| The hippocratic oath includes: I will ... never do harm to anyone. I will not give a lethal drug to anyone ... nor will I advise such a plan. In Canada, it is illegal to counsel or aid in assisted suicide. In the U.S., it is a matter for individual states and Oregon became the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide (for Oregon residents only) with the passage of the Death with Dignity Act of 1994. So, is legalized suicide civilized? It is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland and continues to be a devisive issue in most European countries. I'm reminded of the 1973 movie Soylent Green where, in a future world devoid of beautiful things (as well as fresh vegetables!), one old fella is admitted to a government assisted-suicide facility. He gets to have a good meal and see a video of the world as it once was ... then sleeps. I suspect that in our future world, Death with Dignity will be the norm. |
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Euthanasia
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As a former Certified Nursing Assistance in nursing homes, I seen a lot of cruel and horrible things that Doctors done in order to keep old folks a live. Tube feeding patience that could no longer speak or even move any longer just so they could collect money, comes first to mind. Then there are the patience whom I will never forget. This particular woman had a tube going in her and back into a machine and it kept that little helpless lady a live, she could not speak and was in her nineties. She was restrain most of the time because she would keep rolling back and forth and could not stop, she was curled up and arthritis had been her company for many years.The picture is horrifying. Yet it was perfectly legal and just ask her Rich Doctor, he will surely tell you all about ethics and sweet talk the family and let them know that a cure could be found any day--who is to say--he will say. I had more then one tell me(the ones that could speak) they wish they could die. I will not even get into the part where patience would could in for hip surgery only to be put on medication that made them appear to have Alzheimer or sun down syndrome. I do not know about Canada but here in the U.S. you can get a Do Not Resuscitate paper drawn up and after a certain age, I for sure would suggest you do, but of course you can be one of those who always will be naive and have in their minds that certain people can do no wrong. If you got a issue with death, please by all means do not die but if you must, I pray you are Loved by the Good Lord.
ReplyDeleteWhen something changes in North America, something civilized or progressive or "it's about time", I check out Europe and find that they've already done it. Assisted suicide is just one example.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who lives as a vegetable.
I watch him deteriorate.
I often wish he were living in Switzerland.
P.S.
ReplyDeleteThis dying fellow does have a Living Will which includes a Do Not Resuscitate provision.
Indeed, doctors decided against invasive surgery which would (may?) have lengthened his life ... or shortened it?