mikewot

There is, my parents have written living wills, effectively they state that if they're on life support we pull the plug. By which I mean that we, the children, when asked by the medical staff, tell them to pull the plug.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matter.../living-wills/

mikewot

I suspect it's the caveats which make it extremely difficult. How do you make sure there is no abuse. Son & daughters a bit short of money decide it would be a good idea to 'let' old mum & dad die so they can inherit. The list goes on.

shiva

Video lawyer doctor

Evidence and the two professionals in dependant so no family tie

Jim Smith

Thanks.

scrubbedexpat141

All I hope is nobody here ever has to deal with such a tragic situation.

Must be extremely difficult for the individual and those around have to make that call.

kittycat1

Yes it absolutely should be legal. Until you are in the situation you have no idea how you'll feel whether its you or a loved one. All these prolife groups- it's such a personal choice, everyone is different and everyone should be entitled to end their life if they choose to without their family facing legal action.

As we all live longer draining the states resources i wonder if they would legalise it.

Tockalosh

I have often wondered the following

if you are diagnosed with one of those hideous diseases that will leave you alive but in a useless body; when do you decide its time to go of your own accord. By that I mean that said guy asks his wife/family for assistance to help him go because he is now too ****ed to do it himself.
Wasn't there a point when said person thought, ah bollox the old arms are starting to go so I best pop the pills myself whilst I still can ?
I know you probably say just one day and then I'll do it myself but of course one day you cant pop the pills anymore

Hideous as I guess you will always want just more day

MataHari

Euthanasia is legal in Holland and Belgium. It's not a taboo at all, and doctors are free to refuse to assist cause of religious or moral reasons, quite a few people I know have changed their GP because of this. There are rules and regulations in place.
I think it's good to have a choice when it comes to things like this.

miuser2

If we're thinking about the same documentary, to me by far the saddest thing was that these more or less able-bodied individuals were forced into killing themselves before they needed to (i.e. before they became incapable of traveling to Switzerland). A truly compassionate society would have allowed them the dignity of being killed (for that is what is happening) at home in their own beds when they were really ready to go rather than when they thought they had no choice.

Meow

The UK, and many other countries, could from these examples.

mikewot

Some interesting comments on the BBC site http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23520391

scot47

Rights imply duties. If you have a right to die, someone must have the duty to kill you.

Meow

Not necessarily.

Patsy Stoned

no duty...just a choice. If somebody is really serious about "right to die" then they know that there is a short window of opportunity between..having a quality of life and being able to end that life.
I have plans in place for various scenarios.... If I have an accident and am on life support ..my family/friends know to pull the plug...no ifs no buts just pull it. I do not want to survive to be in a vegetative state.

I know that I do not want to become a burden to anybody...I don't believe that you should burden your children to care for you through your old age... I don't have children... but I have plans so that when I feel that I can no longer look after myself then I will pull the plug. I am not being melodramatic, my friends know exactly what I mean... for me it is about Quality rather than Quantity.

rowell

Ditto