Should Terminally Ill patients have the right to hasten their death?

I do agree. It is a slippery slope.

Last Edited by Do you see what I see on 10/15/2013 12:27 PM

Please allow me the opportunity to clarify the role of hospice in the dying process. When a person is nearing death, the normal physical functions of the body begin to slow. As a natural course, it becomes difficult to digest food and manage fluid intake. A person naturally begins to have less appetite and less thirst. The muscles of the digestive tract don't work well and it becomes difficult to swallow. The organ systems -kidneys, heart, lungs etc. Begin to shut dowm. Providing fluids by IV puts more fluid in a person's body systems than it can handle and can result in edema ( swelling) and difficulty breathing and suffering. Small amounts of IV fluids may be helpful to relieve some symptoms such as thirst, but are rarely needed. It is the role of hospice to explain these natural processes of dying so that you do not worry that your loved one is starving to death. In many ways dehydration is merciful and natural. Dehydration releases chemicals in the brain that result in decreasing pain and the level of consiousness. This is simply the way people from many chronic and terminal illnesses die. It is not bad or good, it just is.

Administering morphine or other opioids are meant to help a dying person rest more comfortably. It can be very uncomfortable to lay in bed for any extended period and be too weak to change position. Certainly if pain is present, you would want to treat it I'm sure. Morphine is completely safe when administered in small regular doses and then increased carefully if needed. Morphine is very similar to the body's own naturally produced endorphins. It relieves anxiety and pain, increases perfusion to small arteries so makes it easier for the heart and lungs to send oxygen to the body and elevates mood. Given in small or carefully titrated doses it does not hasten death. Expected side effects in the first days of regular administration are sedation, confusion and nausea and vomiting, these resolve typically within 72 hours. Constipation does not resolve by thhe way. These side effects are all treatable if needed and can be managed.

Hospice care should prepare a family for death. They should explain these things and more. They should be sure the patient and family are prepared emotionally for death. If there is a failure in hospice care, it is more likely related to the careless inattention to their real job. What does a good death look like to you? Talk abou this now, not at the hour of death.

I cared for both of my parents' at the end of their lives. Both wanted to die at home, surrounded by loved ones, rather than in a clinical/hospital setting. Yes, I would allow hospice care for myself when the time comes.

As I have stated many times here, I truly feel that the euthanasia centers they had in the old movie "Soylent Green" should be made available to everyone, whether ill or not. Death is a choice and it should be an individual one, not one controlled by government or groups of people. These centers should be free to anyone over the age of 21. They should be given meds that will simply cause them to fall into a deep sleep, then a coma and then stop their hearts. A humane way to go. We put our animals down when they are in great pain. Why can't we have the same compassion for our brothers and sisters?

Be the same as suicide. You are to die when the body stops on its own

Can you show me the verse in The Bible that states this? If you can then you are right and I am wrong. However, if it is not in the Bible, than it is a matter of personal choice. Thank you.

Am bumping this as I really want to know if there is anything in the Bible that speaks against this.

Thank you, I'd like to have as many opinions as possible. That is also a great thought, What does the bible say about it, if anything?

Think you might want to edtit your title/thesis, terminally ill people are GOING to die, that has nothing to do with rights. Maybe your thesis question is better stated as "Do patients who are suffering from a terminal illness have the right to hasten their death?"

Good point. Wording makes a big difference. Can you tell me quickly how to edit the title?

Never mind figured it out. Thanks again. :D

Last Edited by Do you see what I see on 10/15/2013 01:08 PM

Posited: terminally ill patients have end of life rights.

Going to keep this board bumped until I get an answer

Yes they absolutely do, under CMS regulations. Just saying, terminally ill implies that one is going to die from a terminal disease. You do not need a "right" to die. You will die, with or without rights. You have a right in this country to die with dignity, without suffering, the thical right to be told the truth etc. I think the point of OP's query had to do with the rights to hasten their death and thus avoid pointless suffering.

It's basically about the patient belief...

For example, I believe in God and I believe he allowed me to incarnate to fulfill some purpose.

Thus, I'd going to live regardless of suffering or the condition I find myself, until God ends it.

The suffering wouldn't be pointless. An ordeal to me and/or to my relatives... a great opportunity to learn and burn the karma.

The Euthanasia would be the easy way out... just to have you returned once again to a worse condition in the next incarnation.

God can terminate the incarnation of any being, at any time, if it finds the incarnation purpose is fulfilled.

Thank you all again for contributing to this thread. Your opinions are all valid ones, and I greatly appreciate the time you took to post on it. I may bump this post again later for further opinion.

My grandmother is entering end stage Alzheimer's. It's not the absentmindness you see on tv...

It's an 81 yo woman, who craps herself because she doesn't remember that she has the ability to go to the bathroom.

Who can't walk because she can't remember how,

Who doesn't know who she is, who her family is, and who gets angry at the sun for being so bright.

So in my mind, she passed a long time ago, she is now just a bundle of flesh and neurons, trying to make a connection to the world around her. Honestly, my dog has more intelligence than she does.

But all that having been said... the tie for her to make the decision to end her life in an intelligent and informed way has long since passed.

Before she lost her intellect, she did sign a DNR and wrote a will.

But as I told my mother... we MUST keep her well until she passes, it is the right thing to do.

Honey, if she signed a DNR order than she would not agree with you. Why make her suffer? How do you know that deep inside she is not aware of everything happening to her but no longer has the ability to communicate? Can you imagine the horror of her existence if this was what was happening. We treat our animals with more compassion than we do each other .

They are of their own free will to do as they please.

I would never help though.

Its in the commandments: thou shall not kill.

Ok, that is a valid point. Will have to think and pray about that one. But does that refer to killing others? Animals? or does it apply to ourselves too?

To help with your research paper may I suggest some research of an organization "Dignitas" they are based in Switzerland. There are youtube videos as well for your pleasure.

Thank you for the tip, I will definitely check it out! :D

Do you know the author Terry Prattchet?
He asked himself the same question since he was diagnosed with alzheimers. The result is this documentary. Worth a watch.

[link to www.youtube.com]

Wow. This was a powerful documentary. So full of emotion, but also gave me a great understanding of what happens in those final moments. Thank you for sharing.

Yep.

Dr K have 1000s of requests and only helped 130.

Agreed!!!!

Only if you are a democrat

I have been hospice trained (volunteer) and part of a team and have never heard of people being starved. No medications for anything whatsoever though. Hospice clients agree and sign documentation when hiring. But rules may be different in different states.

I had a problem once with not being able to apply topical antibiotic ointment on a painful skin infection causing pure misery. I mean that isn't what was killing or going to kill the person (cancer) so yeah once in a while I have broken rules.

And OP I wanted to mention that I was in a meeting once and another volunteer brought up a client who wanted him to purchase a gun, so he could end his life this way. Well the volunteer was advised not to buy the gun, of course, but then we were all informed that the easiest way for a client wanting to end life sooner, was turning on the car in the garage. Suggesting this is what we tell people.

I don't know it was a pretty creepy conversation and would never advise someone to do that. UGH. It didn't feel right when we are supposed to be all about providing COMFORT. Just imagine saying, well have you considered the garage method? Holy crap.

you should have the right to off yourself painlessly even if you're not terminally ill

the reason it's frowned upon is cos it's a yearly tax payment being buried 6 feet under

it's the same reason they clamp down on the seatbelt thing

jm(bonkers)o

I just realized by starvation the poster meant by means of IVs and tubes. Right. All I could think of was me bringing favorite foods to people all the time - chocolate and shrimp seem to be favorites.