Right to die for terminally ill

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a reason MAID is used and preferred largely by wealthy white men in places where it is allowed. They are the only ones that can have the confidence that they’ll control the process.

Uh, cite please. I know of two elderly WOMEN who have availed themselves of MAID due to debilitating conditions. Believe me, they were in control of the process.

Look at the published numbers.

Wealthy, privileged white women are the second most common, on average.

MAID is utilized primarily by those who do not have to fear coercion or discrimination by the medical establishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a reason MAID is used and preferred largely by wealthy white men in places where it is allowed. They are the only ones that can have the confidence that they’ll control the process.

Uh, cite please. I know of two elderly WOMEN who have availed themselves of MAID due to debilitating conditions. Believe me, they were in control of the process.

Look at the published numbers.

Wealthy, privileged white women are the second most common, on average.

MAID is utilized primarily by those who do not have to fear coercion or discrimination by the medical establishment.

DP here. All this tells me is that is needs to be more widely available and doctors need to talk about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its not about health care or the family, its about suffering. My inlaw suffered for years with early onset dementia. The last few years were horrible and no way to live. If I am terminal, I don't want to suffer and want the choice. Nor do I want to be in a nursing home for years, misreable.

How is someone with dementia supposed to have the competence to choose?

You’d have to decide beforehand, like with other end of life decisions that are in your advanced directive/living will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with it in principle, but the slippery slope is real and very concerning.

Canada will be allowing it for people with mental illness, so not just for those who are terminally ill, and is exploring allowing it for “mature minors”.

Apparently they removed the previously required 10-day waiting period, and patients are now being euthanized the same day they ask for it.

Some of the cases listed in this article are disturbing. https://theconversation.com/ontario-chief-coroner-reports-raise-concerns-that-maid-policy-and-practice-focus-on-access-rather-than-protection-253917

The "slippery slope" concept is a myth in my opinion, that people use because everyone always brainwashes us that life has to be prolonged as much as possible and at pretty much all costs. If you're worried that someone is going to push their old man into signing euthanasia papers to collect the inheritance, or that an angsty teen will want to commit suicide when they might have a relatively happy life instead if they get treatment... I don't know what to tell you. There will always be what-ifs, but the paperwork and processes around euthanasia are so burdensome, I don't think many people will make the wrong choices, or be forced into choices they don't want. Right now most people in terrible pain who want to die do NOT have access to euthanasia around the world. Their needs are more important than the few that might get it when it's not needed.

People in terrible pain can hardly get pain meds now because we’re more concerned about the potential addict than the person with cancer. It’s so screwed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with it in principle, but the slippery slope is real and very concerning.

Canada will be allowing it for people with mental illness, so not just for those who are terminally ill, and is exploring allowing it for “mature minors”.

Apparently they removed the previously required 10-day waiting period, and patients are now being euthanized the same day they ask for it.

Some of the cases listed in this article are disturbing. https://theconversation.com/ontario-chief-coroner-reports-raise-concerns-that-maid-policy-and-practice-focus-on-access-rather-than-protection-253917

The "slippery slope" concept is a myth in my opinion, that people use because everyone always brainwashes us that life has to be prolonged as much as possible and at pretty much all costs. If you're worried that someone is going to push their old man into signing euthanasia papers to collect the inheritance, or that an angsty teen will want to commit suicide when they might have a relatively happy life instead if they get treatment... I don't know what to tell you. There will always be what-ifs, but the paperwork and processes around euthanasia are so burdensome, I don't think many people will make the wrong choices, or be forced into choices they don't want. Right now most people in terrible pain who want to die do NOT have access to euthanasia around the world. Their needs are more important than the few that might get it when it's not needed.

Poor people in Canada are asking for euthanasia because of housing shortages. This is grotesque.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/world/some-health-care-workers-in-canada-grappling-with-patients-requesting-euthanasia

I am a Canadian living in the US, and I have completely switched my stance on this issue after watching Canada’s implementation.

[Anonymous]

One problem is that “right to die” all too rapidly and frequently becomes “right to hurry along the deemed-unworthy.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can think of nothing more satisfying for a person with a terminal illness than sitting in a glass-paneled room overlooking the Swiss Alps, taking medication, and just falling into an eternal sleep.

I'd take my family & close friends, have a few days of good meals and wine and enjoyable conversation (to the extent this is physically possible), and then exit the earth.

