Assisted suicide

[sasvermont]

Some people want everything done to save them. My Mom is a DNR at age 91. She is suffering from several illnesses but not one that will kill you on the spot. She is in and out of the hospital each month, but always manages to pull through. I saw her today, and she seemed fine. So, if some day, her heart gives out, then so be it. They will not bring her back. She has led a full life and had a halfway decent quality to her life right now.

Everyone needs to get their wishes in writing. It would save so much heart ache in the end.

This is a nice topic.

Assisted suicide, well, states have to vote yea or nay at this point. I would want that option for me, but would not want to assist anyone. I don't have the stomach for it.

To each his own.

[pomtzu]

Assisted suicide, well, states have to vote yea or nay at this point. I would want that option for me, but would not want to assist anyone. I don't have the stomach for it.

Legal assisted suicide is done under a doctor's care, and not carried out by a friend or family member.

[Asiel]

I support it when there is no alternative and someone is being kept alive mechanically or just existing and waiting for the final hour. That being said it does have to be under a doctor's care. It isn't something very new, nurses and doctors have been practicing merciful deaths for years. No one talks about it, kind of an unwritten code between the family and the doctor. Making sure the patient is pain free sometimes helps the process along, with the family's permission.
I've explained my wishes to my family and they know that under no circumstances should they keep me alive by machines and I also have a DNR in my living will.

[robinh]

Tough subject, but one everyone needs to look at.

When my step-dad found out he had cancer, he put together an advance directive and a power of attorney for financial matters putting me in charge should the need arise. When it came to the time that his body was shutting down, they asked me what to do. Toughest decision I have every made..pallative care and let him go when his time came.

Less than five years later, my oldest sister gave me the same responsibility. After she had coded three times, again they asked me what to do. I had to tell them to let her go.

An advance directive is soooo important. I can live with the decisions I made in both instances only because we had talked about the situation at length and I knew their wishes.

Not sure yet about the assisted suicide. Haven't had to face that situation yet. If there is no hope for a quality of life, don't know that I would want to go on.

[todd]

I absolutely support it

[Marigold2]

Yes when the pain is too bad or the life is not worth living. Go and be with your maker.

[moosmom]

I saw my 44 year old mother suffer so from lung cancer. My father, rather than put Mom in a hospital, was her main caregiver. She died 10 months after being diagnosed. It was sheer hell for the whole family.

I am FULLY prepared to check out if things get too bad. I have tried to talk to my daughter about "things" and she refuses to, I guess because she came so close to dying herself. I've made a list of where my cats should go, as well as a living will and a Last Will and Testament. My BFF has a copy of everything, as well as all passwords, PIN numbers, etc. There will be no arguing over me and what should happen, should I not be able to make decisions on my own. I saw what my family went through with my Mom, as well as my aunts, and there will be absolutely NO QUESTION of what my wishes were.