The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off

[Caladon]

Did anyone see this very gripping and tragic film? I'm a pretty level headed guy and can take pretty much anything that i see, except rape and child abuse, but this program really affected me last night. The only point that really made me wince was when his dressings were being changed, and that is the bit that seems to be haunting me. I could not help but think, through the whole film, that i would have commited suicide. Surely the the law should allow this, especially, in this circumstance

[kags]

I think the law does allow it - it is not illegal to take your life (in the UK), but it IS illegal to assist someone else. I didn't see the film so i can only speak generally - what concerns me is that we shouldn't impose our own idea of what makes life worth living or not onto someone else - whilst able bodied and in sane mind it can be easy to say "I'd kill myself if I ever came to be in that position" but in truth you don't know how you will feel - you might cherish every minute of your life every bit as much. Good question, I am sure it will provoke many responses.

[lisa74656]

Well i don't think you can really ban it anyway cause how would you punish the offenders? I don't think you can really say what you would do if you were in the same situation. it's impossible to know for sure. he's lived like that for his whole life so didn't know what it was like to be "normal". his courage was astounding and planning his own funeral must have been really hard. Don't think i'll ever listen to don't stop me know again without thinking about him. Wicked sense of humour too!

[Caladon]

i ha dnot thought about that, lisa, thanks. i will have to tell my friend to take the tape out of his car. he was brave and hilariously funny "hard friction causes sores and blisters...so no wank1ing!" i am told that suicide is illegal in this country and, oddly enough, a prisonable offence, but the amount of pain he would go through..for me..i would commit suicide. he had a lung tumor and said he didn't want it removed so knew he was finnaly being released.

[kags]

Caladon - there is nothing under UK law that makes suicide illegal. It is only assisted suicide which is a crime, and this causes confusion. It is rather a moot point in this country, but in other countries (including some US states) where suicide is illegal, people having suicidal thoughts are not able to talk about them for fear of prosecution. The person in this film sounds like he was making the most of what was left of his life.

[lisa74656]

Oh he was certainly brave. Going from his home up north to 10 downing street when he was so ill he couldn't even talk to raise more money for his charity getting the backing of Cherie blair. And from what i amde of it he died on the train home. And good on Nell McAndrew for going to his housewarming. A lot of celebrities probably wouldn't have bothered! The program certainly gave me a lot to think about (and a soggy cushion) there should be more programs like that on tv instead of all those dull soaps!

[stumanfu]

it was a very moving story and jonny was a very funny down to earth guy. loads of people at my work watched it and were moved and i had tears in my eyes at the end. sorry im not really putting an answer forward but im glad someone brought the subject of this program up cos i thas had an impact on me. well done channel 4

[Caladon]

there is no real answer, i had to give construct a question of some sort just so i could post about the program as it moved me.

nell mcandrew is fantastic and not jst because she was wanting to be in the lime light. in hyde park one could see how emotionally touched she was and even kissed him (most think EB is contractable).

have to say i woke up in the middle of the night having a nightmare about someone pulling bandages off me

[tracymort]

Well in my opinion it's just as well he didn't commit suicide, look how much money he has raised from this programme to help other with EB. That bandages bit really got to me too. http://www.debra.org.uk/help/jk.htm