St Michael's Uniting Church in Australia - Have Your Say

Have Your Say

Euthanasia - Release from Despair or Theft of Life?

• Mr. Craig Parker
  30th November, 2011
  10:59am

  Re how I would like to die, ie. if at an old age rreached and if I haven't as yet contracted any life threatening disease(s) then I would like to have the right to die peacefully, without any fuss or fanfare !! whatsoever !!!
  
  I am a kinda quiet sort of guy who doesn't like a fuss ever being made about him. Low key is the "key" I feel.
  
  But in relation to terminally ill people suffering this is an extremely contencious issue, in that Doctor assisted death is going against all that Doctors are traiined and qualified to do ie. to promote life in any shape or form and under all circumstances !! and all cost(s) as well.
  
  I have really nothing further to add to this rather difficult subject. My apologies.
  
  Yours sincerely,
  
  Craig Parker.
  

• Vath S
  8th July, 2011
  10:34pm

  I am a christian and a doctor. I do understand the concerns about the end of life prospects for most people. And I absolutely understand that choices and dignity are important. That is why informed consent, end of life directives and "living wills" are important.
  
  As a doctor, if it became law that I should provide the action to end a life as a deed unto it self, I would promptly and resolutely resign and find a new profession.
  
  I do not think that because there are lots of people"languishing" in nursing homes waiting for the release of death, or people genuinely horrified about the prospective loss of dignity at the end of life, it necessarily follows that we should start getting rid of them. People who talk of lack of dignity, do not understand what the doctor's role is. Indeed, giving birth is not dignified but it is a process that usually ends with a new life.
  
  The choice to end medical treatment, fluid or any other intervention that would artificially prolong life has always been available. But it depends on the patient's own wishes, the family and the doctor's recommended medical advice.
  
  In the palliative care situation, routinely, at the end of life, there is great care to ensure the patient's symptoms are kept to a minimum. Opiates and sedatives are readily available and if necessary, increased by the patient themselves or with the consensus of the observing medical staff and the family involved. It is common that the end of life comes very soon, especially when the analgesia is titrated to the pain. It is logical to understand that just as the pain becomes unbearable, the patient's will to eat and drink and live life with pain becomes impossible too. Death can, and does come soon after this point.
  
  If you really want to address a problem that impacts greatly on the end of life issues in hospital, I suggest that it should be mandatory that people make an "End of life directive" on their person, so that if they do present to hospital with a peri-arrest medical emergency, they are not resuscitated.
  
  I personally, value my life and would forgo the indignity of being unwell, if it meant that I could live longer. It is not pleasant being a patient and relying on others or even being at the mercy of others. But, it is actually not just the patient that endures this. It is also the staff, close family and the therapeutic relationship that is at stake. They are all involved and usually quite touched and even enriched by the process.
  
  There are things to learn even in death.
  
  I did not become a doctor to end life. That is not my job. But, I acknowledge that death can be an outcome of a treatment to ease suffering or an outcome of withdrawal of an active treatment to unnecessarily prolong life. There is a difference.

• Bill Alcock
  11th May, 2011
  10:24am

  Please to hear from Ian Wood about your support for Voluntary euthanasia
  
  I find it very difficult to believe that anyone with an ounce of compassion can deny those who have lost quality of life be it degeneration or terminal illness the right to make a choice for a dignified and peaceful death provided this has been documented in an advance care directive whilst of sound mind.
  
  When the end is nigh, it is best to avoid hospital; the health system is geared to actively treating patients, not to recognize the dying.
  
  I would like to have a tattoo on my chest If I should lose quality of life please let me die with dignity"
  
  There are thousands of patients in hospitals and nursing homes with no quality of life lingering on indefinitely awaiting the blessing of death to release them from their despair/
  
  If ever I am unfortunate enough to be placed in the same situation I hope there is a sympathetic doctor around to end my life in a dignified and peaceful manner.
  
  If I could afford the trip I would travel to Mexico to get some Nembutal just in case of need, this would give me great peace on mind.
  
  In light of the governments unsympathetic attitude to end of life care I have no option but to direct in my advance care directive that if I should lose quality of life I do not want any medical treatment that will prolong my life and I do not want any sustenance or fluid; although it will take several days for me to die it is far better than the alternative.
  
