The Euthanasia Poll

[PapaC]

Originally Posted by Words

I, however, would not be a part of their bringing their life to an end because I do believe that ultimately only God has the 'right' to end a life. And yes, this would apply even if I/a loved one was in agony. And yes, I have - for personal reasons - thought about this matter a great deal.

Does this mean, that if a loved one has a DNR in place (which, I've personally observed to mean many many different things), and a doctor comes to you to make a decision based on said DNR, you wouldn't be able to make an 'end' decision because God has the 'right' to end a life? How does God play out in the 'right' to extend/prolong life... as is the case of people who are alive by artificial means (ie: coma, feeding tube, other advanced life support measures?)

Incidentally, I hope I'm clear but I'll be crystal here, I'm not using the word "artificial" with any moral value added judgement at all. I have mad respect for the medical field and some advances. I've been in an ICU and as a family member participated (actively or passively) in decisions that involved an end of life decision. It's very difficult. I wouldn't wish this sort of thing on anyone.

It is hard for me to talk about this issue with the concept of God mixed in the middle (and that's ok, I'm not saying it's not worth the discussion)... of this. Because on one hand, there's the issue of people going (per God's will) or let's say 'natural causes', but if someone stays alive because of medical interventions how does one deem 'life'? I suppose I think about cases similar to Terry Schiavo.

looking forward to what you have to say.

-Chris

[christie]

I have long believed we are more humane to our pets than we are to humans.

I remember watching my grandfather suffer, in pain and fear, for three months before he died. I was twelve years old, but I remember asking my father, "Why can't they just put him to sleep like we did Lady (an elderly dog we had to have put down during this time)?" His response was, "We just don't do that, punkin." I remember thinking that it didn't make sense to me that we didn't want Lady to suffer, but GrandDaddy had to.

Jess and I both have advance directives in place. I don't want Jess or my family to have to make an end of life decision nor do I want them to watch needless suffering.

Its been difficult for me to balance my deep-seated religious upbringing with God being the one to end life with what seems more logical and reasonable. In as much as I would like to believe in miracles, I don't want a needless, painful, fearful end just in case that miracle isn't on the list for me.

I would like to see euthanasia as a legal option rather than just a DNR. I think that a DNR is just not sufficient in that you are waiting for something to happen such as cardiac arrest. What if it doesn't?

I have often said that if I were diagnosed as terminal, I would have to consider terminating my own life. It would be on my terms - my choice since there isn't a medical euthanasia option.

I also think this is a very personal decision and that I don't have the right to judge/decide what is best for someone else.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by christie0918

I have long believed we are more humane to our pets than we are to humans.

Exactly. I made the decision to end my dog's life so that he didn't have to suffer, yet I would have to suffer because of stupid laws and the ridiculous medical requirement that doctors have to spend bazillions of dollars to keep a person alive in an ICU for as long as possible and religious beliefs that I don't even subscribe to? Fuck that shit.

[Rockinonahigh]

This strike a hard cord in me...When mom had her last stroke I was faced with this choice weather to leave her bed ridden in a highly vegetated state...as in zero brain waves of any kind,no eye reaction or response at all.Just machines keeping her breathig.For several days the docs and I did everthing possable to help her get pass this,but nothing worked.Mom and I had talked about what to do if and when this may happen to either of us and what to do.This was the hardest thing for me to do to make the choice she ask me to make.AFter talking to more doctors than u can emagine I made he call to let her go as she wished.I know I did the right thing but it nearly put me into a breakdown wich I wonder if ive ever gotten over the pain and loss of haveing to do what I did.She passed at 3am and for years I woke up at 3am..wide awake expecting to hear beeps of the machines and hearing nothing.Im ok, my son is ok but its something thats very hard to do.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

This strike a hard cord in me...When mom had her last stroke I was faced with this choice weather to leave her bed ridden in a highly vegetated state...as in zero brain waves of any kind,no eye reaction or response at all.Just machines keeping her breathig.For several days the docs and I did everthing possable to help her get pass this,but nothing worked.Mom and I had talked about what to do if and when this may happen to either of us and what to do.This was the hardest thing for me to do to make the choice she ask me to make.AFter talking to more doctors than u can emagine I made he call to let her go as she wished.I know I did the right thing but it nearly put me into a breakdown wich I wonder if ive ever gotten over the pain and loss of haveing to do what I did.She passed at 3am and for years I woke up at 3am..wide awake expecting to hear beeps of the machines and hearing nothing.Im ok, my son is ok but its something thats very hard to do.

I was in the exact same place with my Mom, post a second heart valve replacement surgery with a stroke complication. 12 years later, I still go over it in my mind and it broke me, too. And she was a woman that was very direct with her wishes, did not fear death and never was one to guilt-trip her children. An independent, kick-ass 81 year old that always had her say. She would not have wanted to be bed-ridden (her ride was a 4WD sports model that she could still drive to Reno to gamble with a car full of her crones!) and without the sharp mind she had right up until this happened. Yet, I struggled.

The problem was even with a DNR, she was not on a respirator, but given IV nourishment and fluids as well as medicines that literally kept her damaged heart beating. My decision was about taking nourishment (starving) from the woman that gave me life. Not pulling a plug knowing her heart would stop immediately. Also, there had been countless battles with docs during the 5 weeks she was hospitalized.

