Have you watched the Drama Truelove ?(Channel 4) A story about a group of five older people, who had known each other since school. They make a pact that should the need arise, they'd help any of one of them, to end their lives. Good acting and worth watching. I won't give the end away here.
Its very up to date with the petition originated by Esther Rantzen, who has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She has stated that she has already joined Dignitas, the Swiss firm where you can have help to end your life. She wants to be able to chose the time and place of her death. She doesn't want her family's last memories of her to be painful.
It isn't against the law in some other countries, so why here?
I have given this some thought.. since my arm fracture. It wasn't the pain that drove me to say, 'I would rather be dead,' but the frustration at not being able to do so many things; it totally changed my life. I am right handed, so a lot of craft things I used to do are no longer within my capabilities.. but more so, the every day things. I struggle to dress, to wash and style my hair, to cut up food. I can't eat puddings with a spoon with my right hand, cooking, digging the garden, ironing, it won't lift up to brush my hair, I can't write and a load of other actions that my useless arm can no longer do. It looks ok, apart from the jagged scars, the disformed muscle and the shaking when I try to reach forward, it won't function. And I miss driving so much!
Dh hates me saying, 'I'd rather be dead, than be like this,' so I try to keep my frustration to myself.. but I hate it. He helps me with everything, he does all the cooking etc. He sat with me in hospital, when I had to wait for over an hour, for a painkiller injection after my second shoulder/arm op. I groaned and cried till I was exhausted. He rubbed my back and spoke quietly the whole time, never once leaving my side!
So am I in favour of assisted dying, even though I am a Christian? I think I am.
What about you?
Chrisxx
11 comments:
I am in favour of personal choice, but safeguards have to be in place when the time comes of choosing when one's own demise should be. I have said that life is a journey. I walk alone, I am preparing for that last journey, no one will be coming with me. There is a video filmed by the family of a man who chose the Dignitas way out. The camera was switched off at the exact moment of death. It was sad, but he had the full support of his family. It was what he wanted.
I have been watching it, it's very thought provoking, I find myself thinking about it long after it has finished. I'm healthy, but for how long, a simple fall can change everything, as you show in your post.
I am sorry you are ins such pain and have had your activities so curtailed.
Assisted suicide is a fraught subject. I have just finished rereading Jojo Moyes' book, 'Me before you'and I think it has to be the individual's choice. The medical profession seems intent on keeping people alive at all costs but life is truly unbearable for some.
I think I would opt for assisted suicide if I were experiencing inoperable, incurable pain or gradual terminal loss of function. I cannot really be sure unless or until I am in that condition.
It is difficult to have an answer. I have an incurable autoimmune condition, which has caused Pulmonary fibrosis to creep through my lungs and cause increasing breathlessness. Im also restricted socially because of needing to avoid crowded indoor spaces as colds, flu, rsv or covid would all cause further damage beyond the progression of the disease. Eventually... I prefer not to think about 'Eventually ' too much, as it may never happen. Meanwhile I consider what I can do, and enjoy it, as much as I am able. Eventually, no, Eventually is not 'now'.
We are watching the series, I am finding it both moving and challenging. One thing is for sure it is horrible how some people suffer whilst battling courageously incurable diseases, and I can totally understand why they might decide to take control of their end.
Alison in Wales x
In Canada, Medical Assistance in Dying is legal. I agree with it though I am unsure what I would do if I could use it. It is controversial for sure. It is more accepted for people who are terminal. For those with severe depression and haven’t responded to years of treatment, not so much. In the news here a few years ago, a couple, both of whom were terminal, made the decision to go together. They were at peace with the choice. Their family struggled with it.
I hurt my shoulder when I fell off my bike last April and it was so painful for months. I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through with your arm. The medical system has a lot to answer for!
It's a difficult question for Christians but I agree with you. With many safeguards in place of course. How would I feel though if Husband had decided it was time to end his life? So hard.
I've never been able to throw myself into the anti-abortion lobby either. Too many grey areas for me.
I've not watched it. Assisted suicide is a very emotive thing to contemplate - I can understand someone who's terminally ill and has no quality of life or is in terrible pain wanting to end it, and it must be dreadful for loved ones to watch their suffering. It's such a personal thing though, I guess few of us would know exactly how we would feel about it until/unless we're in that position. I'm sorry you've had such an awful time, Chris.
I've not watched the programme. But I do believe passionately in the modern Hospice movement, championed by Dame Cicely Saunders. There are more than 200 hospices in the UK now, giving support to over 300,000 people each year, and their families. The work they do, ensuring that for those whose quantity of life is limited, the quality is the best it can be, is wonderful. Pain management has progressed significantly in recent years, and people are helped through their final days with dignity and love (whether in Hospice, or receiving support at home) Many of the countries where Assisted Dying is legal do not have hospices as we do. There is a popular misconception that people just go into the Hospice for a few days and then die. In fact many of the patients are day visitors, receiving support and guidance to enable them to go on living at home for as long as possible. I would urge anyone facing chronic pain or terminal illness to find out more about what these wonderful places can offer. And the bereavement support after death, for families is amazing. As a Christian I believe my time is in God's hands, he will decide when I go. And I'm grateful that there are Hospices available, if needed, to ease the physical pain and to help my loved ones at my end, and afterward. (The majority of hospices are charitable trusts, not NHS run, so rely on the generosity of public)
Beautiful blog
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