[Valerie Salva]

A FRENCH court has rejected a request from a 52-year-old severely disfigured former schoolteacher for the right to die, in a case that has stirred much emotion in France.

The high court in Dijon, eastern France, decided to side with the prosecution which argued current legislation does not allow Chantal Sebire's doctor to prescribe lethal drugs.

In her appeal to the court, Ms Sebire said she did not want to endure further pain and subject herself to an irreversible worsening of her condition. She asked the court to allow her doctor to help her end her life.

A mother of three who lives in the Bourgogne region of eastern France, Ms Sebire drew a strong outpour of sympathy when she appealed in a television interview last month for the right to "depart peacefully''.

Before-and-after pictures of the woman, her face severely deformed, have been featured in the press and her account of frightened children who run away at the sight of her has drawn sympathy.

http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/fra...317192748.html

See attached photo of the woman before, and during her debilitating condition.

Caution:
Graphic photo

Attachment 6184

[bluegeegoo2]

I know this is a tired old comparison, but why is it people will put down a suffering animal, but humans don't have that right and are made to suffer needlessly? In my humble opinion, someone of sound mind should be able to choose for themselves whether or not to live or die, as well as have the means available to end their life with dignity.

[Emmanuel Goldstein]

What hideous pain she must have endured

[presuppose]

Nothing but pity and mercy for this poor soul. Horrible thing to have to deal with, I cannot imagine.

[Valerie Salva]

I saw a video of her with her family. They love her very much and were supportive of her wishes. I sure they miss her greatly, but are glad she is no longer suffering.

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by bluegeegoo2

In my humble opinion, someone of sound mind should be able to choose for themselves whether or not to live or die, as well as have the means available to end their life with dignity.

To a certain extent agree with you. However, I do not believe that healthcare workers should be required to assist with that death. And this is what this patient was asking for.

The case referenced - the patient is from all indications fully capable of ending her life. Virtually all cancer patients that I care for (I work generally with good MDs), have ample supplies of pain meds/sedatives, that could easily be used to end their lives. And if their MD does not provide such meds, there are plenty who will. And I have known some that have done so, using those meds. And if they are incompacitated, there are friends and family members there at the bedside. If they feel that their loved one is suffering, there is very little to keep them from taking the same actions that the patient could take.

Yet they want a HCW to do it for them. And this I have a problem with.

People commit suicide daily - there is no way to keep someone that is determined to end their lives, from doing so. There are books (Final Exit) on how to do so.

Animals do not have these resources. They cannot voluntarily and of their own volition pick up a script for a sedative or a pain killer, buy commonly available products. We also do not keep them alive through ventilators and dialysis in most cases, until life is a total misery. Thus it is not an appropriate comparison.

[Nurse4years]

Caroladybelle,
Something I hadn't really thought about-you are right, they do have many opportunities, as do(does?) their family. I could NEVER let my family member suffer the way I have seen some patients suffer. (Easy to say- isn't it?-might be different when the situation was in front of me.)
Judgement call- very difficult.
Thanks for the post-

[chocokitten]

Originally Posted by caroladybelle

. . . if they are incompacitated, there are friends and family members there at the bedside. If they feel that their loved one is suffering, there is very little to keep them from taking the same actions that the patient could take.

Though I agree, they these patients do have many opporunities, suicide is also not considered a "right". If the patient was "caught" doing this they would be given meds to counteract this, stomach pumped, revived (unless DNR/DNI etc) and possibly be forced to endure even more pain and suffering than if they had not attempted suicide.
So far as the family helping... That's not a right either. That would put the family at risk for a charge of murder, even with their loved one's conset and/or best wishes in mind... It's a difficult situation.
I think people should have the right to die with dignity, if they so choose.

[Jess1983]

Originally Posted by chocokitten

Though I agree, they these patients do have many opporunities, suicide is also not considered a "right". If the patient was "caught" doing this they would be given meds to counteract this, stomach pumped, revived (unless DNR/DNI etc) and possibly be forced to endure even more pain and suffering than if they had not attempted suicide.
So far as the family helping... That's not a right either. That would put the family at risk for a charge of murder, even with their loved one's conset and/or best wishes in mind... It's a difficult situation.
I think people should have the right to die with dignity, if they so choose.

WOW......Poor lady. Was it cancer that got her? I can only imagine how she felt.

[babiesRmylife]

This story is so sad. Can't blame her for feeling how she does. She used to be quite beautiful & that would be very hard to accept such a change.