  I am an 85 year old world war 2 veteran and it would give me great peace of mind if I could get medical assistance to die in a dignified manner if I should lose quality of life. It is my firm opinion that enforced prolonged confinement when quality of life is lost is a fate worse than death. It is inhumane to leave those who have lost quality of life whether it be a terminal illness or deterioration confined in a nursing home suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's, and/or incontinence.
  
  Times have changed in my grandparents day there were no nursing homes, my parents cared for them at home, the family doctor came every other week to check on them, provide prescriptions and when they lost quality of life he asked for a family conference and was given permission to ease them out with analgesics, this was just compassion there was no mention of euthanasia.
  
  My strong belief in the right of everyone to make a choice for euthanasia should they lose quality of life has been influenced by two family occurrences.
  
  The first a heavy smoker with cancer of the throat who deteriorated quickly, I could hear him gasping for breath when I entered the hospital entrance, he could not talk, did not recognize anyone and was being fed intravenously, fortunately I was able to persuade a sympathetic doctor to ease him out in a dignified manner.
  
  The second a mate who served with me in the second world war and he always expressed the wish not to be confined to a nursing home, his doctor put his arm around him in my presence and said to him "Don`t you worry Tom when the time comes I will ease you out". This gave Tom great peace of mind , however Tom was moved into a nursing home and was given medication to stop him wandering at night and crying out disturbing the patients. He deteriorated very quickly became incontinent bowels and bladder was bedridden, unable to communicate and did not recognize anyone. When I approached his doctor for help he said "sorry I cannot do anything for him now as all medication in a nursing home has to be recorded". Tom was allowed to lie in his bed in this state for 15 months, an extremely cruel fate for someone who had served his country with distinction.
  
  As Nembutal is unavailable I would strongly recommend that everyone prepare an advance care directive and appoint an enduring guardian so that he/she has the authority to liaise with the doctor in the preparation of an health care management plan when quality of life is lost. The health care management plan should specify that there be no intervention or treatment aimed at prolonging life, and that any distressing symptoms caused by lack of food or fluid are fully controlled by appropriate analgesic or other treatment, even though this may shorten life. For those wishing to avoid confinement in a nursing home and distress to loved ones I would strongly recommend that this action be taken whilst of sound mind.
  
  In conclusion let me make it clear that it is not my intention to impose my views on anyone, however I consider euthanasia should be an option for those who have documented their wish in an advance care directive.
  
  
  Bill Alcock
  10/5/11
  

• Adam Jones
  13th November, 2009
  1:49pm

  It is possible to be faced by death at any age. I faced it at 14 when I had a cancerous brain tumour. I overcame my illness. However, when I was at my worst I lost all sense of who and where I was and control of my body. I could not eat or drink. My strong desire for life kept me going but if I had lost it and my life depended only on machines I should have been able to die.
  
  The question of whether there should or should not be a right to die with dignity seems to be focussed on the elderly. Everyone who is capable of understanding what it means to die rather than live through a machine should be able to make a choice whether you are 14 or 94. This is another aspect of the debate that needs to be considered.

• S
  8th November, 2009
  7:55am

  Since when did dying in a state of unbelief and cowardice carry dignity with it?

• Ian Wood
  27th June, 2009
  12:19pm

  I am sure many of us would feel great sympathy and agreement for the thoughts expressed by Bill Alcock.
  
  Here in South Australia, we have recently formed a group, Christians Supporting Choice for Voluntary Euthanasia, with the aim of showing our MPs there are thinking Christians included in the 4 out of 5 people in Australia who support having the choice of having an assisted death, when faced with a hopeless or terminal illness and pain that cannot be relieved. (Newspoll 2007). We seek to counter the vocal Christian minority who oppose what we perceive as compassionate and caring legislation. Currently before our Parliament is a Bill to have voluntary euthanasia included as an option in our Palliative Care Act, to cover cases when good palliative care is not effective. Strong safeguards against abuse are included. Strangely many MPs seem afraid to debate this important social issue.
  
  Reports after ten years experience with Physician assisted Dying in Oregon, USA show a system that is legal, and assists the dying, with no evidence of abuse, and the best palliative care available in USA – surely a win for everybody.
  
