I am sorry to hear that some people have loved ones who are heading towards the end of their lives and suffering.

ilmessaggio's statement - "Euthanasia is something practiced by a socially advanced society that has respect and dignity as it's cornerstones" is absolutely correct and I agree wholeheartedly.

Years ago my mother suffered terribly during her death through cancer and I would never want anyone to go through that or see something like that.

My heart goes out to all people who have someone heading towards the end of their lives and who are doing it tough.

May we find better ways to assist them to end their lives with dignity and minimal pain and suffering.

@Paul1405, Tuesday, 5 December 2017 9:51:03 PM

It is concerning that the details of your storytelling are so case specific and the affected community so small, that family and friends might recognise it (medical staff too), with predictable confusion and painful outcomes.

What about leaving this for a time well later? It is not as though the politics can't wait.

Hi leoj, there is no politics involved, its just a somewhat faulty system our society has in place to deal with such matters. Nor should we be too sensitive and squeamish on this. Besides there is nothing here that has not been put up on 'Facebook'. I can assure you, some comments far more stinging that anything I have said.
Our friend is fully aware of her situation, and has insisted that she be told everything, and she has. Its hard for all, we have cried a lot already and will cry a lot more, but reality is what it is. Often the "normal" response is to keep the patient ignorant by not discussing matters with them, or even giving them false hope, keeping it just between family and friends which is not fair if its only to protect ones own sensibilities. I was surprised by the difference between what I have seen in NZ and what I see, and have previously experienced in Australia, although theirs was a much newer facility. NZ also has to accommodate the cultural requirements of particularly Maori people when it comes to dealing with death. Something Maori deal with, in my opinion, far better that we Europeans. Maori have a much longer process, and far more involvement of the living from the time of death, or if foreseen before death, right up to the stage of burial, and beyond, it is a much more spiritual and cleaning process that what we mostly employ. I can assure you, they suffer the pain of loss just as we do, maybe in general, because of the closeness of family, even more.

I have a very open view on this, others might prefer a closed view. I have had my own near death experience, with a heart attack more than 3 years ago, then having work done on the plumbing, and spending a couple of weeks in hospital.

Hi Paul,

My poor darling went nine years ago, very peacefully, surrounded by what seemed like dozens of relations and friends. She had only three weeks' notice and I suppose she was in as much shock as the rest of us. The palliative care staff were wonderful, she had a beautiful room overlooking a garden. The docs would ask her what was her pain level out of ten and she'd say, "Oh, maybe four." They told her (so she said) the she still had a couple of weeks, but she slipped away earlier, I hope still believing she had about another eight days. But no. On her last afternoon, we were getting a bit cuddly and I asked her, real romantic like, "What do you reckon ?" She thought about it and said, no, a nurse might come in. So we just kissed and held hands.

If there is such a thing as a beautiful death, I would like to go the same way. Then we could be together forever. Paul, you bastard, now you've made me cry :)

Maybe I might have a different view if she had been in great pain, but she wasn't. Systems should provide the best palliative care possible, it really matters.

Joe

Loudmouth (Jo)
you point out that death, as life,is not always equal or fair.

Some deaths are more painful, slow and agonising, whilst other deaths are probably quicker and or more peaceful and can be more adequately medicated.

I once heard that Drs said, pneumonia was a dying persons friend and towards the end was a more peaceful way of dying as you got dozy and fell into a coma as the air was slowly cut off. But I don't know if this is true, I have only heard this is so.

I think if the dying process becomes agonising for anyone they should be allowed to die
using modern drugs to make it a more peaceful death if they so wish.

Why should anyone have the right to deprive anyone else of this choice..
And if Drs object to doing it. then give the patient the drug to take themselves and allow them to die peacefully with their family around their bedside.

I think the system plays God in denying this option in the face of severe suffering
but they should keep in mind that they are not God. And every time they resuscitate someone, how do they know that this isn't against the will of God. If they believe that only God has the power of life and death then why do they go against this by resuscitating someone who is dying. If they believe they can override God by bringing back and treating someone who is dying, then it follows they can allow someone in agony to die peacefully if they so wish. To allow one and not the other is hypocritical.

Many decades ago births and deaths happened when
they happened, often without medical intervention.
If a baby was too premature or defective, or if
a seriously ill person was dying, there was little
the family doctor could do about it other than to
offer comfort.

Today, most Australians are born and die in hospitals
under the supervision of medical personnel who
sometimes decide to keep them alive long beyond the
point at which they would normally have died. Patients
can be hooked up to machines that sustain their lives.
and this step may be taken even if they are in constant
pain are terminally ill or even in some cases if they
are permanently comatose.

Therefore technologies that were intended to save people
from unnecessary death may actually have the effect of
depriving them of a dignified death.

Physicians are expected to do all they can to sustain
life. I am glad that in Victoria at least the euthanasia
Bill has been passed. I believe that patients who are
terminally ill, and suffering and do not want their
life to continue to be preserved, their doctors should
allow them to die in peace and serenity surrounded by
their family members. The pursuit of a vigorous
therapy would benefit no one except their own satisfaction
in thwarting death, regardless of the consequences.