Voluntary Euthanasia

[GARY_FL_NURSE]

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.

[toomuchbaloney]

It almost seems as though you are now out to intentionally antagonize. Many people view pets as family, and this is a sensitive issue for them. This type of comment reflects a lack of respect for that view.

I view pets as an animal member of the family. We are kind and considerate and loving with our house pets. When they are dying they are euthanized in short order in the most effective means available to us. It is quick and merciful.

It is interesting to me that there is so much emotional upheaval about euthanisia of animals in the meat of a thread about euthanasia of humans. Why personalize the views of another, especially when those views cause you emotional distress?

[toomuchbaloney]

Well, I was responding to your comment that there are ways to keep animals comfortable. You're argument was that there were ways to prevent suffering...and euthanasia wasn't for the benefit of the pet, but the parent.

You clearly just like stirring up the pot, and frankly, you don't sound like a very compassionate or respectful person, which is a scary thought considering that this is a nursing forum.............

YOu may think about me what you will.

I euthanize my own pets when that is practical.

Yes there are ways to keep them comfortable for a spell, but we prefer not to do that. We prefer to euthanize them when it is apparent that there is not likely going to be a recovery. That is compassionate and respectful in my opinion. It is not necessary for you to agree.

Funny that my opinions are considered "stirring the pot" simply because so many of you don't agree with my opinion about the euthanasia of animals. Dead is dead and killing is killing. I use a gun and do it myself while you use a drug and pay someone else to do it. Where is the lack of compassion and respect in this?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

[h=3]Terminally ill woman's wish: Raise awareness about "dying with dignity"[/h]http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/26724752/terminally-ill-womans-wish-raise-awareness-about-dying-with-dignity#.VDRQghJZ-nU.yahoomail

[grandpaj]

Same lady, I think...from CNN

Maynard: My right to death with dignity at 29

http://www.cnn.com//2014/10/07/opinion/maynard-assisted-suicide-cancer-dignity/index.html

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

What kind of medication do they prescribe for the physician assisted suicide? I'm only wondering because most of us have seen failed suicide attempts despite taking a whole bottle of some narcotic, or have heard of the prolonged executions due to the drug not working appropriately. What kind of oral medication are they using that can ensure the pt will die and that there will be no suffering?

[MunoRN, RN]

What kind of medication do they prescribe for the physician assisted suicide? I'm only wondering because most of us have seen failed suicide attempts despite taking a whole bottle of some narcotic, or have heard of the prolonged executions due to the drug not working appropriately. What kind of oral medication are they using that can ensure the pt will die and that there will be no suffering?

Secobarbital is typically used.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

DeadAtNoon

[ComeTogether, LPN]

YOu may think about me what you will.

I euthanize my own pets when that is practical.

Yes there are ways to keep them comfortable for a spell, but we prefer not to do that. We prefer to euthanize them when it is apparent that there is not likely going to be a recovery. That is compassionate and respectful in my opinion. It is not necessary for you to agree.

Funny that my opinions are considered "stirring the pot" simply because so many of you don't agree with my opinion about the euthanasia of animals. Dead is dead and killing is killing. I use a gun and do it myself while you use a drug and pay someone else to do it. Where is the lack of compassion and respect in this?

I have no problem with that, my last fur baby died in my arms, I would have given the shot if I was allowed. I'd do it at home if I could get my hands on the meds involved.

I have a problem with the verb-age you're using. You never said you give your animal poison to humanely euthanize him/her. You said it the way you said it, so you could stir the pot.

You insinuated that to euthanize an animal is more for convenience than out of compassion.

To me, someone doesn't make comments like that unless they're trying to "stir the pot".

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I must have missed something, have there been arguments in favor of involuntary euthanasia?

The way that I read the OP, is that we should humanely euthanize suffering patients, such as those bedridden with dementia.

To me, euthanasia = no consent obtained.

I think some other posters took the OP the same way, hence the replies.

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I believe there is a difference between withholding feedings and NOT force feeding someone who is no longer able to take oral nutrition because of their failing health, specifically forcing them by placing tubes into them, sometimes surgically.

Totally. If they refuse to eat, they should be allowed to refuse without having a feeding tube jammed up their nose or a PEG placed. Demented or not, it's their body calling it quits.

If they CAN"T eat, well, that's different.

[MunoRN, RN]

The way that I read the OP, is that we should humanely euthanize suffering patients, such as those bedridden with dementia.

To me, euthanasia = no consent obtained.

I think some other posters took the OP the same way, hence the replies.

The title of the thread is "voluntary euthanasia"

[MunoRN, RN]

Totally. If they refuse to eat, they should be allowed to refuse without having a feeding tube jammed up their nose or a PEG placed. Demented or not, it's their body calling it quits.

If they CAN"T eat, well, that's different.

It's not always different just because they are unable to eat. When a patient, or their decision maker' choses to allow an illness to naturally run it's course, an inability to eat is often a direct result of the illness and therefore artificial feeding isn't used.