WHY !!!!!!

[micmak]

When our pets are in pain and we know they will not get better we humanely put them to sleep. Yet when it comes to people they have to suffer to die. Surely you suffer to get better, not to die. Yet should anyone help them on their way they are the guilty ones. It makes no sense to me.

[tigerlelly]

Understood, ttfn but surely the circumstances dictate our actions.
What is your point of view because you gave us your experience and then said "Had she asked me.....different of course." I've mainly been talking about people who have asked and have been denied. Micmak's question is "Why"

[ttfn]

My pov is, that although I had the opportunity and wherewithal to hasten my mother's death, I did not. I knew her condition was terminal. At no time did I ask her if she wanted to die sooner rather than later. My mother bore her illness with great dignity and as far as I was able to ascertain my administration of her many medications was sufficient to relieve her from agonising pain. This was decades ago and before the introduction of morphine pumps. There was no medical professional around to monitor her situation at home. Had my mother asked for my help to end her life, then I would have so done and taken any consequences, whatsoever, afterwards.

[emmie]

It makes sense to me, as someone, the patient, may not have the words to be able to say they want to continue on with their life, even if others don't see it as a viable existence. If the courts, law is changed to make it permissible to end someone's life without their consent, then that could lead down the road to killing a person for the sake of the estate of that person, or just because the relatives think its the right thing to do. Don't confuse putting an animal to sleep, to save it from suffering, and a human being, they are not the same thing at all. The person who assists in the killing of another human being should be looked at by the courts, law, which should be done on a case by case basis, and it shouldn't be carte blanche to take someone's life, even if they say you can. They may be making that point whilst under duress, with a serious but treatable illness.
After reading about the effects of withdrawing food, water and medication from a patient, seems about as inhumane way to treat a human being as is possible to imagine.

[jackthehat]

The gain-sayers are always full of 'ifs and ands and yes, buts'.....

I would be happy, should I be diagnosed with a degenerative and fatal illness to take myself off to a tribunal where I can make sure that the panel are aware that I am making a declaration, of my own free-will and volition, under *no* duress that I intend to end my life at a point *I* deem to be appropriate.....and that if at that point I require some assistance to do so whomever has helped me ought to face no prosecution.

[craft1948]

My cousin is living with this dilemma at the moment. Her husband has a catalogue of ailments, hasn't been able to work for about 20 years, and regularly has small heart attacks which require hospitalisation (I don't know exactly what is wrong with him). He is only in his early 50's but has recently told her that he doesn't want to die but doesn't want to live with this quality of life, and constant pain he is in.............

[emmie]

Micmak there is no 100% certainty that the person is going to die, terminally ill people have been known to recover, or at least sufficient enough to lead a life of sorts, even for a short time, and as said the method used of withdrawing sustenance seems inhumane and cruel. I was put in an intolerable position of making that decision and couldn't and wouldn't, so it was taken out of my hands.

[RATTER15]

em10, with all due respect, your post says your experience in these matter are virtually nil, medication, food and water would only ever be withdrawn on grounds of humanity and to let nature take its course, the body is not able to process food etc and can add to the problems, pain medication is never withdrawn.

[micmak]

Ratter, As this was my post i have been following it all day. so i believe you are a really caring person. You are 'In the trade' so to speak. Many years ago My FIL died a painful death, long before Macmillan nurses. I hope and pray my wife and I are never in this position.

[RATTER15]

Thank you micmac, Yes I actually do care.

Palliative care has come on in leaps and bounds in the last few years with the help of many hospices around the country and the likes of Macmillan etc. new programmes are being developed to deal end of life care, the most important of these schemes currently is this http://www.rcpa.org.u...20the%20Community.pdf It will give you some insight to the lengths that we are now going to in order to assist people in their last weeks, months etc, supporting families is also very important.