Alphafemale...I agree with maxixmus when he says u have no regard for the sanctity of human life but i think that comes about largely because of your dispassionate post..in essence you were blunt and sounded very cold but I do take your point.
But do we have the right to choose? I believe so.I nursed my mother thru lung cancer and she was in pain much of the time.She had a very high pain threshhold so when she presents herself to an outpatients doctor and demands the she "puts her out" I realised her life at that point was completely unbearable..she was 55.

If we had to say goodbye to her that night it would have been the toughest thing Ive ever had to do, but we cant say and speak on behalf of the elderly and dying and put forth religiuos arguements and government policy about how they must observe societies protocol regarding this.I feel for you and your brother.

I will take my life by whatever means if I ever see myself in pain like my mother.....

My grandmother who had chronic renal failure, on dialysis, emphysema, cardiomyopathy, and a host of smaller things, refused to go to a nursing home. 4 times a week after her dialysis treatment she would pull herself up four flights of stairs and sleep until her next treatment. Her life was having dialysis to live long enough to get to the next treatment.

She eventually got fed up and was sick of being a burden to those around her. Her mental facilities were hawk like and she didn't miss a beat but her body just hadn't kept up.

On a Sunday night at the end of summer she told the family that she would be stopping dialysis in another 2 weeks. We all instantly knew what it meant. No more dialysis, no more gran.

In those 2 weeks my gran planned her own funeral, picked her own flowers, chose our outfits(!), wrote her eulogy and had everything in order.

Her family were all there from the first day she didn't go to dialysis until she passed on 2 days later.

My Gran didn't want to go on indefinitely with the support of dialysis. How much longer she would have lasted we will never know. My mother, who looked after her for 8 years has decided she never wants to be a burden and will find a way out if she has too, and as much as i fear dying, I will find a way out too if the need arises.

I have written as clear as possible but words are always read in the mind with inflection from the reader, I have been guilty of reading more into or less into an opinion and i am blunt because I did not want to conjecture my opinions on religion or belief on the subject. It has been in the recent news and has been practiced for thousands of years by societies, I was interested in other peoples valid opinions as I knew mine and wanted a wider scope to compare it with. Thank you for your personal stories they are/brave family members and I as many others understand your loss and also the agony of our own pain in losing them and their pain in living.

Alphafemale...my apolagies for saying you had no 'regard for the sancity of human life' as I dont know you and it is even my 1st time posting alongside you I should have kept my own cousel there somewhat..I was referring to the tone of your post but it read badly.

The fact that u nursed your brother for 20 yrs had to be a huge wrench from your life in so many ways..and not many people would really have the strength to deal with that..

So if my comments hurt you in any way Im sorry as Id never want to add to that kind of personal heartache in any way.you sound like a strong loving and committed lady...

he he he

Ozgirl is right. I also feel for you and many others.

I cant see how the right to die with dignity suddenly becomes a church Issue.

If it does then, which church?

After all we hardley are a country of one are we.

What about the non Church People.

Everybody has a right to live the way they see fit.

Also the right to die.

I have seen the elderly tied up like dogs in public hospitals.

They dope them so they are easy to handle and tie them up to save putting on too many staff.

If they are elderly and without family they are always up for a section 25 making them legally unable to run their own affairs.[ Especially if they own a house] public trustee]

If somebody is going to die but they are in such great pain its living hell to wait.

Let them Go if its their choice and leave the greiving family alone if there is any.

Alfa do you have any help with your brother./

What support do you have. You certainly are somebody very special.

Dont Let anybody ever tell you differently.

What can we do to make it easier for you?

How about a week off.

I am sure we could plan a break for you and supply good care for your brother as well.

There is always a bed on The Gold Coast For You Just Say When.

Thanks for sharing with us.

Its quite humbling.

.

Below is a post I wrote on another thread.

"Thirty years ago, late one Saturday night, my alcoholic father crashed to the floor in a coma.

Upon arrival the locum who responded to my mother's call examined my father and delayed calling an ambulance.

When he did call for an ambulance, he conferred with the ambos for some time, he then checked my father's vitals - dad was dead.

An autopsy was required, as my father was one of those men who rarely attended doctor's - the autopsy revealed a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Had my father been 'saved' he would've been a complete vegetable. Due to the locum's actions my father died peacefully and painlessly in his own home.

My 96 Y.O. grandmother caught pneumonia and was hospitalised, after saying farewell to her daughters and son, she pulled out all life support during the night and downed some cached painkillers. She, too passed away peacefully and on her own terms after farewelling her family.

My mother, now 82, has made her wishes very clear - she does not want to be placed on life support. If she reaches a stage where she is no longer corpus-mentis then she too wishes to be euthanised."

There is nothing herioc about forcing people to live in pain and suffering. I urge everyone to make their wishes very clear to their families should they be suffering from terminal illness.