Euthanasia/Spirituality

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a member of this board, but rarely post. I have a few questions that I would like to ask.

How many of you believe in Physician Assisted Suicide? I believe that a patient should have that right if there prognosis is terminal and there is no hope of recovery.

Secondly, how many of you believe in the Other Side? You know, if a patient says that they see a bright light with there loved ones waiting for them. And if you do believe, do you talk about it with your terminal patients if they ask you about it.

I firmly believe in the Other Side, I believe that when we pass away it is just our body that is gone, our spirit moves on to the Other Side, where we are happy and care free. Belle

Dr. Kate,

What you say about the Catholics may be true,but what the Church wont support is active euthanasia,and thats the issue we are dealing with. If you had unrelieved,intolerable pain and didnt want to go on,the church would say,"sorry,cant help you,buck up ,its gods will" The church would not support your plea's to the doctors to let your die with a morphine overdose,although I believe Jesus would support that intervention.

Jenny P,we cant always relieve the mental and emotional pain because we cant always relieve the physical pain,technology isnt god,it cant do everything,it has limits, and human beings suffer needlessly because we cant legally grant their wishes,there plea's and requests for the Dr. to intervene actively so that will they can depart from this life and pass on to where ever folks pass onto. Thats why the issue of Active Euthanasia is here to stay,that is until it becomes a legal and moral right for all-Death with Dignity, that includes the right not to suffer needlessly. Its a no brainer to me,but I realize others dont see it that way.

I have to agree with ohbet.

The Catholic church does not believe in active euthanasia. The Catholic church does not believe in a lot of things. That is whay I am no longer a Catholic. Too much dogma!

I honestly do not think that God would mind if a person decided to end their life if they were terminal and the situation is hopeless. If you think about it they are (unfortunatley) going to pass on anyhow, right?

Hi,

I believe in the "other side". I do not believe that there should be an option for physician assisted suicide. On the other hand, I donot think that advanced life support should occur if the patient has requested not to and other agreed upon variables are present. Advanced life support and withdrawal of futile treatment is much different then assisted suicide.

In addition, there is much work that has to occur for a peaceful passing. Cutting that short is a problem. Hospice care is another piece and they have written much about end of life care.

Hopefully there we will not move too fast on these issues. Historically, we have not handeled this kind of power very well,....

Historically, no we haven't handled this kind of power very well..............humankind.........

What bothers me is when they remove a person's G-tube. I feel that intentionally starving a person to death is cruel. I have less trouble with taking a pt off a ventilator. I think in some cases we prolong suffering with our medical advances.....I wouldn't call Dr. Kevorkian, but I believe in letting a person die naturally.

The many near-death experiences I've read about on here were heartwarming. I remember working in a nursing home taking care of a lady who swore that Michael Landon was her husband. I figured that she was delusional, especially when she stated that there were "angels on her ceiling". I documented everything like I was supposed to and a short time later the pt died. Later I thought, maybe this pt did see angels. Who am I to say that she was hallucinating?

My Grandmother, who I was very close to my entire life was diagnosed late in life with acute leukemia. Toward the end she said she saw her late husband and angels at her window!! Now, I believe that they probably both saw angels before they died. I hope I do too when it's my time to go. That must be an awesome vision!

:p Deb

Originally posted by micro

Historically, no we haven't handled this kind of power very well..............humankind.........

Just a bit of thought and ramblin' from micro's nursing mind........

I just heard yesterday of a former patient's *demise* ..............

This patient had left where I was at and went onto another facility...........

This patient I had spoken here of before........of her eyes,the only part of her that spoke clearly.......and with some slight movement of her mouth..........

This person had spoken at one time strongly and in legal form of advanced directives and what she wanted and did not want done..............

but then others got in the way.......

both very estranged family and the medical system.............

and she was "brought back too many times"

she would cry with me and laugh with me......and almost "fight the ventilator" from all the outright hysteria that she and I could get into just "chillin' for the whole two extra minutes that I had to give her in my care.........

ya'all know telling that dirty joke......

trashing men..............(forgive me, guys, but she was a woman)

or just talking about something stupid or silly in my day.........

ya'all see there was not a lot that I could do for her except what the law and the medical mandates had to say..........

she had such a pleasant smile..........

and yes, between the tears, I believed that she smiled all the way in this life.....even in its worse.............

*if micro had but one dream........only......it would be.......that no matter......that between the tears.......that micro could always smile and love............*

(and this above post to pat, i dedicate)

micro and out.................

Yes, I do believe there should be assisted suicide...if the person is terminal and in their right mind to choose such an option.

And I do believe there is a heaven and a hell...

God is Lord and Ruler above all.....

Julie

on a sunday afternoon, another nurse and i were doing a stat dialysis on an elderly ladt with many prblems. she arrested. barb bagged and i did chest compressions, the code team came and pushed epi. she sat up and said " i dont wanna come back" (x2). she died one week later, to the day.

Ruth,if a person , who thru out his/her entire life,has been given the Dignity of self determination and responsiblility for their own living,then why not give them that same dignity for their own dying, if at the point they say "The pain is excruciating,I cant go on,life is intolerable"? With active euthanasia that persons dignity,wishes,and responsibility would be preserved and they could pass in peace.

Why Not?

micro,do you really look like that?

This is an extremely long thread. Some have said they are against active euthanasia,physician assisted suicide,but dont say why.

Im curious about your reasons.

Please post your argument against active euthanasia,physician assisted suicide. Thanks

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