Assisted Dying

[Lori]

Considering I am dealing with the very same issue with my 84 year old mother, I think it is extremely important to offer assisted dying to those in absolute misery with no end possible.

I'm waiting for a call from Hospice to come to evaluate my mother. I'll have a lot of questions for them.

[Pathca]

Thinking of you
Personally my issues are not with the terminally ill in severe pain then I would support the assisted dying bill but it isn’t always as clear cut

[niemeyjt]

I think if someone is in a position that they would come to Dignitas now, then AD is desirable if it allows them to live a bit longer in UK.

It is not acceptable if it is just to bump granny off to save care home fees.

[Quiksilver]

It's not just about putting people out of pain, is it? If you haven't got anyone to look out for you, there's every chance that you'd end up languishing in a care home where you can simply die a long, slow death from neglect. Especially if you're a 'foreigner' who's lost the ability to communicate. Sadly, it all comes down to economics and an overloaded system. I'd prefer to arrange my departure before that scenario arises.

[tagh]

I see that a minster in the most competent of all governments has suggested that those wishing to die should be obliged to pay; so the poor cant even choose to die!

[niemeyjt]

I am sure those on benefits will still get it free - "those with the broadest shoulders" and all that.

Actually it could save money in long run - I am sure if Dignitas charge 16k then the NHS could do it for 4k.

And if it saves money why wait until final 6 months . . . now that gets scary.

[Quiksilver]

But that was my point above! The way things are going here in France, unless you've got an awful lot of cash to pay for a top-notch care home for x number of years, provision for an exponentially-increasing number of old people is going to be deemed neither sustainable nor a priority. Macron already seems to have a finger on the pulse of UK and USA when it comes to screwing the populace and there's been a big push these last few years to keep old folks in their own homes with minimal support. Add in the increasing difficulty of staffing care homes (or any other aspect of healthcare, lately) and those without anyone to fight their corner might as well call it quits early

[Blaze]

... and there's been a big push these last few years to keep old folks in their own homes with minimal support. Add in the increasing difficulty of staffing care homes (or any other aspect of healthcare, lately) and those without anyone to fight their corner might as well call it quits early

The NHS were wonderful with my father who was able to spend the last 6 months of his life at home. He needed care every day (washing/hygiene etc) and my mother was not physically or mentally capable. The NHS offered him 3 days a week which wasn't enough, so we opted to fill in the gap with private care. The NHS then said if we had any private care at all, they would withdraw NHS care. I can't remember how, but we managed to get around it (probably by omitting to tell them about the private care ...).

It's not always possible for people to stay in their own homes - not everyone can afford any private care and many don't have family who could help out. Asking an elderly spouse to do some of the physical things necessary is not reasonable. As an interpreter for the local hospitals, we've seen the dilemma of oldies here who don't speak French, have no family in France, and who can no longer manage chez eux. Many houses are not adapted to their needs and (understandably) there is often a reluctance to move into a flat or somewhere more suitable.

Re staffing care homes, all the people we know who work in care homes say the one thing they lack is time to spend with their patients. As Quiksilver says, it's getting increasingly difficult to find staff for care homes and with an ever increasing ageing population ......

[Lori]

The NHS offered him 3 days a week which wasn't enough, so we opted to fill in the gap with private care. The NHS then said if we had any private care at all, they would withdraw NHS care.

In the U.S., the vast majority of the aging population are not given ANY in home care. They are sent home with massive and major care needs, often things involving serious administration of IV drugs and IV dressing changes. Things that no untrained person should touch. They may be offered one day per week of PT, but maybe not even that. Don't bother questioning the system as it is insane. My mother lives alone in her own home. She gets only the private care we have hired and pay for - at great cost.

It really comes down to, if you are aging and in poor medical condition, you are sent home to die, often in your own excrement as you aren't mobile enough to care for yourself.

Nursing homes have no beds available and when one does become available, there are dozens of patients (often more than that) on the wait list. Cost is not covered by insurance here and the cost will run from $5000 to $20,000 (and even more) depending on the facility and the patient's needs.

The system is and has been broken for a long, long time. With an ever increasing aging population, I plan to have my drugs ready should I get close to this point. There is no way I would continue living in what has become a Hell on earth situation.

Shameful is a huge understatement.

[manonthemoon2]

[quote=Lori post_id=57520

With an ever increasing aging population, I plan to have my drugs ready should I get close to this point.
[/quote]

Yes, me too. I have a pharmacy in my home including opiates. I would just be a bit scared of not doing the deed properly.