I should say from the outset I belive in the right to choose.
Tasmainian Greens have put up a Bill and it's being opposed by some staunch Christian ethisists in Melbourne. Yes we have excellent facilities to spend your last days but they are understaffed and under recourced, if you are going to die, who cares there are no votes in it....

I have made a living will to prevent those who would do so from keeping me alive while in a brain dead state but I would like the right to take my own life if I was in a situation where I had an untreatble illness or was in such pain that life was intolerable. Is this selfish?

What of those who belive that every human being should be kept alive at all costs?

Should be an interesting debate.
What are your thoughts?

Basil I completely agree.My life and what I do with it has nothing to do with with anyone else but me and mine.When I reach the time when I am a misery to myself and others then I reserve the right to say GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD,its been fun but I'm out of here no matter what the rest of the world thinks.

I've also got a living will Basil. I also agree that we should have the right to choose when it's the right time for us to leave this life.
I'm angry with myself that I missed Dr Nitschke in Rocky today. I had planned to go, but obviously wasn't meant to, as when I did leave the house, I was on hand just after a lady had had a Micro-nap. The dust was still flying as I came over the hill. So the next two and a half hours were spent making sure she was OK, waiting for Police, taking her gear home, plus her dog, and then taking her to her Dr., and waiting 'till a friend of hers came to collect and take her home.
I believe a group will be set up in Rocky. to provide updates and support for people looking for information on Voluntary Euthanasia.

The one word every-one who objects to it seems to conveniently forget, is VOLUNTARY!!!
The Northern Territory legalised Voluntary Euthanasia a few years ago. with a host of checks and balances in place to make it impossible for any-one to just get rid of an elderly relative etc.
Unfortunately, the idiotic Commonwealth Government of the day overturned that legislation.
In my opinion that was a huge step backwards for Australia.

They won't stop me from making my own decision when the time comes.

Cheers,
xina.

-- Edited by xina on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 03:10:36 PM

I'm all for choice of the options available without some do gooder trying to overide my wishes. I haven't got a living will (have a normal one), is it just a clause in your will and how would you word it? Thanks Vic

Basil.I do not know what a living will? is.This sounds like something I should know about.Please explain ?laurie

I ditto the above remarks Bsil what is a living will Thanks Helena.

In QLD. it is actually called an ADVANCE HEALTH DIRECTIVE. Your solicitor will have the documentation, and can advise on procedure. Your Dr. also signs it. It's approximately 17 pages long. [At least that's what mine is.]

It also covers Organ Donation etc.

Cheers,
xina.





-- Edited by xina on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 03:11:40 PM

Basil, Basil, Basil, You can very contencious at times. What a morbid subject. Like most I also have a will and that is about as far as it goes. Haven't given the subject much thought as it is the last thing I want to think about at this moment in time. You and I are the about the same age and we are still YOUNG (at heart anyways). You have your mate and I have my two, and they keep us rolling along. Maybe I will give the subject some due thought in a few years. I am too busy enjoying life to worry about how I want to end it. Live life to its fullest and get out there and have FUN. Happy travels.

The way I see it is that the people who are fighting against it are alive and well, (at least in body,) Were they in a situation that was intolerable they would also change there mind, Reality bites very hard I saw my mum die in pain, and its not for me, rather fall down a deep mine shaft

Trouble is if you leave it for later, you may not be able to make a will at any time, say like if you had an accident and suffered brain damage or lost your marbles some other way. That would exclude you from making any sort of will, let alone a living will. Personal choice though. Vic

Friend if mines' mother [86] doesn't have a will. Also hasn't nominated anyone Power of Attorney. Now she is progressing along the Dementia path, and can't legally make a will etc. anway, so there is going to be a hell of a mess to sort out when she does leave this life. I'm not planning on going anywhere for a long while yet, but everything is organised just in case I have to leave earlier than planned. And none of us knows when that will be. Something to think about anyway. Cheers, xina.

