I struggle to see what they all keep talking about. It seems to have a lot of things wrong with how they want to implement it in my opinion, mostly about how it would be done practically. But they seem to be messing around with coercion.
I do think coercion could become an issue for a small minority and needs guarding against. But as anyone being assisted will have less than 6 months left to live, even a coerced person would only lose a very short span of life. Balancing this against the pain and suffering that might be alleviated for other terminally ill people and I think the risk is worth it.
I've said it before but no one seems to argue it, we will end up in a situation where people have to take their own life far earlier, whilst they still can, if we deny them the right to do it when they can't. It would be very simple to have an opt out, like with organ donations or have our wishes written into a living will. If confidentially written into our medical records then it would be harder to coerce anyone of sound mind. I also find it slightly offensive that they believe it an excuse to get rid of the severely disabled. Many of the parent or carers for those with extreme needs are the most dedicated people to keeping them going, despite all the pain and effort. We see it with court fights for children who don't have a chance, where the doctors want to remove care but the parents fight for them. My grandad had a dnr and was suffering from severe dementia, yet they still tried to get him back when he had a heart attack. I feel sorry for the poor lady at the home that tried. In the old days they would have just left and "found" him a bit later.
I had this conversation with my Dad a few months ago. He is 88, nearly 89, and absolutely adamant that he does not want to be kept alive if he has no quality of life. We sat down and talked about various scenarios that could arise, and I pointed out that the situation might mean that he was unable to communicate his wishes himself (always supposing they took any notice). I managed to obtain information and paperwork that he completed, witnessed by a neighbour (not me !) and a copy has been sent to his surgery and signed by his doctor. Whether this will make any difference if god forbid the worst should happen, I have no idea, but he feels he's done the best he can. A few weeks later my friend's BIL died in dreadful circumstances. He was terminally ill and they knew nothing could be done, but he was kept alive and crying in pain (in spite of morphine), while his organs failed one by one. Where is the compassion in that ? I have no quarrel with people who believe in the sanctity of human life above everything, that is their perogative, and I appreciate that there are arguments on both sides, but I pray that my Dad doesn't die like that, nor myself or OH if it comes to it.
What's happened to "your human rights" if you want to die To much red tape and people don't have a say or a leg to stand on, lots of people are having mentel problems because of red tape, i even know of 1 person that ended his life because of red tape and now because of it there is lots more problems with sorting out things, not just for his family but his had a buisness which now customers are now having problems
