Locked-in syndrome victims lose 'right to die' case

[Nancy Drew]

The charity I volunteer for deals with people going through similar issues that this guy is. I send out information to people explaining to them the horrendous way they are going to die. No one should have the right to tell someone else that they have to continue living their crappy life.

I tried looking up the starving thing earlier to find out the legalities behind it but it was a sodding nightmare. I'm not sure if here they would intervene. I know prisoners who try to starve themselves to death get medical intervention. Ian Brady has been on hunger strike and demanding to die for years and gets fed through a tube.

Oh wow, I just wiki'd Ian Brady. Apparently the mother of one of the victims just died yesterday- without knowing where her son was buried.

[TheFavoriteDaughter]

I hope our country gets behind state assisted suicide by the time I'm old. My grandpa died from Alzheimer's, my great-grandmother had dementia for 10 years before she died of age, and my dad had the beginning stages of Alzheimer's when he died at 55. If I ever lose my mind like that, I want to be put out.

[leapfreak]

Oh wow, I just wiki'd Ian Brady. Apparently the mother of one of the victims just died yesterday- without knowing where her son was buried.

I know. It's awful. 50 years she begged him to tell her where Keith was. Then when police think they've had a breakthrough, she dies before she finds out.

[White trash bitchy blonde]

If anyone is interested, there is a show called 'how to die in oregon' and it's an awesome documentary although it did make me cry.

Just an interesting thought about the assisted suicide here is that I believe you have to see more than one or two psych Dr's to make sure you arent crazy or whatever. Then I think you have to have more than just one Dr on board to approve it, the illness of course has to be terminal and they have to be able to take the meds themselves. I remember the documentary started out showing a woman taking the pills apart and mixing them with a juice or soda and then she goes to the patient and she has to make sure once again that this is the choice he wants to make and he has to verbally say he does.
After that, they instructed him to drink it within at least i think 30-60 seconds.
The guy drank it, he says that it tastes a little bitter but it's bearable.
He says then that he wanted to thank the voters in Oregon for giving him the right to end his life and then he started singing a hymn and passed peacefully.

I actually just teared up thinking about this show. If anyone has the opportunity to watch it, please do.

[Fleta]

Hmm, I wonder at what point serious neglect becomes murder? Say a trip to the grand canyon, and WHOOPSIE I wasn't paying attention!

I'd take a criminal record and a few years probation if it meant bringing someone I love peace. A 20 year sentence for murder, not so much.

I'm going to watch the show you linked, WTBB, just reading the description you posted made me tear up, so I'm going to wait for C to go to work first lol

[nestlequikie]

Hmm, I wonder at what point serious neglect becomes murder? Say a trip to the grand canyon, and WHOOPSIE I wasn't paying attention!

I'd take a criminal record and a few years probation if it meant bringing someone I love peace. A 20 year sentence for murder, not so much.

I'm going to watch the show you linked, WTBB, just reading the description you posted made me tear up, so I'm going to wait for C to go to work first lol

Prepare to srsly have the ugly cry face thing going on when you watch that.

LOL, WTBB, he also said he wished he could have chased it with a beer rather than the Gatorade if I remember right.

[White trash bitchy blonde]

It's a really awesome show and I had watche dit not long before my mom chose to let go. I can't remember the one ladies name is, but when you watch it you will see. She has a terminal disease and it shows her journey from somewhat in the middle to the end and it killed me.

It made me thankful for this state and the right to have dr assisted suicides but I also have heard that even tho it is legal here, it's REALLY hard to find Dr's to get on board and ok it.

I think in Portland or maybe Eugene it would be easier but I don't think many Dr's in my town would do it. Im off to google. Im trying to understand the line between dr assisted suicide and hospice tho.
Anyone?

[Trahnse]

Instead of providing treatments that prolong life, Hospice keep the patient comfortable and pain-free so they can die as peacefully as possible. The idea is not to help the patient die faster or sooner, rather to give them the dignity of a peaceful death. They also help the patient and family deal with all the emotions and shit that go along with dying/watching your loved one die. Is that what you wanted to know WTBB?

The whole euthanasia debate drives me crazy. The people who are deciding that this man and others like him can't choose to live or not should have to experience the situation. Can't feed yourself, can't take yourself to the bathroom or you're incontinent, can't walk, hurts to move. What kind of life is that? Even being a caregiver is hard. One lady I took care of, every night when I was helping her to bed, she would say "I hope I don't wake up in the morning. I'm 95 years old and what else have I got to live for?" Or the Parkinson's patient who is stiff as a board, can hardly blink, and can only grunt; yet her family insisted on having a feeding tube inserted. If she was a dog, she would have been put down long ago. But no, make Mom/Grandma lie in bed, alone most of the day, staring at the ceiling and suffer.

Medical technology has come far. We're saving people that only years ago never would have had a chance. But quality of life needs to be factored in there somewhere. And everyone should have the choice if they want to continue living or not. It's awesome that some states are figuring it out. I hope more follow suit before I get old or sick; or... I've always wanted to live in Oregon!

