did anyone see the four corners program last night about the suicide tourists who are going overseas to die in a dignified manner

myself I think this should be a decision that could be undertaken here in australia, my life, my decision

it looked to be a very calm, safe and dignified way to end ones suffering, two drinks and the end is nigh!! just go to sleep!!

Didn't see it Dave but I have to agree with you sentiments mate.

No Dave,I missed the programe last night but I agree with your sentiments.To die should be our decision to make as long as we are the full quid at the time and have little hope for a decent and meaningful life.To have an incurable illness especially if you are in pain and knowing that by your own choice you can"end it" and with dignity would surely be a comforting thought..Cheers.Ibbo.

I too agree implicitly.  After watching my late husband go through terminal cancer and him begging for release only to be denied his choice I agree that it should be your own choice provided as Ibbo says you are the full quid and that you have made an informed and justified decision.

Ma

I fully agree too.

The stoopid thing is if we have an animal in the same pain & suffering through age or illness and we don't have it 'put down' we can be in serious doo-doo with the authorities.

Neil

I missed it too. Now I wish I hadn't. One way or another, I won't be lingering in pain. Cheers, xina.

Good idea I think. I'm waiting for some doo good wowser politician like Fred Nile or Steve Fielding to legislate against it.
" Australian Citizens shall not be allowed to leave the country if they are going overseas to end their suffering, it will be however acceptable to leave Australia to become involved in terrorist incidents beyong their control"

When one faces what eventually happens to us all we deserve to go with dignity and if given a choice I am sure that we would all want to die with dignity.I was with my dear sister when she passed away with terminal cancer,She had little dignity left and given the choice I know what she would have taken.(she was only 50).We have a 13 1/2 year old lab and when the time comes for her I will not let her suffer,I hope one day we will all be allowed to choose if nothing can be done for us by the Doctors. Chris and Robbie

Who the hell are these people to tell us that we can't do what we want with our lives anyway?? I would have thought it should only have concerned you, your immediate family and your God!

As I have just found out to my cost, the medical people think they are God and can control our lives as they see fit.   Think the pollies have much the same attitude

Comes the Revoloution.The time will come when we will have had enough of our servants not doing what they promised to do when elected.Cheers.Ibbo.

The quadraplegic man in Perth was granted his wish to be "starved" to death. He is being fed by a tube directly to his stomach. He believed his life had no meaning or purpose as he had to be cared intensively for absolutely everything, except opening his eyes and speaking. He took his plea to court and was granted his wish to die. His family supported his decision. Dr. Nitschke has been working on this cause for years and everyone says he's a nut except those who are suffering and want to end it on medical grounds with their family's support. If it's done in a dignified way, it's up to the patient if they are able to make a rational decision about their life. Cheers Chris

the man in perth was recently granted an option of "refusing food" what a ridiculous thing to grant, this method would take weeks, surely, to die and is in no way dignified far better is the way shown on the program described above, the first glass apparently "strengthens" the stomach, one has the option to forego the second glass it is then up to the individual as to whether he/she continues with the second glass which contains the goop that does the deed off to sleep listening to mozart in the arms of his/her loved one, thats for me when the time comes philip nitschke is up against the goody two shoes brigade that have very little idea of what is involved, there will come a day when it is "our" decision but it seems with this we are once again lagging behind other less developed countrys apparently doctor nitschke had his "medication ingrediants" on the net for a while and it can still be accessed if one knows the right way to get to it, not sure on that anymore

Ma wrote:

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As I have just found out to my cost, the medical people think they are God and can control our lives as they see fit.   Think the pollies have much the same attitude

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I'm in full agreement with you on that point. Our parents generation put Medicos on pedestals and worshipped them, we tend to do the same. Just the other day I had a doctors receptionist telling me that an appointment I had had to be moved because the Dr had to go to a conference, I nearly fell for it. I had the presence of mind to say no cancel it, I'll see another Dr. 30 mins later she was back on the phone telling me it was OK the conference had been rescheduled, "what for my benifit" I asked.... "Sorry I have a trip planned now so I can't see the Dr till late September"...

Politicians of course have avested interest in keeping you alive, if you die you don't pay tax (GST) and GST is the only yhing keeping us going...

 

I watched the program also and was impressed by the Swiss system. My mother died a protracted, painful death and I have vowed I will not submit myself or my family to the same thing if my life takes the same turn. We are a supposedly civilised society, but we cannot agree on basic human rights. It is my life, and when my quality of life is so diminished by illness, I would like to have some say in how I experience it. On the other hand, I did not feel the other couple in the tv show had cause to consider suicide. I was glad they were not assisted. she was in excellent health. This kind of reasoning, "cant live without him" does not help the cause for people who really do need to access services such as Dignitas. Bravo Dr Nitschke.

I didn't see the show either but agree with Kantiki.  It's my life I should be able to be the judge of when I can no longer tolerate the pain.

And I agree with the "can't live without him" isssue as well.  I too have watched a loved one go down the same track as Kantiki's Mum. 

This assisted suicide should only be for those with a terminal illness, where there is ABSOLUTELY no hope of a cure and only an increasing pain level and loss of dignity to look forward.

Real must way up quantity -v- quality.

Assisted suicide should be the final resort and then only after all due consideration and consultation with specialits family and if it is you desire your religious person, however that in itself could raise a whole different issue.

Ma

What's the difference between this method and ending the last, painful lives of the sufferers of a terminal illness. Increasing doses of morphine are administered by intravenous drip until they don't wake up again. That is the way suffering is ended. It should be about responsible freedom of choice considering all other nearest and dearest involved. Cheers Chris

I wasn't aware it didn't always work. I only know of the cases it did succeed. What a brutal thing to have to go through. Cheers

It certainly is Chris and probably moreso for those that have to sit and watch it.

Certainly not something I ever want to go through again.

-- Edited by Ma on Saturday 29th of August 2009 05:05:47 PM

Ma, not "increasing" doses of morphine. Just one will do it.
When my father died in 1988 from Motor Neurone Disease he was 75 yrs old. Little was known about it then but he never went into remission. I found out afterwards that he had refused food for five days (deliberately) before his death. He had all his marbles and couldn't stand the indignity. Pain is not a sympton of this hideous thing. He had apparently arranged with his sympathetic specialist to have ONE dose put in his drip to help him along when required. It did. For which I am extremely grateful
There are many in the medical profession who agree with all the sentiments expressed here.
Hopefully, one day, euthanasia will be legal for humans as a chocie; as well as animals..

Hi all yes is cruel to watch loved ones linger on and suffer lets hope those that can change the law will in the near future. Chris and Robbie

Ma, that's awful. Dad wasn't on morphine so it was quick. But it was a nursing home not a hospital. Staff called the doc but they wouldn't have had a clue what he was doing. It needs to be done properly..Sue