Assisted suicide

I've been reading the article about Dr Anne Turner, the lady with progressive supernuclear palsy who recently took her life in Zurich via the Dignitas assisted suicide company.

The case of assisted suicide is obviously a hot topic at the moment in the Commons with the review of the assisted dying for the terminally ill bill.

My opinion on the subject is that, due to palliative care, the idea of 'death with dignity' can still be maintained without terminating one's life. However, the newly named pro-euthanasia charity Dignity in Dying agree that palliative care is an option, but they seem to regard it as one among many choices that a patient should have access to take. For example, should they believe that palliative care is not for them then they should have access to an assisted suicide.

It's this idea of choice that worries me slightly- the possible rammifications that can arise, such as pressures to end life so as to stop being a burden on the family being an example.

What are your opinions on the subject? Will legalisation provide a fairer opportunity for the terminally ill to decide on their future? What problems can you see arising should the bill be passed legalising assisted suicide?

Reply 1

Lecter

12

Seth

I've been reading the article about Dr Anne Turner, the lady with progressive supernuclear palsy who recently took her life in Zurich via the Dignitas assisted suicide company.

The case of assisted suicide is obviously a hot topic at the moment in the Commons with the review of the assisted dying for the terminally ill bill.

My opinion on the subject is that, due to palliative care, the idea of 'death with dignity' can still be maintained without terminating one's life. However, the newly named pro-euthanasia charity Dignity in Dying agree that palliative care is an option, but they seem to regard it as one among many choices that a patient should have access to take. For example, should they believe that palliative care is not for them then they should have access to an assisted suicide.

It's this idea of choice that worries me slightly- the possible rammifications that can arise, such as pressures to end life so as to stop being a burden on the family being an example.

What are your opinions on the subject? Will legalisation provide a fairer opportunity for the terminally ill to decide on their future? What problems can you see arising should the bill be passed legalising assisted suicide?

Oh yes, I read the BBC new article on the Voluntary Euthanasia Society changing there name to “Dignity in Dying” but they have been criticised by Medical Ethics Alliance and Radar that terming dignity in terminal illness can only be won by euthanasia. I understand that there needs to be support for patients in palliative care than them taking/thinking the “easy” option of Euthanasia reducing distress to the patient and carers. Dignity in Dying should mean getting good palliative care, not a prerogative of euthanasia campaigners

The house of lords is going to have a debate soon on the bill on assisted dying. Currently doctors can perform involuntary euthanasia by withdrawing treatment, no feeding or not resuscitating if the patient’s heart fails, however this is done in the best interests of the patients as to reduce the suffering of the patient who has a reduced quality of life or if they resuscitate. The primary aim of this is not to kill/let the patient die but to reduce the suffering to the patient.

It may cost many thousand to keep a terminally ill patient alive when a simple injection my result in quick and painless death, but isn't it the doctors duty to preserve/improve the quality of life of their patients, and this could be someone with inoperable cancer with 6 months left or a patient with diabetes with a long-life. Then why do we treat those with CVD or those over the age of 65, they are going to dye anyway so lets not waste money on them so reducing the cost on the NHS? I know I am being dramatic, but dignity doesn’t mean death by euthanasia, good palliative care and family.

“Supporter of voluntary euthanasia, Liberal Democrat MP Dr Evan Harris, accused palliative care experts of trying to appropriate the phrase themselves by stopping anyone else from using it.”

Personally, I feel before there is a right to die there must be a right to live as full and equal members of a fair society.

"Assisted dying legislation will not create autonomy until supported independent living is a real societal value and a reality for disabled people."

Reply 2

sim90

13

i want to know more about this.... anyone got a site??

Reply 3

Lecter

12

sim90

i want to know more about this.... anyone got a site??

BBC news health ;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4625538.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4638766.stm

And google it mate!

Reply 4

spoon1

13

I agree with sayed samed. It has occured to me that while it is the doctor's duty to 'preserve life', if there is not much of a life to be preserved and the patient wishes it, then i think assisted suicide is the most moral option. Sometimes, the best thing to do is the wrong thing. Also, although the idea that ending a terminally ill patient's life when prolonging their life would cost the NHS many thousands of pounds seems immoral, isnt it immoral that with that thousands of pounds someone who had been in a car accident could be given the chance to live a perfectly healthy life?

Reply 5

randdom

20

Personally I am for euthanasia for personal reasons (my mother has MS which is very progressive and unfortunately is likely to be fatal in the forseable future) my mother has always said that when she gets to the stage where she can't speak or swallow she would like to be able to end her life. As the law currently stands she would have to go on for maybe a few years where her condition continues to deteriorate until the inevetable happens. Personally I think that as my mother and others like her who are suffering from terminal conditions should be able to end their lives if they want to. That is not saying that they should be forced or there shouldn't be treated with the best possible treatment or paliative care if that is what they choose just that the option of euthanasia should be allowed if they want to.

Reply 6

wednesburywench

2

I agree with some cases of euthanasia, however if we start legalising it, it brings in a whole new kettle of ethical hot topics with legislation about when it is right and when it is not right. One doctor's perception of someone in need of dying, may not be another. Clear guidelines need to be set in order to protect doctors. Also it may be destressing for some doctors to have to perform euthanasia. Stoping treatment is another think, but assisting suicide....
I agree with it for reasons stated by random above, some people have to go through a great deal of suffering, and for them, if competent they should be allowed to decide to die, but then who has to carry out the act? I am opposed to it because if the relative of the person carries it out, it may come back to haunt them later, and if the doctor carries this out on a regular basis, they may also wonder if it was the right thing to do, especially if relatives where objecting to it.

Overall I think it is a very touchy subject to deal with, I can see both points of view and am not entirely sure which point to adopt. I think if a paitent wishes to not be treated, his or her autonomy should be respected, however if a patient wishes someone else to end their life at that second, this perhaps should not be allowed.

So is it going to be legallised now? I am doing an ethics module at the mo and really enjoy it surprisingly.

Reply 7

randdom

20

I would agree with what you have said about who should carry out euthanasia and I think that only doctors who have decided that it is something that they want to do should have to do it. There should be special training that they have to go through etc on top of what ever training they have done to qualify in their specialist field.

I also agree that I don't think it should be introduced in a rushed way and that if it is introduced it should be very heavily legislated to minimise any problems.

Reply 8

fidge

When they legalised abortion it was that it could only be done in extreme circumstances - now there are thousands done a year - many done by people who werent having safe sex etc.

So (yes its a bit exaggerated...) but after euthanasia has been legalised for a while what is going to stop people from saying they want to end their lives because theyve got say a tooth ache? because surely you would think it is easier to justify ending your own life rather than someone elses, i.e the baby you are aborting.

Reply 9

Seth

OP

8

fidge

When they legalised abortion it was that it could only be done in extreme circumstances - now there are thousands done a year

I think that's a good point. Unfortunately the rigidity of regulations on these sort of things often seems to be dictated by public opinion. The legalisation of abortion was no doubt influenced by the 'sexual liberation' of the 60s.

Reply 10

Lecter

12

fidge

When they legalised abortion it was that it could only be done in extreme circumstances - now there are thousands done a year - many done by people who werent having safe sex etc............

In the uk, i think it was 175,000 a year (but whether thats includes reported natural abortion/miscarriage, i dont know). Source was my growth, development a reproduction book.

Reply 11

Renal

17

It'd be interesting to see how people's views change as they go clinical, there are some really quite unpleasant ways to die...

Assisted suicide

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