Longing for Death

student_girl · Nov 20, 2004

It depends. WE can't decide to terminate someone's life, because it is their life, not ours. But, if a patient decide he/she's in too much pain, it's their choice. As it is today with multi-culturalism, god doesn't mean much today, as we all have our own. Think about the losses: autonomy, self-respect and most of all, dignity. Would you love showing your rear end to just about anybody? I know I wouldn't. I might only be 23 and not much past behind me, but I know I will terminate my life if I have a critical illness. I believe that the value of life is influenced by the quality of that life.

angelac1978 · Nov 20, 2004

I also believe that a patient has a right to die, if that this their choosing. My mother has MS and she already has her paperwork drawn up (living will, power of attorney, etc) She suffers enough already, when it is time for her body to stop working completely, she doesn't want to prolong it.

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Truly_Blessed · Nov 20, 2004

I would have to agree with the posters above me. Many Christians shun me for this opinion(because I am one)but, it has always been my opinion and I am sticking to it.

fergus51 · Nov 20, 2004

Here, patients have the right to die with as little physical pain as possible. If giving a pain med hastens death, that isn't considered "terminating" a patient's life.

No offense, but I think that "only God has the right to end a life" line is completely wrong if we are talking about people who are dying anyways. God didn't put anyone on a ventillator. God didn't create the meds we give. Man has interfered with the natural death process too much already.

RuthieRN2008 · Nov 20, 2004

This is a very delicate decision. I don't think we should judge if someone's life quality is not of quality any more because we cannot judge that. And as a nurse we have to be nonjudgemental. For sure, it is not a nice thing to have to show your rear end to anybody, but you can still feel gratitude and happiness. As long as they feel that, they have dignity in my eyes.

The quintessence is that it is the patient's decision.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2004

No offense, but I think that "only God has the right to end a life" line is completely wrong if we are talking about people who are dying anyways. God didn't put anyone on a ventillator. God didn't create the meds we give. Man has interfered with the natural death process too much already.

Gosh that is just soooooooo true. The catch is, that rare pt that you're just

positive is suffering uselessly and not going to make it who surprises everyone and makes it back to a normal life. I know it's rare, but worthy of consideration.

fergus51 · Nov 20, 2004

Gosh that is just soooooooo true. The catch is, that rare pt that you're just
positive is suffering uselessly and not going to make it who surprises everyone and makes it back to a normal life. I know it's rare, but worthy of consideration.

Hey, if they want to put themselves through all that I could care less. My only problem is when we decide for them.

Edited to add: and we do know some situations are without hope. Brain dead is brain dead.

mariedoreen · Nov 20, 2004

If the logic is that only God decides when life goes on and when it does not, then I would say we already interfere with this ALL THE TIME in our many varied, very successful attempts to prolong life.

Of course, the big argument is do we terminate life prematurely... I say no, WE as hcp's should not terminate life prematurely... but what about the patient? I live in Oregon, the state which passed the assisted suicide law in the late 90s. I did not vote for it, but since it passed I have done a lot of reading and a lot of talking to people with terminal illness, and the friends and family of people with terminal illnesses. I have come to a point where I have no desire to see the law inactivated.

Those with terminal illnesses are often terrified of the loss of control and the possibility that they will be in so much pain they will not be able to handle it. For those who choose to have it filled (it takes 3 doctors to verify that you are terminal with only 6 months to live) having that prescription (which cannot be administered by a hcp, it must be done by the patient themselves) available to them at any time should the situation become "too much" actually seems to have a calming effect. They are able to go one more day, and then one more because that reassurance of an "out" should they "need" it, lies close by. I have no interest in taking that away from people who should (IMO) have the right to control their own life and death.

I do personally believe that there is a lot going on in those final weeks and days and hours spiritually that is of great value, but I have no interest in legislating my personal religious beliefs and denying someone their choice on how they're going to pass away.

Winner · Nov 20, 2004

I personally could not contribute to, assist or promote ending a terminally ill patient's life. However, I would honor anyone's' request who refused life sustaining support in the first place and do my best to insure the best comfort care possible; because no one has the right to suffer or lose their dignity. I just personally could not live with the knowledge it was I who, for a lack of a better term "pulled the plug," or even suggested it for that matter. If in the future Doctor/Nurse assisted suicide for those terminally ill were to ever become legal in my state; I would have to admit, I just couldn't do it. Not that I couldn't hold a hand or take place in therapeutic communication. I just know I couldn't be the one to inject/administrate that final dose.

bonjovigirl · Nov 20, 2004

I strongly believe in not allowing health care workers to terminate a person's life. That is to actually do something to end the person's life. I had to do a debate in my senior biology class about this very topic. We were assigned a debate and assigned the side we were to take. It was supposed to open our minds to the possibility that our views weren't right. I was assigned the side of not allowing "doctor assisted suicide" which at the time was not my opinion. I felt it should be legalized. Doing that research and soul searching has changed my mind.

Now I am FIRMLY against patient's families that PROLONG the patient's life. It is so heartwrenching. When I did my clinical in the ICU, I saw an elderly woman come and visit her husband every day, insisting her husband get everything that could be done. This lasted the entire rotation, and then some. I still pray that that man couldn't feel a thing, or know at all what was going on. It was awful. How long can you watch a woman cry over her husband's lifeless body? I dreaded every day I had to go there. That poor man. Tubes everywhere, "procedures" galore.... he was in his 80's. What an undignified ending to a person's life. And his poor wife, who can really blame her? I can't, I don't even want to imagine what she was going through.

Basically I guess my view stands at, if it is absolutely positively your time to go, we shouldn't delay it. We should not make it come any faster though.

mariedoreen · Nov 20, 2004

I personally could not contribute to, assist or promote ending a terminally ill patient's life. However, I would honor anyone's' request who refused life sustaining support in the first place and do my best to insure the best comfort care possible; because no one has the right to suffer or lose their dignity. I just personally could not live with the knowledge it was I who, for a lack of a better term "pulled the plug," or even suggested it for that matter. If in the future Doctor/Nurse assisted suicide for those terminally ill were to ever become legal in my state; I would have to admit, I just couldn't do it. Not that I couldn't hold a hand or take place in therapeutic communication. I just know I couldn't be the one to inject/administrate that final dose.

That's one of the common myths about the assisted suicide act in Oregon. Health care professionals are not allowed to administer a "final dose." It is a liquid medication that the patient receives a prescription for and THEY have to self-administer, no one is allowed to do it for them. Doing so would be euthanasia. If the patient gets to a point where they are unable to self-administer, then it cannot be done.