Physician-assisted suicide

In 2015, California became the fifth state to allow physicians to prescribe drugs to end the life of a terminally ill patient. But 2 years later a state court ruled that the law was unconstitutionally enacted, so the following month the law was lawfully reinstated by an appeals court and then finally affirmed by the State Supreme Court. Meanwhile, 111 people had already exercised their right to self-euthanize under the original law.

But I wonder if that whole schemozzle with the courts meant those 111 people's life insurance policies didn't pay out.
 

fuzzybuddy said:
The problem with physician assisted suicide is determining when. If my DMV photo is not all that flattering, can I call my doc, and end it all? How do you know when enough is enough? Should you determine that on the judgement of a person, who wants to kill himself?
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Probably all places that have these laws have very stringent requirements and usually also need two physicians to certify whatever's necessary. My belief, though, is that my life is mine to do with what I choose. I can commit suicide on my own and possibly mess it up and be worse off or make sure it's done right. I do believe, though, that there should be some caveats for the person's own good. For instance, in the case of severe depression, it should be necessary to have a psychiatric and neurological consult and in all cases there should also be an advocate separate from the family to help make sure the person isn't being coerced.
 
Murrmurr said:
In 2015, California became the fifth state to allow physicians to prescribe drugs to end the life of a terminally ill patient. But 2 years later a state court ruled that the law was unconstitutionally enacted, so the following month the law was lawfully reinstated by an appeals court and then finally affirmed by the State Supreme Court. Meanwhile, 111 people had already exercised their right to self-euthanize under the original law.

But I wonder if that whole schemozzle with the courts meant those 111 people's life insurance policies didn't pay out.
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Yeah -- Those companies have you coming and going.
 

When I decide it's time to go, I won't need a physician's assistance. I've already got enough Rx meds saved up to stop my heart if I want to. But it's nice to know that some people have the legal right to check out when they're ready.

But I don't like it that (in Calif, anyway) you have to be terminally ill, with no hope of treatment, and suffering in agonizing pain or completely physically disabled. I think elderly people should be able to choose to go based on their self-assessed uselessness and just being weary of living.
 
terry123 said:
Hope I die in my sleep. Part of my prayers each day is to let me go peacefully. The kids know that now at my age to just let me go and I have signed the paperwork. It was different at age 50 when I had my first aneurysm and almost died.
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That's the way I know I will go..in my sleep peacefully with a smile on my face. :)
 
Murrmurr said:
When I decide it's time to go, I won't need a physician's assistance. I've already got enough Rx meds saved up to stop my heart if I want to. But it's nice to know that some people have the legal right to check out when they're ready.

But I don't like it that (in Calif, anyway) you have to be terminally ill, with no hope of treatment, and suffering in agonizing pain or completely physically disabled. I think elderly people should be able to choose to go based on their self-assessed uselessness and just being weary of living.
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Drug overdoses don't always work. Remember, our body will automatically try to stay alive & will vomit drug overdoses to do it. That's why many drug overdose deaths are actually caused by drowning - inhaling vomit if the victim is lying on their back.
 
win231 said:
Drug overdoses don't always work. Remember, our body will automatically try to stay alive & will vomit drug overdoses to do it. That's why many drug overdose deaths are actually caused by drowning - inhaling vomit if the victim is lying on their back.
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You are correct, Win! That's why I saved up the muscle relaxers along with another Rx.
 
I have a polst on my fridge door, they are supposed to read it when they come to rescue me.. it is dnr modified and dni. I know it has been discussed on here before but I reiterate it here for my own consideration. I have on file when they decide that I no longer am capable of breathing on my own and the send me home I will end it myself. hopefully as painless as possible, but if not oh wellllll!!!! oops polst=provider orders life saving treatment..which is actually my end of life instructions
 
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Murrmurr said:
You are correct, Win! That's why I saved up the muscle relaxers along with another Rx.
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That's also why the Lethal Injection starts with 1 drug for sleep, 2nd drug for paralysis, & 3rd drug to stop the heart. And even then, it doesn't always go smoothly.
 
