Assisted dying

[William Treseder]

Re: Assisted dying

I’ve never given the subject of assisted dying much thought in the past, but it is a really interesting, serious and complicated topic.
One thing that has struck me about it, is we have a law in place that can end a humans life before it even begins (Abortion), where the victim has absolutely no say in it, yet it is illegal to let a sane person, with valid reasons, end their life with some form of dignity.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Assisted dying

I’ve never given the subject of assisted dying much thought in the past, but it is a really interesting, serious and complicated topic.
One thing that has struck me about it, is we have a law in place that can end a humans life before it even begins (Abortion), where the victim has absolutely no say in it, yet it is illegal to let a sane person, with valid reasons, end their life with some form of dignity.

Something can't be ended before it begins, of course - but I get your drift. And suicide was a crime until 1961.

[JamesWales]

Re: Assisted dying

I’ve never given the subject of assisted dying much thought in the past, but it is a really interesting, serious and complicated topic.
One thing that has struck me about it, is we have a law in place that can end a humans life before it even begins (Abortion), where the victim has absolutely no say in it, yet it is illegal to let a sane person, with valid reasons, end their life with some form of dignity.

Its something I've personally had to give more thought to in recent years due to family situations, but I think irrespective of that, the principle is that people should have ownership over their own lives, and just continuing the lives of people in abject misery with no quality of life and increasingly devoid of dignity serves no one; themselves, their families, even the tax payer. Obviously checks are needed to stop what would amount to murder but if they want to end things with dignity then I think they should be able to. I know I probably would.

On abortion, I support a woman's right to choose. I think we have it right in the UK, but I don't find it hard to see the other side of the argument at all. I've no issue with it being devolved to states in America for example, as it is a profound moral issue and different people view it differently.

[William Treseder]

Re: Assisted dying

Another thing that crossed my mind about this topic.There seems to be more and more elderly folk admitted to hospital nowadays who have DNR on or above their beds. Is that not a form of assisted dying ?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Assisted dying

Another thing that crossed my mind about this topic.There seems to be more and more elderly folk admitted to hospital nowadays who have DNR on or above their beds. Is that not a form of assisted dying ?

I think your point is of interest semantically but there's a difference between requested non-action of medical staff in certain circumstances and deliberate intervention by them specifically to hasten death.

[William Treseder]

Re: Assisted dying

I think your point is of interest semantically but there's a difference between requested non-action of medical staff in certain circumstances and deliberate intervention by them specifically to hasten death.

👍

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Assisted dying

I think your point is of interest semantically but there's a difference between requested non-action of medical staff in certain circumstances and deliberate intervention by them specifically to hasten death.

[Nobody's Rep]

Re: Assisted dying

My mum was in hospital during but not because of COVID and the doctor called the family to say there was nothing else could be done so they were stopping treatment

She took from the Wednesday to the following Monday to die - no dignity no compassion just left to us sons to sit and watch as it happened

I asked a couple of times if anything could be done and the answer was no and yet they had previously placed a DNR on her without consulting my mum or the family

Ironically after spending 6 days solid in the heath I went home to Neath to be told one of our cats was ill - took him to the vet nothing more could be done and 1/2 hour later passed away by injection

I will never forget those last few days with mum - surely they is a way for this to be regulated safely so people can choose their end and die with dignity

[Cyncoed Dave]

Re: Assisted dying

I've just found that story and it's obviously constructed for the benefit of readers who would rather God didn't exist.

Many scientific studies have been conducted re Prayer over the years, this is one such example:-

In 1988, the third study, published in the Southern Medical Journal, yielded strikingly positive results, at least in some measures of patient outcomes (although not overall). Dr. Randolph Byrd, a cardiologist, oversaw a double-blind study of intercessory prayer in which 393 coronary-care-unit (CCU) patients agreed to participate. “Born-again” intercessors were given a prayer script to guide prayers, and each intercessor was given an assigned patient's first name, diagnosis, and general condition. Intercessors prayed for the quick recovery, prevention of complications and death, and any other areas that they felt might be useful to their assigned patients. “No one—not patients, staff, or Byrd—knew who was being prayed for and who wasn't. Byrd found that patients who were the subjects of prayer … needed fewer antibiotics, experienced a lower percentage of congestive heart failure, and were less likely to develop pneumonia. [After analyzing the data, Byrd] concluded that ‘intercessory prayer to the Judeo-Christian God has a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients admitted to the CCU.’”

Article:NLM provides access to scientific literature.

Re: intercessory prayer to the Judeo-Christian God has a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients admitted to the CCU...

Have there been any comparison studies carried out with other gods?

I think it would be useful to know.