Comments on The Pensive Quill: Marie Fleming and the Right to Die

I know I posted on this once, but a thought just c...

2012-12-20T22:39:15.486Z

I know I posted on this once, but a thought just came to me, What right did they have to execute those dissenters when nothing was wrong with them, they executed more Irish than the British did, So I wish this lady would bring that to there attention and state, some of your fathers and grandfathers carried out the executions on Irish Dissenters and they were not even ill.

Mary, This obsession with keeping terminally i...

2012-12-20T20:42:48.128Z
Mary,

This obsession with keeping terminally ill alive to the bitter end is disgusting and unrealistic.

I agree.

AM- A friend once said to me that death looks at ...

2012-12-09T16:38:04.562Z
AM-

A friend once said to me that death looks at us each day to which i replied-but life also looks
at us each day- [ bit of a martyr complex about said friend ]

" when that momment comes "

You can say a lot with one sentence

Michaelhenry, your position seems fine to me. It ...

2012-12-09T16:02:43.508Z
Michaelhenry,

your position seems fine to me. It is always good to know our limitations and many of us may only discover them when that moment comes.

Mary

This obsession with keeping terminally ill alive to the bitter end is disgusting and unrealistic.

I agree. It is agony affirming not life affirming. That was a moving experience you described. At crunch time the decision is never easy.

Mick,

I think the law has to be made clear and well debated in advance.

AM Just to be clear I am not against the use of m...

2012-12-06T18:18:37.025Z
AM

Just to be clear I am not against the use of morphine indeed it is a wonderful drug for both the terminally ill and those who live with great pain. The problem is the use of it often puts the fear of god into the medical profession due to the prohibition of Heroin and the reactionary propagada which goes with it.

It is the most effective pain killer in the world yet most doctors in the USA fear to go near it or are banned from using it. The fact millions of people around the world still unnecessarily die in pain is an outrage.

The only point I would stress again on this matter, it its imperative any bill which would allow an assisted death, etc, must be adequately drafted and when it becomes law is adhered to rigidly.

Mick/Organized Rage, I see how people are concern...

2012-12-06T09:03:04.490Z
Mick/Organized Rage,

I see how people are concerned about the slippery slope. But rights that are not enshrined in law are tenuous and more susceptible to abuse. We don’t seek legislation for the state to kill but for people to end their own lives if they reach the point ... As it stands the state can punish people who assist. Legislation that denies the state the right to punish these people is required.

Nazi Germany is not the best of comparisons. There the state was legislating not for the right of the individual but for the stat’s right to deny the individual any right in the matter.

Legislation helps because it defines the terms where it might be carried out rather than let it go ahead laissez faire which increases the likelihood that so called friends or family can bump the loved one off on the basis of some stated common agreement.

A great Spanish anarchist who became Minister of justice in the Spanish republic government for a short time, once said all you need to sit in judgement of your fellow man is a good heart or some such.

Up until they start trying to make you good in their good image. The thoughts of Amos Oz as outlined by Robert spring to mind. A greater danger than legislating for individual rights against and freedoms from the state.

Look at how governments today are beginning to treat the sick and disabled, could we really trust such people with the power of a euthanasia law.

I think this is the opposite of what is being argued. It is precisely to stop this type of treatment being inflicted on Marie Fleming that the case is being taken.

I have a family member who is afraid to go in hospital as she is fearful they will give her morphine to ease her out and despite suffering pain she still refuses to go. I am certain many more elderly people would feel like
her were there to be a euthanasia law.

That is her right. It is also the right of the person to have morphine to ease them out if that is their choice. This easing out goes on with or without legislation. In our own family history the doctor explained the consequences of his further administering of pain relief.

I have no answer, but I do know we must debate this openly and argue all the arguments through.

Couldn’t agree more.

I worry about this greatly, of course everyone sho...

2012-12-05T19:05:40.387Z
I worry about this greatly, of course everyone should have the right to take their own life but if we need legislation to achieve this it makes me feel very uncomfortable. [Nazi Germany springs to mind?]

Can we really trust future governments with such legislation, if the answer is yes the draughtsmen/women of such a bill must get national approval in a referendum before it becomes law.

A great Spanish anarchist who became Minister of justice in the Spanish republic government for a short time, once said all you need to sit in judgement of your fellow man is a good heart or some such.

Is it beyond the judiciary and prosecuting services to judge someone fairly who helps someone whose life has become intolerable on there way. Do we need a law to decide when an individual has done the right thing?