[morbidT]

If anyone is interested, there is a show called 'how to die in oregon' and it's an awesome documentary although it did make me cry.

Just an interesting thought about the assisted suicide here is that I believe you have to see more than one or two psych Dr's to make sure you arent crazy or whatever. Then I think you have to have more than just one Dr on board to approve it, the illness of course has to be terminal and they have to be able to take the meds themselves. I remember the documentary started out showing a woman taking the pills apart and mixing them with a juice or soda and then she goes to the patient and she has to make sure once again that this is the choice he wants to make and he has to verbally say he does.
After that, they instructed him to drink it within at least i think 30-60 seconds.
The guy drank it, he says that it tastes a little bitter but it's bearable.
He says then that he wanted to thank the voters in Oregon for giving him the right to end his life and then he started singing a hymn and passed peacefully.

I actually just teared up thinking about this show. If anyone has the opportunity to watch it, please do.

Anyone have a link for the whole film? I cantz findz one:-(

[White trash bitchy blonde]

Thankyou Trahnse! I see the difference now. I loved the hospice staff and the thing that makes me okay with hospice is that if it's dne right, the patient does not suffer. I proised my mom that i would not let her suffer one bit and i know i was able to make that happen for her.

I dont wanna shit my stuff all over this thread but I have to share this part: I gave my mom morphine every single hour on the hour and then also her ativan every two hours. I was super worried that if i didnt keep up on the times then it could be out of her system and i was afraid she would feel pain. Kidney failure can be so painful and i was very concerned that she would have kidney/back pain. I am very content in my feeling that she didnt suffer because i knew to watch her facial expressions as well to make sure she wasnt making any faces that implied pain.

I want the right to end my life thru a medication rather than risk a gun in my mouth resulting in my loved ones finding me with my brains on the wall.

[Trahnse]

Thankyou Trahnse! I see the difference now. I loved the hospice staff and the thing that makes me okay with hospice is that if it's dne right, the patient does not suffer. I proised my mom that i would not let her suffer one bit and i know i was able to make that happen for her.

I dont wanna shit my stuff all over this thread but I have to share this part: I gave my mom morphine every single hour on the hour and then also her ativan every two hours. I was super worried that if i didnt keep up on the times then it could be out of her system and i was afraid she would feel pain. Kidney failure can be so painful and i was very concerned that she would have kidney/back pain. I am very content in my feeling that she didnt suffer because i knew to watch her facial expressions as well to make sure she wasnt making any faces that implied pain.

I want the right to end my life thru a medication rather than risk a gun in my mouth resulting in my loved ones finding me with my brains on the wall.

That's exactly what you should have done. :) The whole idea of pain management is to stay ahead of the pain! Meds are scheduled the way they are for a reason and it seems like many people don't get that.. Once you let the pain get unbearable, it's hard to get it back under control. Hospice is something I'm interested in doing after I get a few years of nursing under my belt.

That documentary is awesome. I've watched it several times and I am in tears every time. How wonderful that those people were able to go on their own terms. Netflix has it on DVD. I didn't see it anywhere online, but my google-fu when it comes to movies, it terribad! :(

There is the story of Lovelle Svart; a woman in Oregon who used the law for assistance in her death. I think it was posted here ages ago.

http://www.compassionoforegon.org/ab...lovelle-svart/

[Dale]

I'd like to watch that film too. Thanks for bringing it up, WTBB. I'll try and search for it online. There is another documentary (a few years old I believe) that centers on the controversy about a person's right to die, called the Suicide Tourist. I recommend that too for anyone interested.

edit - Morbid, you can stream How to Die in Oregon here: http://www.movie2k.to/movie-685905-H...egon-film.html

[nestlequikie]

That's exactly what you should have done. :) The whole idea of pain management is to stay ahead of the pain! Meds are scheduled the way they are for a reason and it seems like many people don't get that.. Once you let the pain get unbearable, it's hard to get it back under control. Hospice is something I'm interested in doing after I get a few years of nursing under my belt.

That documentary is awesome. I've watched it several times and I am in tears every time. How wonderful that those people were able to go on their own terms. Netflix has it on DVD. I didn't see it anywhere online, but my google-fu when it comes to movies, it terribad! :(

There is the story of Lovelle Svart; a woman in Oregon who used the law for assistance in her death. I think it was posted here ages ago.

http://www.compassionoforegon.org/ab...lovelle-svart/

I posted that AGES ago!! I am so glad someone else remembered it, too, Trahnse. The Oregonian (where she worked once) did a whole series about her and I became a HUGE advocate of 'death with dignity' after reading it.

Lovelle charged her car battery so her sister wouldn't have to and danced a polka (albeit for only a few seconds) at her party on the the day she left. I never met her. But I think of her often.

Media can have a good impact sometimes - don't you think?

[puzzld]

It is such a cruel irony. Some people who desperately want to go on, even if they are in pain... the Mom who wants to see her kid graduate high school or the like... many of them don't get those few extra days or weeks that would mean so much. Others with nothing to live for go on with no end in sight. I understand the fear that allowing euthanasia might open the door to abuses, but damn there needs to be a better way.

