My dad was born in 1915 and died in 2002 with duodenal cancer. He was still fit and active until he quickly became very poorly and died in about 4 weeks. He had a strong faith and was a Methodist . No one else in the family had so much faith. He and my mother were brought up in a generation where the subject of death was tabboo. Very sad because he could not talk about it to family, (probably so as not to upset anyone.) I don't know what he would have thought about "assisted dying" for someone who was in pain. I think the "thou shall not kill" is probably a really sticky legal issue for doctors and lawyers to work with. Lets keep campaigning.
My parents were both members of the Voluntary Euthanasia society. I honestly don't know what I'd have thought if Dad had decided the pain from his cancer was such that he wanted to end his life... I hope I'd have been supportive, but I know I'd have been devastated that nothing I could do would have made his life worth living. (In the end, he died, mercifully, from a heart attack, rather than from his terminal cancer.) Mum has advanced Alzheimer's, and therefore isn't in a position to make a decision that her life is no longer worth living - though her quality of life is now really poor. She has an Advanced Directive in place, so at least she should be allowed to die if she has another heart attack.
OH and I updated our Wills about five years ago, and the sensible solicitor who did the work suggested we should register LPAs for ourselves at the same time, even though we were healthy and relatively young at the time. Our children were a bit surprised, but happy to say they'd act as our attorneys, and take on decision-making for us at some future date if we needed it. It's a comfort to know the LPAs are in place now, and neither they nor we need to worry about it. I'm haunted by the problems my sister and I had with Mum's bank, when her dementia was developing and she could no longer remember her PINs or the answers to the security questions she was asked... we set up LPA for her immediately, but it would have been a lot easier if it had already been in place.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I'm somewhat confused as to the reason family members can deny the removal of organs even if the dead person carried a donor card. Does anyone know how/why this is allowed? Surely if a person carries a donor card their wishes should be respected?
I'm by no means a legal expert but I was told by my solicitor (I think) that if you mention someone in your will and leave a token amount, they cannot contest it. It means you didn't forget them ad that's all you wanted them to have. If they're not mentioned, they can contest on the grounds that you 'maybe' forgot them.
Aye - Ppauper's getting her head cryogenically frozen pansyface
Our law is slightly different here ppauper - you can contest the 'moveable estate' but not 'goods' - ie. houses, jewellery, boats, art etc . So - if you have a child that's an ar**hole, you can leave them those things and no money - they can sell them if they want. The likelihood is that they won't then contest the dosh if you've left it to the dog and cat home. Or spend the whole r*ddy lot first! I'm with Hosta - they can have anything they want, and my children and family know that, and I also know they would carry that through. I respect other people's right to want to keep everything, but having watched my sister go through hell when her 10 month old baby was dying, I'd gladly have given any bit of me to her, if that's what was needed for her to survive. I think it's something we all have to consider very carefully.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Reading these posts it seems that most people base their decision on experience and a few on religious faith. Perhaps one needs to have one or the other before it feels necessary to make a decision. That's not a particularly helpful thought of mine is it, sorry.
In life, most of our decisions are based on our beliefs, experiences and knowledge -whether we recognise that or not. Our whole lives give us experiences, influences and information - this is what makes us who we are and makes us all unique. This is probably why all contributors have different things to bring to the discussion. By reading this thread, it serves as information and thought creation for us all, so any opinion adds to to debate. Just my thoughts...
Posts
He had a strong faith and was a Methodist . No one else in the family had so much faith.
He and my mother were brought up in a generation where the subject of death was tabboo. Very sad because he could not talk about it to family, (probably so as not to upset anyone.) I don't know what he would have thought about "assisted dying" for someone who was in pain.
I think the "thou shall not kill" is probably a really sticky legal issue for doctors and lawyers to work with.
Lets keep campaigning.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
OH and I updated our Wills about five years ago, and the sensible solicitor who did the work suggested we should register LPAs for ourselves at the same time, even though we were healthy and relatively young at the time. Our children were a bit surprised, but happy to say they'd act as our attorneys, and take on decision-making for us at some future date if we needed it. It's a comfort to know the LPAs are in place now, and neither they nor we need to worry about it. I'm haunted by the problems my sister and I had with Mum's bank, when her dementia was developing and she could no longer remember her PINs or the answers to the security questions she was asked... we set up LPA for her immediately, but it would have been a lot easier if it had already been in place.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Our law is slightly different here ppauper - you can contest the 'moveable estate' but not 'goods' - ie. houses, jewellery, boats, art etc . So - if you have a child that's an ar**hole, you can leave them those things and no money - they can sell them if they want. The likelihood is that they won't then contest the dosh if you've left it to the dog and cat home. Or spend the whole r*ddy lot first!
I'm with Hosta - they can have anything they want, and my children and family know that, and I also know they would carry that through. I respect other people's right to want to keep everything, but having watched my sister go through hell when her 10 month old baby was dying, I'd gladly have given any bit of me to her, if that's what was needed for her to survive. I think it's something we all have to consider very carefully.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
That's not a particularly helpful thought of mine is it, sorry.