Euthanasia. the dignity of a dying man

That's one big reason I live in Oregon. As I get older the threat is always there.

Hi mate I see your from the Uk too. I have to agree its all to do with circumstances. I did some research for you about Euthanasia in the Uk. Hope it makes interesting reading:
the subject of voluntary euthanasia is far from simple - even the most sympathetic cases raise difficult ethical questions.

Pro-euthanasia campaigners say it is a matter of personal freedom.

As suicide is no longer a crime in the UK, they argue that it is not only just, but also an essential part of civilisation that people can be helped to die in dignity and painfree.

They argue that refusing to help someone is immoral. It could even cause more injury and distress, if the suicide attempt is botched.

Opposing that view is a coalition of opinion.

Some religious groups believe life is sacrosanct and only God can decide when to terminate it.

Other groups worry that allowing any system of legalised killing would be open to abuse.

Recent research from Holland suggests that despite that country's strict rules concerning voluntary euthanasia, many doctors are failing to carry out the necessary checks or contact the appropriate authorities.

Case studies

And then of course there are the relatives.

When faced with their loved ones' pain, and often the indignity of their condition, many are desperate and believe the best course is for their relative to die.

During Dr Cox's court case and subsequent appearance before the General Medical Council, Ms Boyes' family never wavered in their support for the doctor's actions.

When doctors at Airedale Hospital in Yorkshire asked the High Court for permission to withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration from Hillsborough victim Tony Bland, his family supported the application.

And recently the family of Mary Ormerod, who died after being starved of food and fluids, praised the doctor involved as being caring and committed.

Although euthanasia is illegal in the UK, there are some grey areas. A doctor can legally give a person an overdose of an opiate like morphine - even if they know it will kill the patient.

As long as the intention is to ease suffering, they cannot be prosecuted for murder. Known as the principle of "double effect", many doctors admit that they have done this - even that their motives were mixed.

But critics say some GPs resort to this before exhausting all other options.

Pain relief

Many experts in pain relief say that doctors too often do not know enough about caring for terminally-ill patients and the latest advances in pain control.

It has also been common practice in hospitals for doctors to write "Do Not Resuscitate" or DNR on the notes of some frail patients.

In those circumstances, nurses and doctors will not attempt to revive a person who has - for example - a heart attack, because keeping them alive would, in the opinion of the medics, inflict more suffering.

Opinion polls suggest the general public is more sympathetic towards those who attempt to kill themselves - even that there is support for changes in the law to decriminalise the act of helping someone commit suicide.

However, it is very unlikely that any political party will support any changes in the law in the near future.

im sorry to hear that you are going through that hon, a friend recently showed me a picture of a strong relative who was also thinned and aged by cancer...it is so heartbreaking to see.
i have always believed euthanasia should be legal. i would wish it if i was terminally ill...
if it was legal id put a clause or something in my will so that if my mind goes...i can go with it too so i dont end up a dribbling mess...

thoughts are with you ...

We need to think of the potential for abuse if mercy killing becomes legal. What if someone stands to inherit one million dollars when Aunt Gladys dies? Might the heir not find it tempting to nudge her in the direction of accepting a lethal injection? Or, if she didn't get the hint, to make her miserable enough to want it? If voluntary euthanasia is made legal for "persons of sound mind" there will inevitably be tremendous pressure to provide it for those who "would request it if they were able to" - the mentally ill or handicapped, the senile, etc. Finally, despite genuine compassion for the suffering of dying people, does there not also lurk in many hearts a less admirable motive? Few people are so tasteless as to link euthanasia and health care costs in the same breath, but there is a widespread few that medical care for the elderly costs more than we can afford. These financial pressures will multiply in the coming years as our population ages. Many elderly people are already responding to this not-so-subtle message by declaring their willingness to die when their lives are no longer productive. Their reluctance to be a financial burden on the young is admirable, but the long term consequences could be brutal. What will happen to the trust that people still feel toward their doctors if our country follows Holland? What emotion will elderly or seriously ill patients feel when the nurse approaches them with a full syringe? How soundly will they sleep in the hospital?

related resource: long-term care

Mercy killing... I don't know if we allow it here in the Philippines, I guess not. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely agree to make it legal; I don't like seeing my friend suffer. I guess what makes it illegal to some places is because we don't have the right to end one's life, only He has the right. If ever we have the right, I wonder who has the guts to end a loved one's life. And the hospitals, I think they have this promise to only provide safe and quality care to all patients.