My thoughts

I think one of the reasons why assisted Suicide isn't allowed in most countries is out of fear the elderly and disabled will be systematically murdered or denied healthcare. If you think about it , it has happened in the United States. In 2008  lung cancer sufferer Barbara Wagner was denied a cancer drug by her insurance company. She was offered the barbiturate to end her life as an alternative to the drug she needed. The pharmaceutical company learned about Barbara and provided the medication for her. Another Oregon resident, Randy Stroup, was denied because it was not a cure for his prostate cancer. It would of gave him a few more months. Both Randy and Barbara have since passed away. These aren't isolated cases, it happens quite often with HMOs. It happens every where not just here. 

I've read a lot of ALS/MND blogs and one thing I noticed in the UK is slow  to act to help improve the quality of life for those with MND. Therapists and Drs suggest a therapy or equipment by time the equipment is received the person has declined to the point the equipment is no longer necessary. If the person with MND has the funds they pay for it out of pocket instead of waiting for the national health insurance to pay for it.

Perhaps this is the Slippery Slope many people fear. That once it's allowed more services will be denied and make the health plans more cost efficient.

The internet can be a dangerous place

Remember 20 years ago when you received a diagnosis and the Dr would tell you a few things about it but if you wanted to know more you went to the library to research it yourself? The information was limited to the books available. After learning a few more things (the Dr didn't tell you about) you were satisfied that this diagnosis was correct or in some cases incorrect because certain diagnostic tests weren't done. Some conditions have similar symptoms but in order to properly diagnose it's a process of elimination, such as ALS.

These days when you receive a diagnosis, you simply ask Google if you are still unsure of things after the Dr's brief explanation of the diagnosis. Or if you start to feel sick you ask Google first or Web md. Often depending on the information available by the click of a mouse and not by an actual diagnostic test to determine diagnosis. This can be dangerous. In the case of ALS many of the symptoms can be associated with other illnesses.

Once you get the diagnosis you seek out blogs and forums to learn what to expect. Reading other people experiences with the diagnosis can be enlightening, educational and dangerous. What makes it dangerous? Some people search out the people who has been recently diagnosed to encourage the end. It happens.

Because some take each new day after the diagnosis with a grain of salt. While others don't take well to the changes or deteration, deciding to Write the final act of their life themselves.

Craig Ewert contacted Dignitas soon after his diagnosis. Did he seek out forums or just happen to hear about Dignitas in passing? Perhaps he learned about Dignitas from a newspaper article? The documentary never did say. Craig spent over 30 years as a Professor in computer science so he of all people knew how to search for things online. Most likely he read every article available about his illness.

Craig and his wife spent a few months saying goodbye, discussing the trip to Switzerland. If you listening closely to his thoughts on suicide he seemed depressed that he didn't have more time. Was he sad to have assisted suicide? I don't think he was. I think his sadness was that he didn't have more time with his wife.

Switzerland is the only country in the world that allows outsiders to come in for assisted suicide but the person has to drink the barbiturates themself. Craig Ewert had a NIV (non invasive ventilator) so his breathing was affected. His arms were useless and used a voice activated computer. Maybe he thought his ability to swallow would be next. Or if he waited longer his wife could be held responsible for his choice. Craig was American but residing in the UK. Maybe if it was available in the UK he could of spent more weeks enjoying his time with his wife.

It's just a thought.

Is it the easy way out?

Ona Munson plagued by ill health chose to end it in 1955 by overdosing on barbiturates. She left the note....

This is the only way I know to be free again.... Please don't follow me.

Ona Munson played Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind.

Judy Garland  died of a barbiturate overdose. Judy's overdose may or may not have been intended. She did have significant liver damage.

Marilyn Monroe took barbiturates to end her life.

And most recently Mindy McCreedy by self inflicted gunshot wound. She put a gun in her mouth.

4 beautiful women gone by their own hand. Each had their own reason. Was the reason worth it? In my opinion no.

If a person was suffering immensely with ill health is one thing but to do it because of a crappy day is another.