Look at how governments today are beginning to treat the sick and disabled, could we really trust such people with the power of a euthanasia law.

I have a family member who is afraid to go in hospital as she is fearful they will give her morphine to ease her out and despite suffering pain she still refuses to go. I am certain many more elderly people would feel like her were there to be a euthanasia law

I have no answer, but I do know we must debate this openly and argue all the arguments through. History teaches bad law is passed on a worst case scenario. Having said that my heart goes out to Marie Fleming and I hope her suffering soon ends.

Those who oppose so strongly a choice to end one’s...

2012-12-05T12:49:54.150Z
Those who oppose so strongly a choice to end one’s life NB due to terminal illness - at a stage where quality of life is zero and progression of deterioration escalating may one day find their own selves in the same situation as Marie Fleming. She has every right to death with dignity and cognitive abilities intact so she can farewell loved ones and make decisions prior to death. This obsession with keeping terminally ill alive to the bitter end is disgusting and unrealistic.

Everyone who works or has worked in terminal care knows that medications are staggered and essentially terminally ill patients are overdosed as they deteriorate. Motor neuron disease is also a cruel bastard of a disease as like MS cognitive abilities can be intact often up to near the end... Trapped in a flesh hell and knowing it... Who can judge another for choosing death by choice with dignity when there is nothing left but death awaiting... So sad the whole situation – but none more so than for her... A brave woman in all senses.

When i was in my 20’s working in terminal care I had to restrain an elderly man dying from motor neuron disease from jumping to his death. I hated myself as he cried and begged me to let him die. This was in the era where there was nought to access for death with dignity – he was desperate for an end to his living hell... The cruellest part was within his rotting body was an intact brain and a bright one at that. One of course can state that ethically/professionally i did the right thing but i also say that I failed him or rather society did...

This dammed obsession with keeping the dying alive... Half the time patients were kept alive because it was more about testing medications than any ethical standards or religious moral convictions and such. Did he not have the right to a death with dignity and make his choices how and when...
The outcomes of this case are going to set a precedent... i believe she will win this case and I hope with all my heart for her and her partner and fam that she does.

Australian site: CAVE – Christians supporting choice for voluntary euthanasia is very worthy of a lookin. I am a Christian and support the right of the dying to a death with dignity of their choice.

http://www.christiansforve.org.au/AboutUs.html

A P.S. I meant to add that had I the money and Ma...

2012-12-05T12:05:42.670Z
A P.S. I meant to add that had I the money and Marie felt she had no other option than to travel to Switzerland then I,d gladly pay for her trip, I agree with Marie when she says she wants to end her days here with her family and in familiar surroundings,and her wishes should be granted....

The next time we feel like shit through the aftere...

2012-12-05T11:27:19.525Z
The next time we feel like shit through the aftereffects of drink or unwell with the flu we should turn our minds to what this woman is going through,her condition is not an opinion or mental state than can be changed or healed through drugs or counselling,Marie,s body is a car crash a total write of, and the woman should be given the dignity of being allowed to be free from the torment it gives her, we would not let a dog suffer like this,good luck to you Marie if I had money I,d pay your fare to Switzerland..

heart rendering, and, breaking. This brave Lady sh...

2012-12-05T00:41:27.093Z
heart rendering, and, breaking.
This brave Lady should have the legal right for the assistance of her partner to go to everlasting sleep in peace, No one wants to die a horrible and painful death, I for one don't, suffered enough from 1969. But that is beside the point of this Ladies plight, There is no law in Ireland that states that it is a crime for anyone to commit suicide, which is obvious, they cant be charged with the crime of murdering themselves. As this lady states, she wants to have her last days at home, with her devoted partner and her children, The Irish Courts MUST give this lady her LEGAL RIGHT to determine when and how she wants to leave this earth in peace. when those who are sitting to determine this brave woman's request and they are at Mass, and the priest says "Peace be with you", Remember that is all which this lady ask's for, PEACE!>

AM- It is a great gift to be alive but it should ...

2012-12-04T23:55:57.975Z
AM-

It is a great gift to be alive but it should always be a persons own decision when and how they want to die when the pain gets to much-it is Marie Fleming's body so it is her choice-

Saying that-i dont think i could help any one-family or friend to die no matter about their pain-but i would not be against anyone who did want to give that little help as long as i was sure that the dying person wanted to die with dignity and peace-