Euthanasia

[Red Lead Ted]

After returning home a day early from our summer break on the request of my wife's brother 15 days ago sadly my wife's 88 yr old Mother had suffered a stroke and nearly swallowed her tongue, She is in the final stages of Dementia, Suffering kidney failure, Has Septis, Cant speak or sit up in bed and support herself and has been asleep since we arrived back, She doesn't recognize anyone cant do anything for herself and is not able to swallow any food its a great shame to see my wonderful Mother in law go down hill like this clinically she is in a vegetated state, I have always held my christian values close and still say where theirs life theirs hope. But in this case i have to question my values and ask myself is it worth keeping this dear old lady alive through fluids by a drip. I am watching my wife and her family going through hell attending the hospital twice a day spending up to 9 hours a day there and doing there own health know good, I don,t think my wife has slept 24 hours in the last 15 days. She is crashing out worn out about 9 pm after arriving home and keeping her mobile phone next to her on a pillow. I really think in cases like this Euthanasia should be considered, Having spoke with a consultant at the hospital last night he absolutely agrees with me but as he said unfortunately its not legal in this country therefore while the fluids are keeping her alive they have a duty of care and must keep administrating it. At this point i would ask the lads who have emailed and messaged me to hang on in there i really cant be bothered with the net at this moment in time i am sure you will all understand. It has basically taken over our lives and is a waiting game. A lot of people may knock and have nothing to thank there in laws for but i for one cant say that the time i spent at sea and working the country over they welcomed my wife and our kids with open arms when i wasn't there and both where great grandparents. I will get back on track lads and call in on the site from time to time while we play out this waiting game. Thanks in anticipation for your understanding Best regards to everyone. Sincerely Terry.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Ted, i hope for a peaceful end, for your mother in-law, but also for some peace for the whole family. death is always traumatic for families, but some time its horrific as well. All best wishes, and hang on in there, regards KT

[Jim Brady]

So sorry to hear that Terry nothing much one can say in a situation like this i just hope things turn out right for you and your good lady wife.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

My brother, ex seaman, died of Dementia 12 months ago this week five days before his 87th Birthday.

He was a bigger man than me and he went down hill very fast, and turned into a skeleton, just bones, he couldn't move, speak or eat, A carer changes his nappy, cannot move and so had to be turned over every so often, It was tragic just watching him.

In Dementia, what happens is , it affects parts of the brain that control appetite, they do not feel hunger, and so starve to death without knowing.
It was a relief when he died, both for him and for the family
.
The Problem with Euthanasia is, Doctors are sworn to save and preserve life, not to end life, so they are unable to practice it, Euthanasia could also be abused and used for a relative to get rid of a member, for any number of reasons.
So that is why it is not in British Law.
All deaths are tragic, but the passing of some are more tragic than others.
Best wishes to you and your family Terry.
Brian

[Lewis McColl]

They do euthanise in the UK or certainly did , it was called the Liverpool pathway basically letting you starve to death and die of thirst.
I know for a fact when my father in law slipped into a deep sleep and was obviously in a lot of pain (Cancer). I asked the nurse if she could not give him something to make him more comfortable. She knew what I was asking and she went and seen the doctor. She came back 10 minutes later and said to my wife , doctor says okay but he will not wake up again, she pulled the curtains and gave him what I can only assume was a massive shot of morphine. He crossed the bar that night.
Thoughts are with you and the family Terry.

[Captain Kong]

The Liverpool Pathway has been stopped.
My late brothers wife was put on the Pathway in hospital and her sons objected and took her out, put her in a Nursing home and she recovered and was out of bed walking around, she lived for another two years.

[Ken Norton]

Lost my father with bowel cancer recently, very similar in loss of weight etc. my wife who is a retired senior sister nursed him at home in his final weeks, a truly upsetting experience and a happy release for him and all the family in the end. Can offer great sympathy having been there it is a terrible strain on all, however his final wishes were met in that he died at home. Hang in there and peace be with you.

[John Arton]

RLT
So sorry to hear about your mother in law, it must be terrible for you and your wife to have to watch such a good lady go downhill so fast.
As regards euthanasia, has there not been a recent high court ruling allowing it where family and medical staff agree it is the best interest of the patient?
Rgds
J.A.

[Ken Norton]

I believe this High Court ruling applies only in the case where the person is proven clinically brain dead, this means that they can withdraw life support systems. Euthanasia is a wilful end of another persons life by painless means (hopefully) or allowing to die by withholding extreme medical measures, it is the practice of ending a life intentionally.

[Captain Kong]

From the NHS


Euthanasia and assisted suicide

Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve suffering.

For example, it could be considered euthanasia if a doctor deliberately gave a patient with a terminal illness drugs they do not otherwise need for their comfort, such as an overdose of sedatives or muscle relaxant, with the sole aim of ending their life.

Assisted suicide is the act of deliberately assisting or encouraging another person to kill themselves. If a relative of a person with a terminal illness obtained strong sedatives, knowing that the person intended to use the sedatives to kill themselves, they may be considered to be assisting suicide.


The law

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under English law.

Assisted suicide

Assisted suicide is illegal under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961) and is punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment. Trying to kill yourself is not a criminal act.

Euthanasia

Depending on the circumstances, euthanasia is regarded as either manslaughter or murder. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.


Types of euthanasia

Euthanasia can be classified as:
•voluntary euthanasia, where a person makes a conscious decision to die and asks for help to do so
•non-voluntary euthanasia, where a person is unable to give their consent to treatment (for example, because they're in a coma) and another person takes the decision on their behalf, often because the ill person previously expressed a wish for their life to be ended in such circumstances

Active and passive euthanasia

You may have heard the terms "active euthanasia" and "passive euthanasia".

"Active euthanasia" is sometimes used to refer to deliberately intervening to end someone's life – for example, by injecting them with a large dose of sedatives.

"Passive euthanasia" is sometimes used to refer to causing someone's death by withholding or withdrawing treatment that is necessary to maintain life.

It's important not to confuse "passive euthanasia" with withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in the person's best interests. Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment because it's in the person's best interests can be part of good palliative care and is not euthanasia.


End of life care

If you are approaching the end of your life, you have a right to good palliative care – to control pain and other symptoms – as well as psychological, social and spiritual support.