Assisted Dying, Yes or No?

[farfromtheland]

And now I'm going to link to the latest bulletin from Disability News Service -

dpac.uk.net/2025/07/disability-news-service-3rd-july-2

- and take another look at Starmer's Vision Quest at the risk of getting depressed.

 

[First Aspect]

Not relevant to this thread.

 

[classic33]

Not relevant to this thread.

Yes and No.

There's parts of that group wanting different things, some want the right to die with dignity. Others are saying the law change will be used against disabled people. To get them out of the way.

Either by the medical profession or family members. Some of those seeking the right to die with dignity are afraid that those left behind will be held accountable for their death.

 

[farfromtheland]

Yes and No.

There's parts of that group wanting different things, some want the right to die with dignity. Others are saying the law change will be used against disabled people. To get them out of the way.

Either by the medical profession or family members. Some of those seeking the right to die with dignity are afraid that those left behind will be held accountable for their death.

Yes, that pertinently expresses the dilemma.
There's a lot of evidence for both contingencies - but in the climate of condemning disabled people as economic liabilities I reckon the worse alternative is to put assisted dying under the state's aegis. Yes, there are risks for compassionate actions but painless death can be planned for by most people themselves in advance with minimal intervention.

 

[farfromtheland]

And in worst case scenarios the friends and relatives would get jury trials so a deal of trauma but unlikely to get jailed. Takes courage but we all need more of that.

 

[classic33]

Yes, that pertinently expresses the dilemma.
There's a lot of evidence for both contingencies - but in the climate of condemning disabled people as economic liabilities I reckon the worse alternative is to put assisted dying under the state's aegis. Yes, there are risks for compassionate actions but painless death can be planned for by most people themselves in advance with minimal intervention.

Explain to me, as a disabled person, why you feel prolonging my life for your gain is to my benefit.

The human body can be kept "alive" for a very long time with machines doing some of the tasks the body usually does. As one part of the body starts failing, a machine is brought in to take over. There is at present in the right circumstances, more to be made from keeping a person "alive" than allowing them the right to die with dignity.

 

[farfromtheland]

Explain to me, as a disabled person, why you feel prolonging my life for your gain is to my benefit.

The human body can be kept "alive" for a very long time with machines doing some of the tasks the body usually does. As one part of the body starts failing, a machine is brought in to take over. There is at present in the right circumstances, more to be made from keeping a person "alive" than allowing them the right to die with dignity.

My best mate and lover had life support stopped in an intolerable vestige of existence. I was there. We, his loved ones, knew what he wanted and the doctors concurred.

The choice should be yours - there are very few circumstances where life support would be maintained against someone's expressed wishes.

But it seems to me that the dangers of vulnerable people being pushed to an early death outweigh the risks of those with agency not being able to manage a pain-free suicide.

 

[classic33]

My best mate and lover had life support stopped in an intolerable vestige of existence. I was there. We, his loved ones, knew what he wanted and the doctors concurred.

The choice should be yours - there are very few circumstances where life support would be maintained against someone's expressed wishes.

But it seems to me that the dangers of vulnerable people being pushed to an early death outweigh the risks of those with agency not being able to manage a pain-free suicide.

So you made the choice for him?
How is that any different to what is planned.

 

[farfromtheland]

So you made the choice for him?
How is that any different to what is planned.

Not at all - he said many times in many places to loved ones and anyone and everyone that he didn't want to 'live' on without agency were such an injury to happen.

It's who shapes the decision, sets the process in train and in what political parameter that matters here.

 

[First Aspect]

The article I clicked on was about PIP and assisted dying was not mentioned. It wasn't relevant at all.

 

[classic33]

The article I clicked on was about PIP and assisted dying was not mentioned. It wasn't relevant at all.

The piece linked may not have been relevant, but one aim of some of those within the group is to stop the bill going through. Thereby denying disabled people the right to choose for themselves whether they should be kept "alive" or not. Some very dubious claims have been made by some, such as it'll be an easier way to bump off an elderly relative who is now just in the way. Costing money that you could be spending.

As has been alluded to a few times, anyone of sound mind, could quite easily build a readily available means of doing it themselves. Suicide however may prevent any insurance payout, and if you help, you can face prosecution under current laws

 

[Salty seadog]

I speak only for myself here, but owing to one lot of medication I'm on these last 48 years, painkillers are not a no go for me. Between that and allergic/adverse reactions there's a lot they daren't do. The testicular cancer being the last surgical procedure carried out, deemed as life threatening due to the possibility of spreading. That operation didn't pass without incident.

Last painkiller used was on the last Saturday-Sunday in January 2012. stopped the heart, almost as soon as it was used. Resulted in two people ending their shifts filling in forms, explaining their actions. It's partly why I've the DNR on record, the other being I know there's limits on what they can do, without making things worse. I want no-one being blamed for it, should the same happen again.

Snapped the ankle in November 2000, resulting in having it set straight with no pain relief. They didn't want to risk it going wrong.

I did try to put this in private but it seems you have that disabled.


Take care.

 

[classic33]

I did try to put this in private but it seems you have that disabled.


Take care.

Not a problem, settings have been changed somehow, but there was nothing in either your post or mine that hasn't been mentioned before.
And in the context of the thread, they show that not everything is clear cut in this debate.