Right to die

[Jezreel]

Watch this video....

I think no matter what you believe is wright or wrong, it's impossible not to have sympathy for this man, so heartbreaking, I cannot imagine what it must be like to feel so trapped.

If this was you, would you want to carry on or have the right to die in dignity?

Story:

For Tony Nicklinson, communication is both a blessing and a curse. Since a catastrophic stroke in 2005, the 58-year-old has been suffering from locked-in syndrome – he is paralysed from the neck down and has lost the ability to speak. There are two ways in which he can make himself understood. The first is a board that displays the alphabet: his wife, Jane, holds it up and Tony looks at each relevant letter to spell out the word. The second is through a computer which tracks his eyeball movements and converts them into sentences. Even then, the words do not come out in his own voice but emerge in a series of robotic intonations.

The physical and mental effort involved is exhausting. To select a single letter from the computer screen, Tony must look at it, then blink. It is a process with obvious limitations: the technology is sensitive and will occasionally throw up the wrong letter and Tony has to start again. The most exasperating thing is how slow it all is. In his former life, he used to enjoy a good conversational ruck and the satisfaction of a perfectly pitched punch line.

These days, his sharp wit still operates at high speed but the machinery around it is stuck in first gear. Sometimes, distressed by his own impotence, he finds himself crying. "As you might imagine," Tony writes to me in an email, "eyes full of tears does not make the operation of an eye-blink computer very easy."


Video at link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/...-die-video

[Lady Cop]

the poor man. i know there are places to go, a clinic somewhere, that will assist him. can't recall if it's Switzerland.

[Jezreel]

I think you are right LC, although I did read in another article he is fighting it because he wants to be able to die at home, surrounded by his family, not in a clinic in another country. Was probably the Daily Mail.

[Lady Cop]

well since the UK is not going to change its public policy for him, he needs to accept donations for his family to accompany him to clinic. i understand they are quite compassionate and accommodating to family.

[Ilyanna]

the poor man. i know there are places to go, a clinic somewhere, that will assist him. can't recall if it's Switzerland.

Yep, it's Switzerland.

[ramseycat]

I wouldn't want to live that way.

[Maggot]

If that was one of my relatives and they wanted to die I would help them.

[JsMom]

How terrible. This sorry broke my heart. :(

[JsMom]

sorry about that double post

[HairOfTheDog]

The article doesn't say that he wants to die; it says that it's an exhausting and exasperating task to communicate. Daily activities of living must be an incredible challenge for he and his family to execute, but they're doing it - takes a lot of strength. I don't think his dignity is in question here. JMO.

If I were a family member and he indeed wanted to die, I'd want to help and would not offer up the story to the press in that case. Assisted suicide would be tricky as he is probably under medical care and a sudden death would be likely be investigated; not sure I'd risk prosecution but I would probably look into the Switzerland option.

I'm glad this man and his family are using technology to allow him to communicate and hope it continues to improve.

[HairOfTheDog]

Oops, I read more info on Mr. Nickinson and understand that he and his wife are indeed making a case for his "right to die". Knowing that, I hope he wins it. Should be his choice, imo.

[Jezreel]

They are going to appeal the judges decision in denying his request. The judges did state that this is not for the court to decide and it would be up to parliament to change the laws of murder. I highly doubt that the law will get changed for these situations so his choices when he decides he wants to end it is to starve himself or travel to Switzerland.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for the update, Jez. I've always supported the right to die, though I do understand the religious and moral arguments against it. Imo, there should be clear criteria, protocols and a signed consent (by the person in question or closest loved one if the person is unable) required and it should be legal under those conditions. There needs to be some guidelines to prevent some from committing murder under the guise of legal suicide.

Anyone who is physically able can kill himself, no one to prosecute; the end (not to minimize the pain of those left behind). But, those who are not physically able cannot choose to end their lives without their loved ones of doctors facing prosecution.

The "right to die" debate has been ongoing for as long as I remember, with Dr. Kavorkian at the helm here in the US. I hope Mr. Nickinson and his family make some headway, but I agree with you that it's highly unlikely.

[Riotgear]

Just the fact that a discussion can take place about whether or not someone has the 'right' to die is an obscenity.

We have an obligation to the species to die. And as soon as I say that I realize it's not about 'right' to die at all. It's about reinforcing the precedent that is 'responsibility' to live.

Obscene. Filthy fuck disgusting foul fascist obscenity.

[Duchess]

It comes down to the legalities of helping someone end their life, someone who can't help themself and that leads to the sick person's mental health and a shit ton of other stuff. Personally, I think it should be left up to the person & their doctor/s and it probably is in many instances that we never hear about.

[Jezreel]

I think this has gotten the press it has because how far they are taking it to try and fight it.
I wonder if he would have been able to find someone to assist him discreetly with no one but family knowing?

The laws may change in other countries as time goes on, but not England. Maybe if ,r. Nicklinson was an immigrant with no job but given a million dollar home to live in courtesy of the local council then maybe his wish would have been granted.

[RaisingAPrince]

http://www.13abc.com/story/19322564/ohio...cy-killing

Man indicted in wife's presumed mercy killing

John Wise faces one count each of aggravated murder, murder and felonious assault in the Aug. 4 shooting of his wife in the intensive care unit of Akron General Medical Center.

A friend says Wise's wife, Barbara, had been disabled by a stroke when he shot her.

[Riotgear]

In ICU?

That's pretty fucking bold.

[username]

I had a friend who passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease a year or so ago. He used similar equipment to communicate. Horrible disease. As far as I know, he died peacefully in his sleep but I believe he faced the real possibility of finally suffocating to death.

I believe in the right to choose the time and manner of your death when faced with a terminal illness.

After my dad was diagnosed with cancer, his hospice provider told him (and my mom) that when he started to go downhill that they would give him morphine which would basically hasten/ensure his death while keeping him comfortable. When that time came, the nurse asked him if he wanted the morphine and he gave her a thumbs up (he wasn't speaking at that point).

I don't see that as being any different than assisted suicide and of course, I'm glad he died peacefully shortly after that morphine administration.

[Lady Cop]

you just know someone helped him over. may that pain be wiped from his face. RIP



better days


58-year-old died this morning at home in Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Police are not investigating his death
Mr Nicklinson's family say he died at 10am this morning following a rapid deterioration in health after contracting pneumonia

Post on Mr Nicklinson's Twitter feed this morning read: 'Goodbye world the time has come, I had some fun'.'

Mr Nicklinson last week said he had been condemned by the law to 'a life of increasing indignity and misery'
Locked-in syndrome sufferer had been 'heartbroken' after High Court ruling
His wife Jayne said: 'I have lost the love of my life but he suffers no more.'

Mr Nicklinson's daughter pays tribute to her father, tweeting: 'Couldn't have asked for a better dad, you're at peace now.'
His daughters told earlier this week how Mr Nicklinson had been 'stripped of his dignity'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z24HAAUiMq