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.