I think one of the cruelest things we do is let patients lay in nursing home beds without the legal ability to terminate their own lives. I'd be interest in what other nurses think of this.
If you ask active people who are in their 40s and alert and you say to them "when you get older and you lose the capacity to know your surroundings and you no longer recognize your family members, and if you reach a point where someone has to change your brief in a bed or feed you your meals, would you prefer to live your life like that or would you prefer someone terminate your life painlessly and peacefully?"
What do you think most people's response would be???
Mine would be termination of my life! But guess what that is against the law in most states.
I'd be interested in knowing what other nurses think about this. We get trained over and over again about abuse. Well to me, the biggest abuse we commit is we do not allow Voluntary Euthanasia over laying in a soiled brief in a nursing home bed where we can't even feed ourselves anymore. Voluntary Euthanasia is illegal in all states and PAD is allowed only in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Vermont.
When presidential elections are decided by 5 point margins, they're landslides. Same with ballot propositions, usually.
As to unconstitutionality, the Supreme Court will likely take up gay marriage in the next year or two because of conflicting rulings in the federal courts. So we shall see.
When presidential elections are decided by 5 point margins, they're landslides. Same with ballot propositions, usually.
No. 60/40 would be a large margin. But it's all moot as level heads prevailed and people who loved each other were allowed to express that love with legal marriage.
The belief in objective right and wrong. There are things that are always wrong regardless of prevailing opinion. There are things that are always right, regardless of personal opinions. When you hold a belief in objective right and wrong, you act accordingly. It's not that in voting I feel like imposing my own personal view on anyone. It's not MY view. I'm being obedient to the One whose view it is.
No one has to agree with me or join my Church. But I have the right to use whatever guidance I find appropriate in determining my votes and how I live my life. Just like anyone else does. Advocating that I should not be allowed a voice due strictly to the fact that you do not like my viewpoint is bigotry.
I guess I'm in a little bit of a pickle if the fact that I don't support someone's right to take away (or ban completely) the rights of other people makes me a bigot.
The belief in objective right and wrong. There are things that are always wrong regardless of prevailing opinion. There are things that are always right, regardless of personal opinions. When you hold a belief in objective right and wrong, you act accordingly. It's not that in voting I feel like imposing my own personal view on anyone. It's not MY view. I'm being obedient to the One whose view it is.
No one has to agree with me or join my Church. But I have the right to use whatever guidance I find appropriate in determining my votes and how I live my life. Just like anyone else does. Advocating that I should not be allowed a voice due strictly to the fact that you do not like my viewpoint is bigotry.
"It's not MY view. I'm being obedient to the One whose view it is."
If it's not your view .. why would you present it here?
The OP was requesting moral and legal insights as to the question of Voluntary Euthanasia. NOT religious points of view.
Your Church and YOUR obedience to the ONE does not appear to fit into this discussion.
I'm totally in favor of voluntary active euthanasia. I mean, we consider in inhumane to let pets/farm animals suffer at the end of life when it can be painlessly and peacefully put out of its misery. Don't humans deserve at least as much compassion as our animals. I firmly believe any healthcare provider who is against euthanasia either has never cared for a terminally ill pt or has no heart. All of us know how agonizing it can be just to watch much less experience.
That being said, I think their needs to be safeguards on euthanasia to prevent abuse. I fully support the Dutch model which requires than only a pt can request VAE, pt must request on more than on occasion, must be terminally ill, 2 physicians verifying dx., totally informed consent of alternatives (palliative care, tx options for condition).
It's about much more than pain. End of life symptoms often include dsypnea (for pathology, meds, or both), dehydration and nutritional problems, incontinence, immobility, depression and anxiety, delirium and/or hallucinations. Sure these symptoms can be managed by good palliative care but why force someone to endure IVs, tube feedings, inconvenience, bed bound, endless meds, and mental anguish when it's totally unnecessary. I'm all for high quality palliative care but I'm also for options in end of life care.
Our animals don't have 24/7 care, pain management and all the perks human beings have, we do have a chance to live out a decent and even happy life in that state.
Really? Are you kidding with this? Many, many people take moral guidance from their religion. That's kind of the point.
I think the point is that while you have every right to take moral guidance from your religion and use that to guide the decisions you make for yourself. But everyone else also has the right to not follow your religious beliefs. The conflict comes when someone's religious beliefs include controlling other people's decisions because now your right to follow your religious beliefs is taking away someone else's rights. I think in those situations it's reasonable to say that the right to self-determination trumps the right to impose choices onto others.
I think the point is that while you have every right to take moral guidance from your religion and use that to guide the decisions you make for yourself. But everyone else also has the right to not follow your religious beliefs. The conflict comes when someone's religious beliefs include controlling other people's decisions because now your right to follow your religious beliefs is taking away someone else's rights. I think in those situations it's reasonable to say that the right to self-determination trumps the right to impose choices onto others.
Our animals don't have 24/7 care, pain management and all the perks human beings have, we do have a chance to live out a decent and even happy life in that state.
Decent happy life while actively dying on pain meds? To me that sounds like pure torture, and impossible. But the bottom line is, why do you have any say in how I die? Why do you get to judge how much pain and suffering I have to withstand before dying? Shouldn't that be my decision and no one else's?
Decent happy life while actively dying on pain meds? To me that sounds like pure torture, and impossible. But the bottom line is, why do you have any say in how I die? Why do you get to judge how much pain and suffering I have to withstand before dying? Shouldn't that be my decision and no one else's?
Yes just like any suicide is your decision as well, our current ethic system won't help you suicide. If you wish to do so hire some outside help
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Yes just like any suicide is your decision as well, our current ethic system won't help you suicide. If you wish to do so hire some outside help
Actually...there are presently 4 states that lawfully allow assisted suicide...Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Vermont.
There are countries that have some form of assisted suicide...As of 2009, some forms of voluntary euthanasia are legal in Belgium,Luxembourg,the Netherlands, Switzerland...On June 5, 2014 Quebec became to first Canadian province to pass right-to-die legislation.
As nurses it is important to realize that our personal beliefs have no bearing at the bedside. You can use your moral compass to help guide you but it has no real bearing on the patients wishes and needs.
I may not believe in Voodoo but have witnessed/allowed rituals at the bedside for that was THE PATIENTS belief and wishes. Our personal OPINION HAS NO PLACE IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS. (not shouting...emphasis)
As a long term nurse in the critical care arena I KNOW that there are worse things than death. Take Jahi McMath for example.
Our animals don't have 24/7 care, pain management and all the perks human beings have, we do have a chance to live out a decent and even happy life in that state.
Agree many animals don't. We stayed with my dying dog around the clock, administering pain meds, massages and fireplace fires for her to lay in front of. That was 10 months ago.. I'm still exhausted from the emotional stress. I had to make the call.. to end everybody's suffering.
duskyjewel
1,335 Posts
When presidential elections are decided by 5 point margins, they're landslides. Same with ballot propositions, usually.
As to unconstitutionality, the Supreme Court will likely take up gay marriage in the next year or two because of conflicting rulings in the federal courts. So we shall see.