Murrmurr said:
When I decide it's time to go, I won't need a physician's assistance. I've already got enough Rx meds saved up to stop my heart if I want to. But it's nice to know that some people have the legal right to check out when they're ready.

But I don't like it that (in Calif, anyway) you have to be terminally ill, with no hope of treatment, and suffering in agonizing pain or completely physically disabled. I think elderly people should be able to choose to go based on their self-assessed uselessness and just being weary of living.
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I'm in the same situation you are, Murrmurr. However, I also know that sometimes those meds don't do the job and end up leaving you in worse condition. I also know, for instance, that Valium won't do it without a plastic bag. Stuff like that.
 
Dancing_Queen said:
I'm in the same situation you are, Murrmurr. However, I also know that sometimes those meds don't do the job and end up leaving you in worse condition. I also know, for instance, that Valium won't do it without a plastic bag. Stuff like that.
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I'm saving plastic bags, too.

ha! Just kidding. I do have a drawer full of em, though. For an entirely different purpose.
 
win231 said:
That's also why the Lethal Injection starts with 1 drug for sleep, 2nd drug for paralysis, & 3rd drug to stop the heart. And even then, it doesn't always go smoothly.
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It's ok with me if things don't go smoothly, as long as the ultimate result is me dead.
I'm in no rush, or anything. I'll know when the time is right. But I could get dusted by an 18-wheeler or whatever, or drop dead from natural causes before then, you never know.
 
Murrmurr said:
It's ok with me if things don't go smoothly, as long as the ultimate result is me dead.
I'm in no rush, or anything. I'll know when the time is right. But I could get dusted by an 18-wheeler or whatever, or drop dead from natural causes before then, you never know.
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I meant one could end up a lot worse than dead, such as conscious but unable to move.
 
Oregon has a statute dealing with this, I believe and I think like Ladybj, that the longer I'm alive, the more opportunity there is to make money from me being so, no matter the discomfort I may experience. The hospitals make money by caring for me, the utility companies make money supplying the electric to the hospital where I am, the insurance company still collects my policy premiums, it only ends once my grave is sealed or the furnace cremates me. I think that if anyone wants to not live anymore and they're of sound mind and there's no hope of a reasonably normal life ahead for them, then assisted demise should be allowed. Death with dignity movements are active all over the country. For more info just do a google search for that or The Hemlock Society. There's a book too, Final Exit that deals with such things. We're already told how we have to live, why is it right that we also are told how we have to die?
 
do not resuscitate.jpg

There is some concern here that DNR's don't work, and it's easy to see why.

What’s the point of a getting DNR order (Do Not Resuscitate) if I have a heart attack in a supermarket? They’ll call the paramedics and bring me back to life.

It doesn't really worry me but some older Aussies have complained about it on our senior forums.
 
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Chris P Bacon said:
Oregon has a statute dealing with this, I believe and I think like Ladybj, that the longer I'm alive, the more opportunity there is to make money from me being so, no matter the discomfort I may experience. The hospitals make money by caring for me, the utility companies make money supplying the electric to the hospital where I am, the insurance company still collects my policy premiums, it only ends once my grave is sealed or the furnace cremates me. I think that if anyone wants to not live anymore and they're of sound mind and there's no hope of a reasonably normal life ahead for them, then assisted demise should be allowed. Death with dignity movements are active all over the country. For more info just do a google search for that or The Hemlock Society. There's a book too, Final Exit that deals with such things. We're already told how we have to live, why is it right that we also are told how we have to die?
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I believe Oregon was the first state to enact a Death with Dignity Act. "Final Exit" is where I learned about the Valium and plastic bags. Except where it still exists in a few cities, the Hemlock Society can now be found at FinalExit.org .
 
I'm fine if anyone else wants to do it. For myself, I'd have to see how I feel when the possible time comes but hope it doesn't come to that.
 
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