Called by a variety of names but all do the same thing. You set them up via a solicitor who (if they are any good) will discuss with your medical advisers who can detail any ongoing health issues you have. Being flippant, say you have sleep apnoea and fall asleep somewhere the will cannot be activated simply because you are asleep. They won't allow for euthanasia BUT they will allow the life support machine to be turned off under situations where either you are "brain dead" ie no brain activity can be monitored or if resusitating you will bring you back as a vegetable. This is the thing I can think would have no worse outcome, to have a brain that cannot do anything except blink your eyes....
Now I like it simply because it takes the onerous task of turning off the machine from a relative who lets face it is not going to be in any fit frame of mind to make the decision anyway.
I work with the elderly and believe me the mess that has to be sorted because they did not believe in making a will is simply unbelievable plus of course a lot of these elderly do not want the Govt to take their money but without a will this is exactly what happens, the family dosn't benifit only the lawyers (in one case I know off they managed to drag things out untill every last cent had been extracted from the estate).
Yes certainly it's your choice but to those who say they don't need a will then think about the mess you leave behind. Maybe you want that - at last you can give your kids curry!!!
Likewise power of attorney and enduring guardianship, good to have simply because when you can no longer think for yourself at least a trusted relative/ friend can make sure your wishes are carried out.
m,aybe it's my Boy Scout Training but I reckon one should try to be prepared for what ever curved balls life throws at you.
None of this is euthanasia, but it does give you some say in what happens to you in your later years.

Didn't know about that one Basil. I'll check it out. Solicitor or Dr. ? Thanks for that, Cheers, xina.

xina wrote:

---

Didn't know about that one Basil. I'll check it out. Solicitor or Dr. ?
Thanks for that,
Cheers,
xina.

---

Mine came from these people;
http://www.medicalert.com.au/ 
Dr organised it, Reads "Caution resusitation order - read wallet card" Stainless steel thing I only wear it when I'm not at home, on the road etc....

 

Thanks Basil. Cheers, xina.

I agree with Basil wholeheartedly; it is a fact that we are all living longer and mostly healthier BUT I have witnessed just one nursing home where there are heaps of poor dears of all ages, my mother-in-law, aged 95 included, who do not know which day or year it is, and are just existing on their medication and daily meals. It is just so heartbreaking. They cannot build enough nursing homes/hostels to accomodate them all, and they haven't had to contend with our lot (over 60's) who are to come. Look in job vacancies in any paper to see how many ads there are for staff, nurses/carers etc to work in nursing homes/hostels.  I have prepared and had signed by a Justice of the Peace , a power of guardianship document, where I have stated my wishes should through accident/illness I cannot convey my wishes, ergo do not in any circumstances prolong life by medical means where there is no hope of recovery. I know we cannot "play God" but I cannot understand where the situation arises with a "pet" and they euthanase to save the poor animal from suffering!! Please, I thought humans were the higher being!!!  It is a very difficult subject, hopefully one day soon, it will not be a crime when you, me or Joe Blow, makes his own choice and those around him or her will not be investigated. Oh well, have blown my trumpet, now to watch something good on telly.
It has been an interesting discussion and is interesting to hear other views and info re living wills etc.
Cheers,

I agree on this with you Baz and others.
After seeing many people laying in a bed, kept alive only by machines its a very harrowing experience on the family, having to watch, and sometimes live in the false hope there will be some miracle cure or turnaround, which never happens.

Those who read the forum regularly will have seen me mention my friends daughter on occassion, she often confided in me that she did not want to be 'on any silly machines' as she put it, she didn't want others having to suffer seeing her in such a state, thankfully things never went down this path, as I am not sure what her parents would have decided to do.

I think the person should be able to make the decision for themselves, the problem with this is what is called sound state of mind, a lot of people never give this much thought until they are slabbed out in hospital then theres the issue of whether they are of sound mind to make such a (informed presumably) decision.

I feel it is cruel to all concerned to allow things to drag on and on, especially in the cases of terminal illness, with no know cure.

I'm all for euthanasia after my sister had a debilitating disease and ended up in an electric wheelchair slowly loosing her speech, and all movements and in constant pain but with the mind still way above what mine could hope to reach so she chose to run her chair (strapped in) into the local river only to be found by 2 school kids an hour later. Now is that a dignified way for a person to die? and what about the poor kids that found her? After that experience I needed no convincing.

All I can say is I hope the Government shows some sense before my time comes.

Also my Mum went a year ago & her 'living will' was put to use as she had pancreatic cancer. It is a very good idea
Jon

Sorry to hear about your Sister & Mum, Jon. Very sad. Sincerely Vic