***This blog is in no way advocating suicide. It's to encourage discussion. ****

Suicide Tourist, Right to die

A few years ago a documentary was made of the last few days of Craig Ewert' s life. He decided to use the services of Dignitas after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrigs Disease.

Mr Ewert was a retired University professor from the United States. Craig and his wife of 37 years was living in the UK at the time of his diagnosis. His upper extremities and breathing was affected.

ALS is a terminal illness that affects people differently. The muscles affected and rate of the atrophy varies from person to person  .The patient normally dies 2-5 years after diagnosis. There is no cure. The neurons that send messages from the brain to the muscles stop transmitting causing the muscles to die, eventually leaving the person unable to move on own, eat, breathe and communicate but the brain's intact. Mr Ewert knew this. He made a choice to travel to Switzerland (Dignitas) to end his life while he was still able to swallow the barbiturate called Nembutal.

Suicide is legal in the UK but assisting is not. His wife could of faced  imprisonment for helping him go to Switzerland.
What are your thoughts on this?

Euthanasia

Good Death is the Greek meaning for Euthanasia. What is good about dying? Nothing really , unless it has been a long, drawn out illness and the person has suffered immensely. Death becomes a release for the person suffering and for the family. Seeing someone you love suffer for weeks or months is not for the faint of heart. You try to hold on and hope your loved one can beat this. You pray for better days and a cure. You pray for more time with your loved one. You pray and Pray. In the end you pray that the suffering ends and your loved one finds peace.

Working in healthcare for 12 years I have witnessed terminal illness at many stages but ironically the first death I witnessed was not an older person or someone with a terminal diagnosis. She was talking and a minute later she was gone, her death was that quick. I remember seeing the official death certificate at the age of 12 and the cause of death, it said CVA. I didn't know what CVA meant but later on when I started studying Nursing I found out it meant stroke. My mom died of a stroke, she was only 42.

In hindsight when I look back now I remember the days leading up to the stroke. We had traveled 100 miles earlier that weekend and my mom got sick. My dad took her to a local hospital and they couldn't find anything wrong, basically said she was imagining it. That she was crazy.

So we headed home, less than 2 days later she was gone. I wonder now if she was having TIA (Transient Ischemic Accident) also known as mini-stroke. Sometimes mini-strokes occur as a warning sign to let you know there's a problem. The medical treatment in 1983 was not that advanced for strokes, she died instantly. With my mom I always ask myself what if the Drs did further testing would she have lived longer? Seen all her kids graduate? If the Drs could of saved her, what would of been her quality of life? In a way she had a good death. I know that now. I know she's watching over me.

Being raised in the church we are told when our time is up, God calls us home. That each life is a gift and we are here for a purpose. Once our journey on earth is done, we are welcomed back home in Heaven.

What about when the illness is long and drawn out, the suffering is unbearable? If you have a pet suffering, euthanasia is the right thing to do. If you allow a pet or animal to suffer you are called inhumane but its okay for humans to suffer?

Physician Assisted Suicide

Physician Assisted Suicide is possibly the most controversial issue on the news these days. What are your thoughts on this issue?

(I am the grandchild of a Wesleyan Minister and was raised in the Church. I attended Baptist services & Catholic Mass as an adult, so religious teaching has always been a big part of my life.  Plus I worked in Nursing for 12 years.. so will share my experience throughout this blog.)

I'm American and currently 3 states allow P.A.S. , Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The first Death With Dignity Act  (Oregon ballot measure 16) was passed in 1994, 935 have had prescriptions written and 596 have ingested the medication to end their lives as of 2011.  The average age of those choosing to use this law is 71 and 80.9 had terminal cancer.

Until a year ago I didn't know about this issue because I live in a conservative state. Sure I knew about Jack Kevorkian but thought this issue ended with his imprisonment. I was so wrong. His actions and the debate didn't start or end with him.  Because of Kevorkian the debate was more in the news and more people was willing to discuss it. I happed to find a video on YouTube, the suicide tourist, that opened my eyes to the subject.

During the life of this blog I will discuss the current laws and my thoughts on this issue.