The cost of dying? (Euthanasia)

Member Name: IanPaterson

Product:	Euthanasia
Date:	21/09/00 (1126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stops unneccessary suffering

Disadvantages: Illegal to assist in euthenasia

Death, strangely enough, is a very personal thing. Depending on your religious or idealogical background very different answers will be voiced.

I am only qualified to speak on my own behalf so that is all my opinion can be based upon.

I believe we should have a choice should circumstances render anyone, God forbid, in a situation of terminal debilitating illness or insufferable permanent pain. I am a married father of two. In the event of my becoming brain dead or quadraplegic my family have express orders to terminate my life in whatever way they can at that time. Be it by switching off life support machines, lethal overdose or whatever. I love my family very much and I know how distressing it would be to see me lying in a hospital bed somewhere incapable of moving, talking or even feeding myself. I lead a very full and active lifestyle. Being unable to move or feed myself would be a fate worse than death for me.

This is MY choice, and my family respect that, the same way I respect their last wishes.

A few years ago, my Grandfather 'gave up' after the death of his wife, my grandmother and his son my Uncle very suddenly with only six months between them. Very quickly he contracted prostrate cancer that spread rapidly and painfully. He became bed ridden, would not eat or drink and asked his doctor if he could help him to die. His doctor said no. It is difficult for medical professionals to acknowledge euthenasia. They all have to take an oath in this country to preserve life at all costs and any conditions. I understand this and respect their professionalism. My grandfather died nine months later having been kept alive on drips and machines in a great deal of pain. We visited him every day. We all suffered as he did watching a loved one slowly fade away. None of us were sad when we received the phone call from the hospital only relieved to know he wasn't suffering anymore.

The advances in medi
cal science can be a blessing and a curse. Fifty years ago, many conditions would have been terminal but now they can be slowed down or possibly cured. The treatment of these diseases and conditions can be extremely painful and take huge tolls on physical and mental condition. The question is, should we treat these diseases or let the sufferer decide their future?

Lets face it, in the harsh light of day we are all going to die at some time or another. Some of us will live to a grand old age, some of us will not. However much we love someone, sometimes we just have to let them go and let them keep their dignity. We would not let them suffer so why prolong it for them if they want it to end?

Who are we to decide whether someone should suffer longer than neccessary? We destroy animals if they are in terminal conditions every day. Do we think more of animals than we do of human beings?

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