How is this less preferrable than suffering for months or years in a hospital or some under-staffed memory care center?

This is such a rich, privileged outlook. My God. Nearly all people can’t afford to fly to Switzerland to die like this. They are in horrible nursing homes in the US, with bad insurance and low regulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One problem is that “right to die” all too rapidly and frequently becomes “right to hurry along the deemed-unworthy.”

+1

The only people who can trust the system are those already valued by the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its not about health care or the family, its about suffering. My inlaw suffered for years with early onset dementia. The last few years were horrible and no way to live. If I am terminal, I don't want to suffer and want the choice. Nor do I want to be in a nursing home for years, misreable.

How is someone with dementia supposed to have the competence to choose?

You decide ahead of time in your living will. You clearly don't have any health issues. I do and the end is probably going to be horrific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can think of nothing more satisfying for a person with a terminal illness than sitting in a glass-paneled room overlooking the Swiss Alps, taking medication, and just falling into an eternal sleep.

I'd take my family & close friends, have a few days of good meals and wine and enjoyable conversation (to the extent this is physically possible), and then exit the earth.

How is this less preferrable than suffering for months or years in a hospital or some under-staffed memory care center?

This is such a rich, privileged outlook. My God. Nearly all people can’t afford to fly to Switzerland to die like this. They are in horrible nursing homes in the US, with bad insurance and low regulation.

Insurance doesn't pay for nursing homes. Its either private pay or long term care medicaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m okay with it in principle, but the slippery slope is real and very concerning.

Canada will be allowing it for people with mental illness, so not just for those who are terminally ill, and is exploring allowing it for “mature minors”.

Apparently they removed the previously required 10-day waiting period, and patients are now being euthanized the same day they ask for it.

Some of the cases listed in this article are disturbing. https://theconversation.com/ontario-chief-coroner-reports-raise-concerns-that-maid-policy-and-practice-focus-on-access-rather-than-protection-253917

The "slippery slope" concept is a myth in my opinion, that people use because everyone always brainwashes us that life has to be prolonged as much as possible and at pretty much all costs. If you're worried that someone is going to push their old man into signing euthanasia papers to collect the inheritance, or that an angsty teen will want to commit suicide when they might have a relatively happy life instead if they get treatment... I don't know what to tell you. There will always be what-ifs, but the paperwork and processes around euthanasia are so burdensome, I don't think many people will make the wrong choices, or be forced into choices they don't want. Right now most people in terrible pain who want to die do NOT have access to euthanasia around the world. Their needs are more important than the few that might get it when it's not needed.

So, people should live years and suffer because you are worried about a money grab. This isn't about a teen wanting to commit suicide but if their health issues or depression are bad enough, why shouldn't they get the choice. Why do you think you should decide for others how to live their life? I don't know my life without pain. You have no idea how bad it can get until you have to experience it daily. I go months without leaving the house due to my health issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can think of nothing more satisfying for a person with a terminal illness than sitting in a glass-paneled room overlooking the Swiss Alps, taking medication, and just falling into an eternal sleep.

I'd take my family & close friends, have a few days of good meals and wine and enjoyable conversation (to the extent this is physically possible), and then exit the earth.

How is this less preferrable than suffering for months or years in a hospital or some under-staffed memory care center?

Most people can't afford that and would just be happy to die peacefully at home after some home-cooked meals under a quilt they made rather than suffer in a hospital or some under-staffed memory care center. We need options for everyone- not just the rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its wrong to ask someone to kill you. You can refuse treatment or kill yourself. Putting that responsibility on another person is unnecessary and wrong.

YOU MORON, PEOPLE WHO ARE TERMINAL OFTEN CANNOT MOVE.

YOU MORON you can set up a Rube Goldberg with a gun or a guillotine and HAVE THE NON MOVING PERSON set it OFF with their BREATH. Then nobody is GUILTY!

(not sure why I did caps; maybe to mirror the weirdo who's typing IN ALL CAPS AND CALLING PEOPLE MORONS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Authorized in 11 states and DC:
https://compassionandchoices.org/states-where-medical-aid-in-dying-is-authorized/

I guess these are the states where we better be after 75.

[Anonymous]

We are muslims and though some schools of thought are against it, both of my parents had DNR in effect after 75. Who wants to suffer endlessly. Most elderly people suffer the most in last two years of life.