Dignity in Dying in Australia

Kids buy drugs to get high, the elderly make drugs to die.....

A year ago I signed a petition online and have since received newsletters in my email from an organization called "Get Up". They recent newsletter was about legalizing Assistant Suicide in NSW (New South Wales) ..The next few paragraphs come directly from the news letter. The newsletter is between the **

**Dying with dignity in the face of an unavoidable terminal illness and horrific suffering is something that many GetUp members have told us matters deeply to them.

Here's the opportunity: there's a bill about to be introduced into NSW State Parliament that would give patients the legal right to request a humane, medically-assisted death (voluntary euthanasia). This option includes robust legal safeguards  and would only apply to individuals suffering from painful terminal illness.

Unfortunately we already know that too many Australians choose to end their suffering by the only legal means available to them. Options such as ending life support treatment, cutting off food and water or suiciding, often violently. These options are distressing, prolong suffering and cause further grief and anxiety. They can also push family, friends and medical support away when they're needed most.

The most up-to-date polling shows that more than 80% of Australians support assisted dying where appropriate safeguards are in place. 1 For those who are faced with the choice to end their suffering on their own terms, it's a difficult decision. In places such as Oregon in the United States (where assisted dying accounts for less than 1% of deaths) the knowledge that patients are able to end their suffering in the most dignified and controlled way possible has made provided great comfort to many approaching the end of their lives.**
  (Between the ** is quoted directly from Get Up's newsletter I did not write this nor will I take credit for it.)

Leading the way for PAS (Physician Assisted Suicide)in the Northern Territory is Dr Philip Nitschke.

Dr Nitschke said " It seems we demand humans to live with indignity, pain and anguish whereas we are kinder to our pets when their suffering becomes too much. It simply is not logical or mature. Trouble is, we have had too many centuries of religious claptrap." He works mainly with older people from whom he gains inspiration, saying: "You get quite inspired and uplifted by the elderly folk who see this as a quite a practical approach."  quoted directly from Dr Nitschke Wikipedia page.

Other than his remark about religion, I'm Christian, I agree with Dr Nitschke. If our pets were suffering and we did nothing we would be called cruel or inhumane but we expect the terminally ill to suffer. And we make them feel like criminals for even wanting a little dignity in dying.

Some elderly in Australia have been attempting to manufacture Nembutal by themselves. It's a dangerous process that can cause explosions and chemical burns. Some have succeeded in making the Nembutal. I'm sure some may or may not use it, they just want a choice.

Others have traveled to Mexico to purchase the drug risking imprisonment for smuggling it back home.

I'm American but this issue interest me because its so controversial all over the world. And everyone is talking about it and should talk about it. And I am not encouraging anyone to commit suicide. Or encouraging the cause. I'm just sharing the legal aspects of this issue.

First do No Harm

The basis for refusal of Physician Assisted Suicide is that it goes against the Hippocratic Oath, that most Drs have followed since the 5th century b.c.  The next words speak of not helping to cause an abortion. 

For some physicians they pick and choose what part of the Hippocratic Oath they will follow. Some Drs feel abortions are okay and some will try to get women to abort when an extra chromosome is detected through an ultrasound or aminocentesis. 90% of women carrying babies with Down Syndrome will abort. Only 10% of the pregnancies are carried to term.

The following lines are from the actual oath............

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and judgement and never do harm to anyone.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest such council; and similary I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

Pessary- something put in vagina to cause a miscarriage.

The Hippocratic Oath, the ancient words that guide most physicians and specialists.  The Oath that justifies refusal of some things but other words in this ancient Oath are disregarded.

*In two lines the physician agrees to not discuss or perform Euthanasia or cause an Abortion.

In modern times with modern laws Abortion is allowed and accepted in most cultures. But Physician Assisted Suicide is not in most places. Just a few places in the world allow terminally ill people to check out early. And the places that allows Physician Assisted Suicide, other than Switzerland, are heavily regulated. 

In order to use the Oregon Death With Dignity Act a person must be of sound mind and deemed terminal  with less than 6 months to live.  The patient must be at least 18 and a resident of Oregon. The patient must make 2 oral request 15 days apart before the prescription can be wrote. By following the guidelines all liability is removed from the physician and those assisting. Montana and Washington have similar laws.

In Switzerland the rules aren't as strict.  In order to use Dignitas services you must become a member and membership fees. After receiving the initial Green Light 71% never contact Dignitas again.

The evaluations and discussion of Physician Assisted Suicide goes against the Hippocratic Oath as does the act of assisting. Abortion does too but when a child is thought to have a genetic or chromosome issue the Dr encourages the mother to end the pregnancy. If the mother continues the pregnancy the child is often denied medical care at birth to hasten death.  Some Drs feel it is unethical to try to extend the life of the kids born with extra chromosomes in cases like Trisomy 13 and 18.

Every Dr learns the Hippocratic Oath but very few follow it all of the time.....

The other Two Gentlemen on Choosing to Die

During the program Choosing to Die , Sir Terry Pratchett and his assistant Rob interviewed two other Gentlemen besides Peter Smedley about Dignitas.

Mick, a former Taxi Driver, thought about visiting Dignitas when he was diagnosed with MND but decided to give the Hospice a chance.

When I watched the program Mick came across as being good natured and happy considering the circumstances. At the time of diagnosis Mick was only given 1-3 years, he has passed the intial 1-3 years 3 times over. Another Stephen Hawking?  His progression seems slower than some.  Mick even took the time to help raise the funds to pay for another nurse at the Hospice.

Mick has a great attitude. The last news file and video I found about him showed that he is totally dependent on the carers at the Hospice now. I wonder if he regrets not ending his life? If he had visited Dignitas he might of missed out on alot with his wife and kids.

The second gentleman's name was Andrew, a 42 year old Marine Biologist with Multiple Sclerosis. Andrew had a lot of pain and mobility issues associated with MS. He attempted suicide twice on his own before contacting Dignitas. Incidentally he would travel to Switzerland the same week as Peter Smedley. And like Peter, he chose to go ahead with drinking the Nembutal to end his life. Andrew's final moments were not televised like Peters as an attempt to maintain privacy. Or it could have been because Andrew's end was very long and drawn out.

Andrew's death took 90 minutes according to the interview his mom gave to the press. He continued to hang on long after going unresponsive from the Nembutal. The guides from Dignitas thought Andrew's mom being present caused this. Or Andrew's body reacted slow to the poison after taking strong medications for years. It must have been heart breaking for his family to witness this.

Andrew's mom wasn't too keen on the choice Andrew made. But she also felt she was being selfish if she tried to make him suffer longer to spare her feelings.

A lot of pro-choice supporters won't tell you about how long it took Andrew to die , but I will just to remain unbiased and truthful.

I believe under certain circumstances people should have the right to choose.