Euthanasia

MassiveJim · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:42

Why in the modern age that we live in does euthanasia still have a blanket policy that is completely illegal?

My father in law has terminal cancer of the stomach, it has spread quite a lot. He has had a stent fitted to help him to swallow more easily. He has been given 6 months to live. The care he is getting in hospital is, to be Frank, subpar.
He can't keep any solids down and the hospital are trying to refuse him pureed food that he actually likes and can eat without issue.
He is in a lot of pain, is very uncomfortable, the TVs haven't worked for over a year apparently, so he is bored out of his mind as well. All he does at home is watch TV all day.

He has been in tears multiple times over the last couple of weeks to my partner, she has never seen him cry in her life ever. So she is understandably upset about everything.

He has said multiple times he just wants to go now, but obviously the law prevents it.

If this were an animal it would be legal to have it put to sleep at this stage.

Why does the law insist on making people suffer like this instead of letting them have control over their life?
It seems so pointless and cruel.

Sankari · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:44

I am strongly pro-euthanasia. Utter madness that it's not standard practice throughout the West already.

tamzzy · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:46

Because it is open to abuse?

Mark1989 · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:47

I also feel it should be legal especially if the person is in sound mind and can make the choice for him or her self

Liquid_Entity · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:50

You wouldnt let a dear pet suffer so why not your own family.

Mark1989 · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:52

tamzzy said:
Because it is open to abuse?

So are most things in life, so do you ban all them too?

throwaway4372 · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:55

I also think it should be legal. Making someone live out miserable days is cruel.

Puzzled · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:57

Sorry to hear about your father in law.

It is crazy. Like you say, we save our pets from dying in pain and yet we keep our loved ones living in agony for months. Sometimes it goes on for years, just existing but not living.

I really do hope it changes soon. People should have the choice to die the way they want.

dlockers · 27 Mar 2022 at 13:59

Dude, just because your terminally ill father-in-law says (on his death bed) he wants to die doesn't mean you need to start talk about euthanasia. My god get some EQ.

Rather than rant about it on an online forum, why not do something? Get him a tablet, fill it with memories, encourage him to write down his memoirs. FFS.

BowdonUK · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:34

I think people should be able to decide what they want to do with their life, even if its a multiple step process.

Semple · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:37

tamzzy said:
Because it is open to abuse?

That's such a cop-out excuse. There's plenty of rules/regulations/processes that could be put in place to prevent it being open to abuse.

Ragnahex · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:39

it's always a touchy subject because people have a gut reaction to it one way or the other.
My opinion is that nobody should be allowed to tell you what you can and can't do with your own body. Personally speaking i've already spoken with close family members about end of life procedures because the thought of being kept alive in certain circumstances terrifies me

Minusorange · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:41

It's illegal because death is still a taboo within our culture because we're still primitive and superstitious and not as advanced as we like to portray

robfosters · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:46

It’s religion rearing it’s head again. Life is a gift from god and the sanctity of life, all that rubbish.

Same reason all the nuts stand outside abortion clinics hassling distressed young mothers and preaching rubbish.

Sankari · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:47

tamzzy said:
Because it is open to abuse?

Many legal activities are open to abuse. That's why we regulate them.

Minusorange said:
It's illegal because death is still a taboo within our culture because we're still primitive and superstitious and not as advanced as we like to portray

It's not death that's taboo, it's the taking of life outside the context of war.

throwaway4372 · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:48

Probably also big pharma lobbying because they can't sell drugs to dead people.

Puzzled · 27 Mar 2022 at 14:53

Semple said:
That's such a cop-out excuse. There's plenty of rules/regulations/processes that could be put in place to prevent it being open to abuse.

Hospitals already do it but just in a painfully slow way by withdrawing food / water. It's ridiculous when drugs can make you slip away peacefully with dignity.

I doubt anyone who has witnessed someone in a painful end of life decline would argue against euthanasia.

Mysterae_ · 27 Mar 2022 at 15:01

robfosters said:
It’s religion rearing it’s head again. Life is a gift from god and the sanctity of life, all that rubbish.

Same reason all the nuts stand outside abortion clinics hassling distressed young mothers and preaching rubbish.

Nail being firmly hit on it's head right there in that comment.

To much of this world is run by religion, if you like it or not. A whole nation even puts 'in god we trust' on their bank notes. That doesn't help those dying in pain when compassion can ease the suffering and make the passing of a loved one more bearable.

Suicide is illegal and is punishable by imprisonment. And some say americans don't understand irony.

Chris Wilson · 27 Mar 2022 at 15:05

I thought people went to Holland or somewhere, where such procedures ARE legal? Very sorry to hear of your father's distress and of course that of his fanmily, I am all for dignity in death, and saddened to see this still hasn't been addressed by law sympathetically.

Minusorange · 27 Mar 2022 at 15:21

Sankari said:
It's not death that's taboo, it's the taking of life outside the context of war.

It is death, it's fear of it, where preserving life is the most important thing even if it means a horrific sacrifice to quality of that life