Euthanasia by the back door.

[Diflower]

Well no, WM, however much pain we're in, the Drs do know that it will be got through and a future is ahead.
I'd have cheerfully let them chop my arm off without anaesthetic at some points but I wouldn't have chosen to die and no Dr would have considered it an option.

It's quite different when someone's going to die very soon anyway and you/they don't want their final hours/days to be spent in unspeakable agony. I can't bring myself to type more about Mum, it's too personal, but morphine is different when you have it long-term (years). She was quite definitely 'herself'.

[Kaz]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[KateLMead]

It has been made clear that the aged and infirm are bed blocking. Hence do not feed by mouth.
No I will fight to the bitter end. That is my choice and the family know it. No whipping me off to
Hospital. My dear husband always said they would but me down within 48 hours if in had to go into hospital.. "I wonder why he would make such a statement.?

[pederito1]

A painful memory but Pep`s treatment was exemplary though when I saw the last brain scan and realised it was hopeless I noticed they were upping the morphine. They did not tell me but am sure they knew that I knew.

[KateLMead]

So pleased Peps treatment was good. Painful to see those we love leaving this earthly plain.xxxx

[Aggers]

If I were in absolute agony, with on chance of a cure, there would be
nothing more welcome than to go to sleep and never wake up.

Mrs A feels the same. Ending the life of a person in agony and with no
chance of a cure is surely an act of kindness?

[Diflower]

Exactly Aggers, and that's what most of us here are talking about.

Sadly, even with today's advances in medicine, sometimes - usually once you're already quite near to dying - agony is just what comes.
Not always by any means; having spent a lot of time at a hospice, the majority of deaths are calm, peaceful, natural.
But if it's going to happen anyway, and soon, it's surely cruelty of the highest order to stand by and watch

[KateLMead]

Exactly Aggers, and that's what most of us here are talking about.

Sadly, even with today's advances in medicine, sometimes - usually once you're already quite near to dying - agony is just what comes.
Not always by any means; having spent a lot of time at a hospice, the majority of deaths are calm, peaceful, natural.
But if it's going to happen anyway, and soon, it's surely cruelty of the highest order to stand by and watch

The point is Di that many have recovered when taken home from their hospital beds who had been put on Pathway unbeknown to families, then removed by loved ones and have survived. Too many cover ups in the NHS as in all other areas of government and public bodies.
If any individual is happy to be put down that is their choice "put it in writing," however with the help of drugs pain can be alleviated and the patient can be made comfortable and leave this earthly plain lucid, controversial subject and not an easy one.

[Diflower]

My mother was not 'put down'.

[Kaz]

Kate nobody gets 'put down'......as I've already mentioned my MIL was a Macmillan nurse for many years and saw hundreds of people through their final days. Doctors upping the dose of painkillers, knowing full well that a dying person only hours or days from death, might not wake from it, has been practised for many many years........