Re: A Duty To Die?
 

His wife said that he has two choices now

1 die naturally

2 starve to death

either way i think it will be an unpleasant death for him .

maybe the way to go is for parliament to make some law change so that each case is dealt with on an individual basis ,could that work ?

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

We have to do something about this issue and not keep putting it off because it is not a popular topic or comfortable topic to discuss or legislate. I have more interest in this as if my deterioration continues at it's current pace in ten years i will basically be completely useless being nothing but a burden on everyone that knows me and thats not how i want to live i should be able when the time comes have the choice to die with dignity. Sorry but life is not absolute in it's importance the quality of that life has to be considered as well because life with no quality is not life.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Good luck with that in a two-party system where no party is going to stick its neck out on what's bound to be seen as a controversial issue.

For the record, here's a link to the latest CF poll we had on this issue.

Clearly, a CF poll cannot be considered representative, but a whopping 94% in favour (when including those who think family members should agree as well) does suggest that a considerable proportion of the UK population feel that assisted suicide should be an option that is available to them.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

If CF polls were representative, David Cameron would have had a convincing majority in 2010 ;)

That said, the perceived shortcomings of our representative democracy are not an excuse for further undermining it via judicial activism. Parliament may not be perfect, but it is better at reflecting the will of the people than any judge.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Hence my proviso. Still, I think the size of the majority is indicative of the wider mood.

I'm not sure if I'd say better. More appropriate perhaps, but not necessarily better.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

My Mother had a stomach disease, she was too weak for an operation & in pain, the Doctors told us she would eventually die. After some consultation, she was taken to a side ward & given Morphine, she saw her family, then I stayed with her until she died. During that time the Morphine machine kicked in more frequently & I am convinced it killed her. It was the right choice to make & I will always be grateful that she passed in peace. I hope that when my time comes my children will do the same.

Given the choice now, while i`m sane, (No skits, please) I would sign my life away rather than live with endless pain, or Dementia, & I would ask my children to support my decision. I never want to be a burden on my family, they mean far too much to me. You play the cards fate deals you, only you should decide when to chuck your hand in.

A Duty to Die? No. If we accept this we would all end up getting a cyanide pill for our retirement.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Quote "SMG I never want to be a burden on my family"


there is the problem what is most likely a well informed and valid choice for you can soon on those not as strong as you be used against them by unscrupulous relatives and or people in white coats to persuade them that they too don't want to be a burden as that is seen to be the norm

no matter what legislation is put in place once you loose the right to challenge why some one died that is what will happen

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

That's exactly what I think will happen and once you start something like this its pretty hard to stop, I quite like the way our leaders have washed their hands of this tbh and left it with the courts to decide whether prosecution is in the public interest or not and the leniency they seem to show all genuine defendants, perhaps its a route worth continuing with

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Given recent governments attempts at introducing new laws i am not sure i could trust them to make fair and effective laws governing assisted suicide ,i believe they are the only people who should do it but i fear we would end up with legislation that is full of holes and doesn't do what it should

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19341722

Mr Nicklinson has now passed away

RIP

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Yes - very sad. I'll never forget the images of him sobbing with despair when he lost his action. RIP.

Maybe losing his painfully protracted legal fight served a more of a purpose than anyone could have thought at the time.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Weird timing.

RIP. Glad he didn't have to wait long.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

I friend of mine's grandad had lung cancer in the late 1960's, he was at home slowly dying, and in a great deal of pain and his nans was in a great deal of distress, he was having daily morphine injections.

One the the Dr came in and gave him his injection and said "this should end his suffering" (or words to that effect), shortly after he died.

He belived the Dr help.

The irony is if animals are ill they get put down to stop them suffering, we have to suffer.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

Here we had a man, who was sane and rational, who was living a nightmare everyday. It's amazing he stayed sane.

And the state said he was not allowed to end his own life, or have anyone do it for him.

I will be very interested to hear the decision in this case

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...him-alive.html

It's now gone to court.

Although the two cases are not strictly the same, I would have thought that the courts would have to advise the hospital to keep him alive.

Re: A Duty To Die?
 

The court is limited by Parliament I think.