Dear Danielle,

You raised a good point about alzeimers. Is it distressing to the patient? I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

In the case of my two relatives. They are only at the very early stages and on medication (that is helping). However both have made it clear to family members that they don't want to live - once their minds go.

I don't want to think about that time (when and if it comes). Instead, at present I'm concentrating on making sure that they both lead full and active lives, and use their brain as much as possible.
The rest I'll deal with as it happens.

Foxy,

Alzeimers is very much at the top of the agenda of medical research, because of the aging populations particularly in the West.

Let's hope there is a breakthrough in time for for your relatives. It must be quite stressful to feel responsible for them. My feelings go out to you.

Danielle, to be fair to Dr Nitschke, the "circus" only exists because the current legislation forbids medical practioners from assisting patients end their lives, a situation that he views as unacceptable, and has worked tirelessly to change. Further, everything I've seen indicates that he has a genuine desire to help terminally ill patients find options to end their suffering, to the extent that current laws permit.
Once euthanasia is finally legalised, there will be no need for such a "circus". I do hope he lives to see that day.

By the sounds of it, the main pain relief that doctors use to hasten death is morphine. I am not sure if there are alternatives that both relieve pain, and hasten death without causing major complications. My concern about this stems from my family's tendency towards allergy to morphine. Luckly I havent yet developed this allergy, but many family members are allergic and suffer terribly if they have it administered to them.

Another concern with this is whether doctors are able to up the dosage enough for people that have long-term morphine use enough at the end to be lethal. One relative (on another family branch) has taken morphine for years and current dosage is high enough that it would kill most people.

I certainly think voluntary euthanasia is something that should be legalised.

It was in NT until Kevin Andrews poked his nose in and repealed it with the damn Andrews bill. I actually think that was even more objectionable than the whole Sudanese fiasco, and that was pretty damn objectionable.

I just don't see what logic there is in prolonging people's suffering - I do understand that there are numerous implications which need to be carefully looked at, though I don't see why are politicians aren't discussing possible solutions.

This next reason may sound cold, but it's also a fact that we have extensive medical resources tied up assisting people who don't want to live.

This is something I'm conflicted on... though I just brought it up, I'd be wary of actually submitting that as a reason for voluntary euthanasia, even though from a pragmatic standpoint it is amongst the most compelling.

CountryGal
The lethal drugs that doctors, working in a functional, legal euthanasia system, would have available to administer to their patients are far superior to morphine.

Morphine is quite unreliable and quite unsuitable as a euthanasic. Other drugs are kinder and softer. But it is the only drug used in countries where euthanasia is illegal since the purpose is to relieve pain, not to cause death.

There’s a small range of different euthanatica available. Doctors taking part in euthanasia programs undergo some education about the different options to be able to make the best choice for their patients since this is quite specialised area. Patients have input also about drug choice.

Curare (a few kinds of muscle relaxants) is by far the most common and reliable intravenous form of euthanatica used for a quick (5-15 minutes), painless and peaceful death. Usually, patients receive some general anaesthetic as an induction before the lethal dose of muscle relaxant is given.

For patients who prefer taking oral euthanatica rather than injection, there are some options also.
Often, these patients will be pre-medicated with anti-vomit medication the day prior to taking these lethal tablets or liquids.

TRTL
yes as far as I know, Amanda Vanstone was the only senator last year who wanted to bring back the debate on euthanasia.
I agree that there is no reason why terminally ill people who want their suffering to stop should be forced to live their last weeks or months in agony and be forced to suffer a scary, painful and undignified death.

RObert,
that’s interesting info about Saul.
What about Jesus’ death? I understand that God sent his son to be killed, and Jesus had a death wish.
I wouldn’t exactly call it euthanasia because this word means ‘good death’, but it seems to have been a voluntary death.