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How do you want to go?

3/18/2015

7 Comments

 
Nobody lives forever—that's a given. But how do you want to spend your final days?
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Yesterday, France passed legislation which granted doctors new powers to place terminally-ill patients in a deep sleep until they pass away.

Polls show eight out of 10 French people are in favor of allowing euthanasia and 96 per cent back the deep sleep law. Patients who are conscious but in unbearable pain will be targeted, as well as whose treatment is not working or who decide to stop taking medication.

The new law will also compel doctors to follow end-of-life instructions written in advance, if patients are no longer able to express their will or decide if they want to be kept alive.

I watched a repeat of Judge John Deed last night, which brought up the painful question of whether to allow a teenage boy his own preference of non-intervention. The subject caused pain to all those concerned in the trial, judge, prosecutor, and defense as well as the parents. However, we should be allowed to make our own decisions and take full responsibility.

Anti-euthanasia groups criticized the French legislation as masked euthanasia, but pro-euthanasia campaigners argue that it does not go far enough and would lead to terminally ill patients expiring because of hunger or thirst.

PictureThe Voyage of Life - Thomas Cole 1842
Five months before, the poignant suicides of two couples in their 80s rekindled the French national debate about euthanasia. One couple chose the romantic setting of a luxury hotel, Le Lutetia, to carry out their pact to end their days together. They first ordered room service. Later, staff found them lying hand-in-hand, with a typewritten note claiming the right to pass on with dignity. Source: The Telegraph. 

We need to release our desire to control the river journey from birth to passing over the waterfall. One follows another without fail. However, nobody wants to foresee future pain.

I remember reading a futuristic novel about old people going to their last holiday together. The accepted practice gave them a wonderful experience before they closed their eyes. Later, a factory churned out nutritious tablets which fed the population. But that's taking the concept a bit too far.

What are your views on this sensitive topic?


7 Comments
Diane link
3/17/2015 09:08:04 pm

A subject that could elicit such discussion! I'm not sure there exists a definitive answer to such a question. Thanks for the thought provoking article; I enjoyed reading. #ultrablog

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Alana link
3/17/2015 09:18:03 pm

This is timely as an inlaw's mother in law (elderly) fell Friday, hit her head, has a TBI and is in a medically induced coma after surgery, seizures, brain swelling, etc. Would I even want these measures? I truly don't know. I truly don't know.

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Carol Cassara link
3/17/2015 10:27:44 pm

Sucha personal decision. This stuff happens already and is just not talked about at all.

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Joan Harrington link
3/18/2015 02:14:57 am

Hi Francene,

Interesting post and informational :) But I do think that if people are terminally ill that they should have a say to how they die :)

Thanks for sharing :)

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bellybytes link
3/18/2015 05:42:57 pm

When people are lying like vegetables, dependent on life support for sustenance, I think it is cruel to cling on to them. I personally feel that our lives are not really in our hands but the minute we become incapable of living independently and have outlived our service and purpose we should be allowed to go unless of course we volunteer ourselves as guinea pigs for more scientific research to improve human lives.

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Inderpreet Kaur link
3/18/2015 08:56:42 pm

I agree that we should have a choice. Sometimes it is the right thing to do.
A bold step but needed to at times.

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Debbie D. link
3/19/2015 10:56:41 pm

I think everyone deserves the right to die with dignity, but instead of putting them into a deep sleep, why not end it quickly? Personally, I think euthanasia should be an option for the terminally ill, but the laws would have to be specific and without loop holes as there is much potential for abuse.

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    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

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