[nestlequikie]

It's a really awesome show and I had watche dit not long before my mom chose to let go. I can't remember the one ladies name is, but when you watch it you will see. She has a terminal disease and it shows her journey from somewhat in the middle to the end and it killed me.

Her name was Cody. Cody Curtis.



I loved her outlook. I cried HARD when she passed. I Googled to make sure her kids were doing okay after they lost their momma (they are thanks to the death with dignity act that their state enacted).

Cody's death was life-affirming. I know that sounds crazy but it really was.

[nestlequikie]

Oh wow, I just wiki'd Ian Brady. Apparently the mother of one of the victims just died yesterday- without knowing where her son was buried.

Damnit you made me Wiki, too.

God, that poor woman.

[nestlequikie]

It is such a cruel irony. Some people who desperately want to go on, even if they are in pain... the Mom who wants to see her kid graduate high school or the like... many of them don't get those few extra days or weeks that would mean so much. Others with nothing to live for go on with no end in sight. I understand the fear that allowing euthanasia might open the door to abuses, but damn there needs to be a better way.

[White trash bitchy blonde]

I was up early this morning, couldnt sleep and got onto mds here and saw the link that streams that show (Thanks Dale).

I just finished watching this again and after experiencing mom's passing and Jammmie and Brians mom's passing, this was a lot harder to watch. As hard as it is to watch, it's also beautiful in the oddest of ways.

I hope people take the time to watch it and share their thoughts here. Im going back to bed, it brought up some feelings for me and now I feel exhausted.

[Trahnse]

I posted that AGES ago!! I am so glad someone else remembered it, too, Trahnse. The Oregonian (where she worked once) did a whole series about her and I became a HUGE advocate of 'death with dignity' after reading it.

Lovelle charged her car battery so her sister wouldn't have to and danced a polka (albeit for only a few seconds) at her party on the the day she left. I never met her. But I think of her often.

Media can have a good impact sometimes - don't you think?

Thank you for sharing it! I think I've passed it along to everyone I know, since seeing it then. It's such a beautiful story; as is Cody Curtis' in the HBO doc. Very moving!

[Ron_NYC]

It is such a cruel irony. Some people who desperately want to go on, even if they are in pain... the Mom who wants to see her kid graduate high school or the like... many of them don't get those few extra days or weeks that would mean so much. Others with nothing to live for go on with no end in sight. I understand the fear that allowing euthanasia might open the door to abuses, but damn there needs to be a better way.

See...I don't get this. I mean grandma may have a a hangnail and a $50,000 life insurance policy, but I don't think the doc is gonna put her down.

[puzzld]

See...I don't get this. I mean grandma may have a a hangnail and a $50,000 life insurance policy, but I don't think the doc is gonna put her down.

No. But you could probably apply enough pressure to your aged and ailing mother to convince her that life isn't worth living. Get her begging to die. Don't think the thought doesn't have its appeal. If there was a legal way to go about it? Yeah, the possibility for abuse is real.

[leapfreak]

No. But you could probably apply enough pressure to your aged and ailing mother to convince her that life isn't worth living. Get her begging to die. Don't think the thought doesn't have its appeal. If there was a legal way to go about it? Yeah, the possibility for abuse is real.

I agree that there is the possibility for abuse. I think that euthanasia should be allowed but it would have to have strict guidelines. You couldn't just put Grandma out of her misery because you were sick of her.

[Ron_NYC]

No. But you could probably apply enough pressure to your aged and ailing mother to convince her that life isn't worth living. Get her begging to die. Don't think the thought doesn't have its appeal. If there was a legal way to go about it? Yeah, the possibility for abuse is real.

Haha that doesn't sound like abuse to me.

[Morbid_much]

I agree that there is the possibility for abuse. I think that euthanasia should be allowed but it would have to have strict guidelines. You couldn't just put Grandma out of her misery because you were sick of her.

That's how it is over here. Euthanasia is legal but the doctors have to follow strict guidelines to determine if someone is eligible. I'm glad that one of those guidelines is that the patient has to expierence unbearable and endless suffering and not a terminal illness. But I don't know how hard it is to find a doctor that is willing to help. I found an article that states that in 2010 there were 2910 cases of euthanasia here. I think that is a lot. So my guess is if you want to, you can.

[Nancy Drew]

That's how it is over here. Euthanasia is legal but the doctors have to follow strict guidelines to determine if someone is eligible. I'm glad that one of those guidelines is that the patient has to expierence unbearable and endless suffering and not a terminal illness. But I don't know how hard it is to find a doctor that is willing to help. I found an article that states that in 2010 there were 2910 cases of euthanasia here. I think that is a lot. So my guess is if you want to, you can.

GO DUTCH!!!

I'm totally fine with having a system in place that significantly reduces the risk of abuse. Psychological assessments and what not. The fact that this guy can't die, and is likely costing his wife an ungodly sum of money in the process, seriously makes me barf.