  We would welcome indications of support for our new approach.
  
  Ian Wood
  Co-ordinator: Christians Supporting Choice for VE
  Port Pirie SA
  Website: http://www.saves.asn.au/resources/archive/Christians/index.php
  

• Bill Alcock
  1st May, 2009
  12:49pm

  End of Life Care
  
  My Life, My Death, My Choice
  
  I refer to Dr Francis MacNab`s media release "Minister supports dying with dignity"
  
  I am a 83 year old world war 2 veteran and it would give me great peace of mind if I could get medical assistance to die in a dignified manner if I should lose quality of life. It is my firm opinion that enforced prolonged life when quality of life is lost is a fate worse than death, I fear degeneration far more than I fear death. It is inhumane to leave those who have lost quality of life, whether it be a terminal illness or deterioration that leaves them confined to a nursing home suffering from dementia, incontinence, and/or Alzheimer's
  
  Times have changed in my grandparents day there were no nursing homes my parents cared for them at home, the family doctor came each week to check on them and when they lost quality of life, he asked for a family conference and was given permission to ease them out in a dignified manner with analgesics
  
  I would strongly recommend that everyone prepare an Advance Directive and appoint an Enduring Guardian, so that he/she has the authority to liaise with the doctor in the preparation of a health care management plan when quality of life is lost. The health care management plan should provide that you not be subjected to any medical intervention or treatment aimed at prolonging life, and that any distressing symptoms (including any caused by lack of food or fluid) are fully controlled by appropriate analgesic or other treatment, even though this may shorten life. For those wishing to avoid prolonged confinement in a nursing home and distress to loved ones, I would strongly recommend that they take this action whilst they are still of sound mind.
  
  My strong belief in the right of everyone to make a choice for euthanasia should they lose "quality of Life" has been influenced by two family occurrences;
  
  The first a heavy smoker with cancer of the throat, deteriorated quickly, I could hear him gasping for breath as I entered the main hospital entrance, he could not talk, did not recognize anyone and was being fed intravenously, fortunately I was able to persuade a sympathetic doctor to ease him out in a dignified manner
  
  The second a mate who served with me in the second world war had always expressed the wish not to be confined to a nursing home, his doctor put his arm around him one day in my company and said to him "Don`t you worry Tom when the time comes I will ease you out" This gave Tom great peace of mind. However the time came when Tom had to go into a nursing home and he was given medication to control him from wandering at night and crying out disturbing other patients, he deteriorated very quickly became incontinent bowels and bladder, was bedridden was unable to communicate and did not recognize anyone. When I approached his doctor for help, he said sorry I cannot do anything for him now as all medication in a nursing home has to be recorded. Tom was allowed to lie in his bed in this state for 15 months, surely you must agree with me that this was an extremely cruel fate to impose upon someone who had served his country with distinction?
  
  Personally I cannot see any point in palliative care for those who have lost quality of life, it only prolongs the agony for the patient and the family, it is in effect slow euthanasia. I wish the right to life campaigners would visit nursing homes and see all those confined to their beds many not aware of anybody or any activity around them, it is cruel you would not wish this on your pet animal.
  
  In conclusion let me make it clear that it is not my intention to impose my views on anyone , however I consider that euthanasia should be an option for those who have documented their wishes in an Advance Directive
  
  Yours Sincerely
  
  Bill Alcock
  

• Government and Churches Should Honour the Wishes of Terminally Ill who Wish to Die.
  1st May, 2009
  12:39pm

  The majority of Australians believe in dying with dignity. In fact 80 % agree that those with a terminal illness should have a right to obtain medical assistance to end their life free of suffering and agony.
  
  St Michael's Executive Minister Dr Francis Macnab believes it is compassionate to let those who suffer to choose to free themselves of pain
  
  He and other high profile speakers joined supporters of Dying With Dignity Victoria on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne for the annual Steve Guest Day rally on Tuesday 21 April.
  
  DWDV, is an active law reform ‘self help' organisation that fights for a progressive Victoria where people with terminal illness have the right to choose - to die with dignity.
  
  
  
  If you are one of the many Australians who believe dying with dignity is vital and would like people to have the right to choice or would like to know more, please visit: http://dwdv.org.au
  
  

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