It's A Lot Closer Than Switzerland. So Do You Think It's A Good Idea?

[youngmafbog]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5525059/Suicide-clinics-legal-Guernsey.html

[Old_Geezer]

Sure. Would be a good idea in the UK mainland too. Proper checks included of course.

[Quoi]

I am for assisted suicide to be legal anywhere and available to anyone provided there are adequate safeguards for the vulnerable.

[jackthehat]

Yes.
There *must* be a robust framework in place to ensure that such a place is properly regulated and that all decisions made to use the clinic have been properly informed and have been made without outside pressure and interference.

[ToraToraTora]

No, I don't like the whole premise of death to order. The cases we hear about from time to time are no doubt valid, what worries me is where this sort of thing leads. Before long you'll have unscrupulous kids marching granny up to Death R US to nick the house. Right to die is one thing, I am concerned that it will quickly become obligation to die.

[MallyJ]

Jolly good....but, as said before, ensuring all checks etc are in place to protect the vulnerable.

[youngmafbog]

So a very reasonable thought there TTT.

My take on it is that I wold like to see 2 independent doctors and it be approved by a Court.

I think that wold go well along the way to alleviating your concerns?

[naomi24]

Yes. We don't allow animals to suffer and yet our wonky 'moral compass' forces human beings to suffer unnecessarily.

[Quoi]

..and available via the NHS to make it an option for anyone.

[horselady]

My thoughts exactly naomi24.

[nailit]

//No, I don't like the whole premise of death to order//
My father died a horrible painful death, pleading with my sister to smother him with a pillow to end his life. But the medical profession had to keep him alive whatever the suffering he was enduring, WHY?
a ''death to order'' would have been the most humane and compassionate thing to do.

[kvalidir]

Yes I'm all for assisted dying but TTT has a point and it's not just family you have to watch out for. My Grandfather is very ill and has been for the last 10 years or so, he is asked repeatedly, and I mean every time anyone medical sees him which is several times per week, why he wants to be resusitated and would he like to have a DNR. He wouldn't like to have a DNR, it's been discussed ad nauseum and some of the hospital at home nurses in particular get almost aggressive about it to the point where I had to have a word with one and tell her she was being completely bullying and inappropriate. It's his choice, in hospital that might be taken away form him by clinicians but in 'the field' an ambulance crew called would attempt resus which is what he wants. I am wary after his experience with them, but on the whole in favour of assisted suicide with stringent checks in place.

[Sqad]

naomi.......the problem with your analogy is that many animals are "put down" on a daily basis, who are perfectly healthy and i am sure that you wouldn't want to see this replicated in humans (or perhaps you would ;-))

Yes, I agree providing that the "victim" gives permission and if that is not possible for any reason then 2 independent doctors and a non medical person, should unanimously make the decision.

This situation would not be a common feature as i am sure that most GP's probably wouldn't be faced with this more than once in their professional life.

[horselady]

Yes nailit, my dad had a horrible death too. Long time ago now, I was 14 and mum had gone shopping and I sat with him as he cried and said he wanted to die, I had no clue what to do or say at that age. I'm in my 60's now but that memory alone is enough for me to agree with a way to peacefully end life.

[naomi24]

sqad, //naomi.......the problem with your analogy is that many animals are "put down" on a daily basis, who are perfectly healthy//

I made no analogy to healthy animals being put down – or indeed to healthy human beings…. although…. ;o)

[Sqad]

naomi

"We don't allow animals to suffer and yet our wonky 'moral "......I agree, but in that statement I implied that healthy animals are also eliminated and i think that we would both object to that........on the whole ;-)

[naomi24]

sqad, yes indeed - but then healthy animals aren't suffering - which is why I didn't mention them.

[emmie]

i am against this 100 percent, think of Stephen Hawking and wonder had this been in place back then would he have taken a way out, i think most definitely not.
I can't abide the idea that it would possibly be the slippery slope to get rid of elderly relatives if they become housebound, or too sick to be looked after by relatives, they may feel obliged to do the so called decent thing. A bad idea all round.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Assisted suicide or euthanasia is an abhorrent concept. Palliative care is now such that there is less and less argument for taking your own or anothers life. It appears to be a slippery slope and one that could put those with mental health issues at mortal risk. 'Proper checks' and 'adequate safeguards' etc are not infallible, and the sort of language used to justify the death penalty, as we discussed about Ruth Ellis recently. No, the promotion and implementation of assisted death is wrong.

[emmie]

Hazi
totally 100 percent agree, as we have both said its a slippery slope and one we shouldn't be taking.

[jno]

Is the “distance” to Switzerland really an issue for anyone?

The cost of Dignitas might be - but I’m not sure I’d like to see “cheap death” clinics opening up anywhere.

I’m okay with the present setup: if you help a loved one to die you’ll probably have to defend your actions in court and you’ll almost certainly get off. A cumbersome procedure that seems to produce the right results.