This is fantastic news. I can't but think of the many people that have contemplated assisted suicide that were in his position. This should give them hope.
> I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now.
Yep, that unfortunate time of his life has passed and he is in a much better place. Found someone who helps keep him grounded mentally. Finally qualifies for social security so he isn't struggling just to find a roof to live under. Luckily he was an engineer for many years and so his social security payment isn't half bad. He's going to be okay now, and for that I'm grateful.
I agree with your sentiments. I'm glad that I live in Oregon, so we do have assisted suicide as an option. The law makes it somewhat difficult, IMO, but in practice the rules seem to get bent. My father died with assistance a few years back when he had terminal kidney disease. Two nurses came to the house and prepared the pills for him by converting them into a liquid he could drink, they even helped him hold it. He'd have had difficulty doing that himself, so I'm grateful they were willing to help. I don't think the law allows for that much assistance, but maybe I'm wrong.
In lieu of euthanasia, I'll pin my hopes on opiates, I guess. A friend of mine passed away about a week ago (cancer) and I had the opportunity to talk with him about three weeks ago -- he was on a significant dose (but not quite lethal) of fentanyl, and he said he had zero pain. They were willing to crank the dose up to whatever it takes -- this seems normal when hospice is involved. No worries about anyone getting addicted. And if the patient inadvertently dies a little early, nobody asks any questions.
And had a persistent wish to die. Even wore a DNR tag around her neck.
She waited three years to finally get through all the requirements and be granted the assisted suicide.
This person made a personal choice and fortunately lived in an area where that choice is respected and neither she, nor her family were at risk of criminalization for her decision.
> “In the three and a half years this has taken, I’ve never hesitated about my decision. "
> Medical assisted suicide for terminal patients has always existed, in the shadows. Now it's just legitimized and being done openly.
That's very good. My grandmother tried to kill herself with sleeping pills because she was desperate and no legal option for help existed back then. She was not successful and the end wasn't nice. It's nothing anyone should go through.
It's interesting the parallels I see between this and right to die.
He didn't want to destroy his work whilst he could still work. But if he waits too long and misses the opportunity to take action whilst in good health he may lose control over it. Without the other limiting factors - this feels like a very easy call. I'm thrilled that he trusted people to see his wishes through - and as importantly that they've shown themselves to be deserving of said trust
In some countries (like NL) assisted suicide is only allowed when certain criteria is met, such a terminal illness with no chance of improvement, etc.
Having seen some of my grandparents slowly fade with dementia, I'm sad they didn't have the choice to end it on their terms. Whether they would have chosen to do so I don't know.
But the individual freedom to end your own pointless suffering seems very reasonable to me.
I am surprised by your strong reaction to his decision. If you disapprove of assisted suicide, no one is going to force you to use it yourself; I would suggest however you have no right to say someone else shouldn't.
I’m of the believe that people who are against assisted suicide have never had to provide end of life care to a person who died a painful death, riddled with disease and indescribable pain on the way out.
Seeing the final days of my grandfathers life, who died of colon cancer, being robbed of his dignity and condemned to suffering for an agonising six months made me a staunch advocate of assisted suicide.
You can't imagine how thankful I am towards the two doctors that approved my mother's euthanasia in The Netherlands. I could not bear to see my mother suffer for much longer. I wished my father was able to get euthanasia while his Alzheimer's was getting worse many years ago. Of course, I am sad that my parents passed away but I am happy that my mother wasn't unnecessary suffering.
I knew about euthanasia being legal in many countries, but I was surprised that 'assisted suicide' is legal in a few as well. He's going for 'assisted suicide' to Switzerland.
Assisted suicide. My grandpa lost his last kidney at 95 and was then picked up and dropped off for dialysis 3 times a week in the early 2000s. For a few years this went on, must have been tens of thousands of dollars or even $100k+ of labor and medical services, in those days. Paid for by future taxpayers.
He should have been given an option to go peacefully.
Had a pretty close childhood friend choose assisted suicide (in California) a few years ago after a year long battle with blood cancer. It's not easy to do, I think his biggest fear was losing his ability to consent as his mental condition declined rapidly. The link below outlines the process. He was getting home hospice care staying at an Aunt's house hear the hospital he was treated at. I don't think it is the right choice for everybody, but I certainly think in my friends case it was.
> Alan Nichols had a history of depression and other medical issues, but none were life-threatening. When the 61-year-old Canadian was hospitalized in June 2019 over fears he might be suicidal, he asked his brother to “bust him out” as soon as possible.
> Within a month, Nichols submitted a request to be euthanized and he was killed, despite concerns raised by his family and a nurse practitioner.
> His application for euthanasia listed only one health condition as the reason for his request to die: hearing loss.
Happy we are making progress with that and other degenerative diseases. I just wish we all had the opportunity to choose how our life ends, not just for our own suffering but also for those that suffer for us.
My grandfather had a stroke two weeks ago. It affected 3/4 of the left side of his brain, which means he couldn't speak (except for 'shit', 'god damn', 'yes/no') and couldn't swallow. Or walk, obviously.
He told us repeatedly while he was alive that he didn't want to be put in a home. He wanted to cut his grass, feed the birds and be left alone - and after the stroke there was no way he could do that. We respected his wishes and opted out of the feeding tube, but he essentially starved to death. No fluids, no food for two weeks. Those two weeks burnt up all of his savings.
Everyone in my family agrees that it'd be better if assisted suicide were legal. No starving, no pain - just a nitrogen mask, and you don't even know you're dying.
Frankly, I find your 'older-and-wiser' posturing disgusting. Obviously it should be their choice, but today it's not their choice - the government says they must suffer and starve to death.
'There is nowhere in the U.S. someone with Alzheimer’s disease can legally commit suicide with the help of a physician or friend. (Suicide itself is not a crime.) People with Alzheimer’s are not considered competent, and the disease is generally not considered terminal because a person often does not die within six months of a diagnosis.'
I was interested as well so went looking. He is probably referencing this. It was the first article I could find on it. You have to read below the fold to get a decent sense of what happened. A key paragraph is included below.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49660525
"After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's four years before she died, the patient wrote a statement saying that she wanted to be euthanized before entering a care home - but that she wanted to decide when the time was right.
Before she was taken into care, a doctor decided that assisted suicide should be administered based on her prior statement. This was confirmed by two separate doctors independently and a date was set.
When the day came to end the woman's life, a sedative was put in her coffee and she lost consciousness.
But the woman then woke up and had to be held down by her daughter and husband while the process was finished."
As much as it hurts to lose him, this is what he wanted.
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