Whilst it is not my call and there is no reason to suspect that either man was coerced, I feel that to kill someone who is not ill is treading on dangerous ground and that they did not allow themselves sufficient time to potentially acclimatise themselves with their new situation.
What does everyone else think?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261985/Belgian-twin-brothers-killed-doctors-choosing-euthanasia-able-again.html

[ummmm]

Hmmmm....

Hard one.

[pusskin]

R.I.P Brothers. You couldnt live without each other --understandable!
That is so sad.

[naomi24]

Oh, good heavens! That brought a tear to my eye. How dreadfully sad.

Perhaps they didn't allow themselves enough time, but really all I can say is their life, their choice. They were of sane mind, so who is anyone to decide what's right or wrong for them?

[ttfn]

NOX, that is a dreadfully sad story.

I suppose what *we* think matters not a jot. Just so long as it was their own decision. I believe it is nigh impossible to put oneself in another's position/circumstance. I cannot begin to contemplate the enormity of how painful they saw their future. Whilst neither twin was ill in the conventional sense, goodness knows what would have become of their mental state in time. I have always been of the 'quality rather than quantity' school.

To sort out someone else's problems, life style etc., is so easy but doing it for ourselves ...

I hope they RIP

[dotty.]

I think it is bizarre that such a personal private and intensely emotive act of final choice is written about in a national newspaper, whatever happened to patient confidentiality? yes they have not been named, but their pictures are published and their occupations. crazy

[missprim]

How very sad. I am usually in favour of Euthanasia too Nox but this is a real difficult one as usually it's requested by people who are going to die anyway but of course in this case, they're not going to die but I can understand how unbearable it would be for anyone who loses their hearing and sight and doubly so in their case.

[wolf63]

Do you think that the newspaper could have thought up a more tactless heading?

It is sad that they made this choice - but it was their wish.

[Sqad]

Well, suppose that this was nothing to do with a lifetime bonding between another person....suppose that you were born deaf and then sight was about to be taken away from you.
Deaf and blind.................what is left in life?

Add to that not being able to see or hear your life long partner........

Yes..........I can understand their wishes and also the human reactions of the doctors.

[daffy654]

I think I would have made the same choice in their shoes.

[237SJ]

Personally, I think that`s setting a dangerous precedent. People can come to terms with things over time and who`s to say these two wouldn`t have?

[naomi24]

^^But who's to say they should try if they don't want to?

[boxtops]

This is a very sad story, it makes me uncomfortable too.

That apart, I have never heard the verb "to euthanize" before... that's not good.

[NOX]

That is really my only concern, that they haven't given themselves time to adjust to the idea or acclimatise to all of the pretty amazing headways that the deafblind associations around the world have come up with to make life worth living for people with this condition. The Helen Keller institute offers immense support for people finding themselves in this situation, but ultimately I agree it is absolutely their decision to make.

[ChillDoubt]

Indeed a very sad and unique case for all concerned.
Those involved though can take what little comfort there is in such circumstances that this was an inforemd decision by two compos mentis individuals who could not face their projected existence, nor should they be expected to.
Everybody has a right to life but everybody ought to have the right to a dignified death too at a time and manner of their choosing.
RIP.

[237SJ]

When my Dad died I knew I would never see him again. That wouldn`t have been grounds to get someone to euthanize me, in my book.

[NOX]

That's an interesting viewpoint 237sj. I was also interested that they have living parents, and yet did not seem at all concerned about the fact that they would be losing two children in one fell swoop.

[naomi24]

237SJ, that's entirely different. These two men made their own decision.

[Prudie]

Firstly they must have been incredibly brave to take that step. Thank heavens there are things in place to help the deaf/blind who couldn't or don't want to take that step but personally I can't imagine life without sight or hearing, you'd be totally alone. I can understand their reasons and 'think' I agree that the choice was there for them.

[237SJ]

Interestingly, I met a customer once who was deaf and blind. Sitting in First Class on an aircraft and off on a jolly to Bangkok. His escort communicated with him by tapping out some sort of code on his open hand. I always wondered how he was taught the code. After all, he couldn`t learn it by reading because he was blind and he couldn`t be taught verbally because he was deaf. Maybe he was taught when he knew he was losing one of those senses.

[ttfn]

I am not a twin and cannot begin to comprehend how close these two brothers may have been. It is conceivable that they may have discussed losing another sense before it was confirmed that it would happen. Their future must have looked so bleak, so futile.