So the Lords, who are not elected by us, have rejected a Bill that would have legalised voluntary euthanasia – under strict conditions.
I would have voted ‘yes’. If, god forbid*, I become terminally ill and in unbearable pain, I want the right to be helped to die by a doctor. A couple of months ago, the vet who gave my pussycat a lethal injection, less than half an hour after it was revealed she was hopelessly ill and in pain, said he considered it a ‘privilege’ to spare her more suffering. I want to be treated with the same compassion we show animals at the end of their lives. If they could speak, they would thank us, I’m sure.
Some of the most vocal opponents of the Bill were, of course, religious groups. I’m not a believer; I don’t thank god everyday for my being alive. I don’t see life as the best thing since sliced bread, as it were. Not being alive wouldn’t bother me. I just hope I won’t have to travel to Switzerland any time soon…
On a related subject: interviewed the other day about that 63-year-old pregnant woman, a medic said that this was not the time to fulfil everyone’s desire for a child; that the Earth’s resources were already getting scarce. Pressed further, he even agreed that the number of resuscitations would probably have to be restricted too. Especially since they are so seldom completely successful. Someone else said, a little while ago, they only knew of one successful resuscitation in 25 years. It was, he said, the fault of programmes like ER, where people are routinely brought back to life and assumed to go on living totally unscathed by the experience, when, in fact, they suffer all sorts of indignities afterwards. He – a professional – said he wished for a fast and painless death. A fatal heart attack was the best, he said. That’s what I would wish for me and mine.
If I am ever hospitalised with any kind of serious illness, my chart will have a big DNR on it.
I think we need a referendum on euthanasia. I believe the majority of reasonable people would be in favour of it. I’d like to slap the Lords for bowing to minority pressure groups. Slap!
*not a believer, but superstitious nonetheless.
Friday, 12 May 2006
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Especially as I live in a country that (currently) is essentially run by minority pressure groups, you have my sympathies. And my slaps.
ReplyDeleteSome people would not like your comparison of animals to people in this case, but I am not one of them. I lost a beloved cat (Miss Kitty) almost three years ago. I say "lost." She had lung cancer, and I had to make the choice to let her go...best decision I could have made, and the vets were so compassionate and caring. In general, I find veterinarians are so much nicer--and more aware--than doctors I deal with as a human.
ReplyDeletea close relative of mine's initials are DNR and she's rather worried about what might happen if she's ever admitted to hospital
ReplyDelete:)
Couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteYes, R, the majority is always complacent. Instead of acquiring more freedoms, the ones we take for granted are quietly eroded. Things are never at a standstill. One also needs to fight to retain what one has.
ReplyDeleteGE, we’re all animals, aren’t we? I have no problem with that and I would like us to treat each other with kindness and understanding. This morning I was listening to a discussion about the Lords’ decision: someone was going on about how 95% of terminally ill people would have a ‘good’ death in hospices, etc., if there were more resources allocated to them. 1) We know that no more money will be made available for that purpose. 2) What about the other 5%? Some compassionate doctors already ‘help’ people to die, but what if you’re unlucky and treated by someone who has strong religious beliefs, for instance? And why should those doctors have to do it ‘on the sly’, with all sorts of risks attached? It’s not fair on them; not fair on anyone.
UC, your relative should look after her health and try to stay away from hospitals. Otherwise, poof!
SE, you have expressed it all very well. It is scandalous – and frightening.
You’re welcome to slap anyone and anything in this space. :-)
WW, I know that most people agree with us (all the newspaper articles, and debates on radio and TV testify to that) but they are hindered at every stage by the minority. That’s not democratic, but no one can do anything about it. Here we won't get anywhere until the Lords are abolished and replaced by an elected second chamber: their sole purpose is to oppose any bills passed by our MPs (i.e. us!).
An archbishop on the radio this morning said that society had gone too far with thinking our rights as individuals were inalienable, and that our life was not ours to do with as we chose.
ReplyDeleteIf doctors were openly allowed to prescribe the patient something effective to take themselves, those doctors would not have to actively end that patient's life for them. I don't see why they should have the responsinility of having t kill someone (to make sure it remains secret) rather than hand ther responsibility over to the patient.
Also, it has been proven in Oregon that, when doctors prescribe the fatal medicine, 80 per cent of patients don't even take it; the fact that they have the choice every day to stop their suffering, that they have the control back, actually gives them the strength to carry on, one day at a time. I can understand that. So in the end, fewer people are euthanased, because when it depends on persuading a doctor to agree to something illegal, if he or she does agree, you have to go ahead there and then, really, or lose the chance.
Like Robin, I have to echo my sympathies and give you my slaps as well. In the US, the states are allowed to enact their own legislations on various subjects, as long as the legislation does not conflict with the Constitution or national law. My state, Oregon, tried to create a "Death with Dignity" law, to let those people with terminal illnesses to die with medical assistance before they are so ill that "life" would be torture rather than living. But alas, those pressure groups are attempting to circumvent this Oregon state law and stop it by threatening the doctors who wish to help via our court system and our national D.A. It's disgusting. So please slap the American idiots who are unable to distinguish between compassion and torture, too?
ReplyDeleteL, I feel like swearing. LOL! I'm getting so tired of having my life ruled by people who are nothing to me, whose beliefs I don't share. The Age of Reason started long ago. What's happened to it?
ReplyDeleteAs you say, why should doctors take on all the responsibility, and the mere knowledge that you have a way out would be such a comfort to terminally ill people.
K, it's high time we got control of our own lives. I'm slapping all the people who would deny us that right - wherever they may be.
Hey Bela, saw this tattoo on Boing Boing and totally thought of you right away! I thought you might find it an interesting idea, or at least get a kick of it.
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely brilliant, K! Thank you. :-)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with everything you said, J. Thank you for relating your own experiences.
ReplyDelete