All I could do was just think of her words in life about how the quality was what was important to her. Still, this was my wild and crazy 103 pound tell it like it is Mom that had deepest maternal sensibility I have ever known. Then I realized, I was still struggling with my fear of life without her. That unknown, yet life's passage we do have to face. My Dad had already died and I had lost a sister and my brother within a couple years of her death. I watched my Mom lose 2 of her children and my Dad. She did it with remarkable strength and selflessness. Her worst fears come true as a parent. I know this did knock some of her piss and vinegar out afterwards, but, I think she knew she had to make sure she booted my butt enough to survive after the loss of my siblings. I had a child to raise.

Thankfully, she dies within a short time after the meds and IV nourishment was withheld. I just crawled in bed with her, held her, and felt a sharp tug/pain near my navel when her heart stropped.

I don't care how direct we are about these things, there are emotional elements we never see coming and it hurts. DNR's etc. do help immensely, yet, there is questioning, wondering about what this is going to feel like later. All the preparation in the world doesn't mean a thing at certain moments. It does, however, help afterwards. It does lighten the burden of being in this position later.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

This strike a hard cord in me...When mom had her last stroke I was faced with this choice weather to leave her bed ridden in a highly vegetated state...as in zero brain waves of any kind,no eye reaction or response at all.Just machines keeping her breathig.For several days the docs and I did everthing possable to help her get pass this,but nothing worked.Mom and I had talked about what to do if and when this may happen to either of us and what to do.This was the hardest thing for me to do to make the choice she ask me to make.AFter talking to more doctors than u can emagine I made he call to let her go as she wished.I know I did the right thing but it nearly put me into a breakdown wich I wonder if ive ever gotten over the pain and loss of haveing to do what I did.She passed at 3am and for years I woke up at 3am..wide awake expecting to hear beeps of the machines and hearing nothing.Im ok, my son is ok but its something thats very hard to do.

I was in the exact same place with my Mom, post a second heart valve replacement surgery with a stroke complication. 12 years later, I still go over it in my mind and it broke me, too. And she was a woman that was very direct with her wishes, did not fear death and never was one to guilt-trip her children. An independent, kick-ass 81 year old that always had her say. She would not have wanted to be bed-ridden (her ride was a 4WD sports model that she could still drive to Reno to gamble with a car full of her crones!) and without the sharp mind she had right up until this happened. Yet, I struggled.

The problem was even with a DNR, she was not on a respirator, but given IV nourishment and fluids as well as medicines that literally kept her damaged heart beating. My decision was about taking nourishment (starving) from the woman that gave me life. Not pulling a plug knowing her heart would stop immediately. Also, there had been countless battles with docs during the 5 weeks she was hospitalized.

All I could do was just think of her words in life about how the quality was what was important to her. Still, this was my wild and crazy 103 pound tell it like it is Mom that had deepest maternal sensibility I have ever known. Then I realized, I was still struggling with my fear of life without her. That unknown, yet life's passage we do have to face. My Dad had already died and I had lost a sister and my brother within a couple years of her death. I watched my Mom lose 2 of her children and my Dad. She did it with remarkable strength, grace and selflessness. Her worst fears come true as a parent. And she did lose the love of her life, my Dad and Mom indeed had it goin' on for 47 years. I know this did knock some of her piss and vinegar out afterwards, but, I think she knew she had to make sure she booted my butt enough to survive after the loss of my siblings. Her role as mother, as strong as ever, she had her youngest (me) to prepare for what life simply brings us. I had a child to raise I had recently took charge of due to my brother's death. She still had work to do!

Thankfully, she died within a short time after the meds and IV nourishment was withheld. I just crawled in bed with her, held her, and felt a sharp tug/pain near my navel when her heart stopped. Yes, this really happened and I did crack a window for her soul to leave. Molecules travel in mysterious ways as far as I'm concerned.

I don't care how direct we are about these things, there are emotional elements we never see coming and it hurts. DNR's etc. do help immensely, yet, there is questioning, wondering about what this is going to feel like later and if I am crossing into a decision tree that just is not mine to be in. All the preparation in the world doesn't mean a thing at certain moments. It does, however, help afterwards. It does lighten the burden of being in this position later.

[Rockinonahigh]

Your mom was a lot like mine,mom retired and went back to work cause retirement was for lazy ppl,her words not mine,she also went to the casino and gambled till dawn without batteing an eye while im fighting to stay awake at the next slot machine.I hope they have slots in the hear after cause both would injoy playing the time away.Moms ride wa a capri clasic,red with black roof..it was outfited like a sorts car and she drove it like one,I always felt sorry fo rslow ppl on the road when she was out driveing..me I was siting in the passenger seat behind the news paper cause I couldnt /wouldnt look at how fast she went.

[Corkey]

My wife and I have power of attorney over each others last wishes and medical decisions should they be needed. We have had in depth communication with each other and our forms are on file with our doctor and with the hospital. We both have DNR for end of life, and for mental acuity. Neither one of us want to be a vegetable, nor go thru heroic means to stay alive in body but have no quality of life.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I am all for euthanasia. I have been with loved ones who were on life support and would have no quality of life if left on it. No, it was more humane to let the person go. Painful, hard, yes.

I think everyone should have a Will, and Power of Attorney made up and distributed to all the nec. parties. I know I sure have. I have a dnr in mine. No way do I want to live like a veggie. No way no how. It would be unfair of me to put that burden on my friends.

[Words]

Originally Posted by PapaC

Does this mean, that if a loved one has a DNR in place (which, I've personally observed to mean many many different things), and a doctor comes to you to make a decision based on said DNR, you wouldn't be able to make an 'end' decision because God has the 'right' to end a life? -Chris

Correct. I wouldn't be able to make an 'end' decision. As much as I might want to, I wouldn't be able to do it.