Assisted Dying. For or against?

P.S. Kali2 - you might be a commited humanist now but on your death bed you might change your mind and cry out to the Lord. I hope you do.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

As Discodancer says, Christians know death is not the end and we have a choice in this life that determines where we go in the next. Assisted dying - let's call it what it is, murdering someone may deprieve them of making that choice with eternal consequences.

Beswitched has the right attitude, we should make people as comfortable as possible and let them die naturally.

Thanks Kali2 for alerting us to this debate in the House of Lords. I shall write to a peer to vote against this.

Yes, definitely.

No, definitely not. As a Christian, I trust in God totally. I believe death in this life is not the end, and would worry about where the person is going next.

I have to say...as a young non Christian nurse, I felt differently, so understand where you all coming from.

Generally, I think it could open the doors to all kinds of abuse, and you should be worried about that, Christian or not.‘ Safeguards’ can become unsafe.

Life and any cost is no life. Quality of life is what counts. When there is no quality of life it is cruel to make people suffer.

I talk from experience. My dad wanted his life to end as he hated what he had become. I truly believe he willed himself to death. He was 80 when he died.

I nursed my husband with grade 4 malignant melanoma when he was told he was terminal he had 3 tumour's in his right lung, 1 in his chest and 2 in his brain. This was late 2003 we had enough morphine in the house to kill several herds of elephants. We talked about if the pain got to much and told him I would help him end his life if he wanted to. Our children supported that view. The cancer killed him before the pain got to great. He couldn't breath on full oxygen I told him to stop we would be ok. He died a few minutes later. He lived just under the 4 months they gave him.

He always said quality of life was what was important not quantity he was 47 when he died.

My mom would of hated what the dementia did to her. I lost my mom long before here body died. She became violent . If in her lucid moments she had asked me to end her life I would have. I looked after her on my own until she died . She was 90.

I am now 63. I do not want to live a long life if the quality has gone. And am doing everything I can to keep active and mentally well. My daughter knows my wishes.

Why are animals treated better than humans. No animal lover would let their pet suffer unnecessarily. So why are humans allowed to suffer unnecessarily.

I know a lot won't share this view. But if you have never nursed loved ones who's quality of life has gone and they are in agony see how you feel if you do.

Life is not black and white it is shades of grey.

Absolutely. We acknowledge that it is unimaginably cruel to force an animal to suffer. Yet we allow humans to do so.

Absolutely Yes. But with very strict rules.

I agree with not intervening to prolong the life of someone who has no quality of life, and with pumping as much painkillers as possible into someone who is dying painfully, even if that will hasten death.

Otherwise no.

Yes. It's been accepted for a long time here in Belgium.

My FIL had stomach cancer and died last November. It runs in his family and is a very aggressive form. He was a quite fit, active 84 year old and then suddenly he developed cancer. He had chemo but it wasn't able to stop it. It spread and he was terminal within 2/3 months. At the end in hospital he said he'd had enough and was ready to go after he'd seen all his family (large one) and had last goodbyes etc. They gave him some thing (don't know what) normally it takes between 4 to 24 hrs. His heart was still strong so it was 4 days but he was in no pain. Just a sort of coma where he slipped away. It was very peaceful.

I hope I have not upset anyone by writing this but I want to show how it can be a positive thing if available.

My 101 year old mother fell and broke her hip then got fluid on her lung so no op was possible. I knew she’d had enough, she’d said so many times and I had to make the decision to keep her pain free and let her go. It was the longest 4 days of my life ?. So although it wasn’t technically assisted dying, it felt like it.

Yes

Yes

Definitely yes.

A definite Yes from me.

Like = life

No. Not against as many and as much painkillers as needed, which may have the same affect but not a deliberate ending of like. A matter of trust of the staff , the relatives who might stand to gain and just that the person who actually does it has taken a life.

And it's a No from me.

For those in favour - who will do this deed for you?

Kali2 But since Wakefield, good doctors have been terrified of being accused, if they upped the dosage or morphine in end of life care, and be prosecuted

Andrew Wakefield was the doctor involved in the MMR/autism scandal, but as far as I know, he didn’t actually murder anyone.

Are you thinking of Harold Shipman?

Definitely for.

Against

Nearly a year ago New Zealand had a referendum on assisted dying. On 7 November this year it becomes legal for people with a terminal illness and who are suffering. Much thought has been given to shaping this law and the criteria are strict. No one other than the individual who requests an assisted death can give consent.

I'm a Yes

Framilode- agreed.

However, it is not a good idea to mix the two now. Thanks.

Again, if your would like to support and help by writing to a Lord- please join Dignity in Dying or The Humanist Society, and follow links/instructions. Or just do your own thing. All letters will contribute to making a difference.

I am very privileged- as I will have that choice. I sincerely feel that people in the UK should also have that privilege- and that is and when we return, we won't lose it.

Yes, And a yes to euthanasia at a time of one's own choosing.

Doctors have always helped hasten the process, even with Royalty - for Centuries. But since Wakefield, good doctors have been terrified of being accused, if they upped the dosage or morphine in end of life care, and be prosecuted.