Doctors back euthanasia in severe dementia case

Doctors back euthanasia in severe dementia case

www.dutchnews.nl

A 64-year-old woman suffering from severe senile dementia has become the first person in the Netherlands to be given euthanasia even though she could no longer express her wish to die, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday...

...The case has serious implications for Dutch euthanasia law because it means patients who are no longer able to state their wish can still be helped to die, Constance de Vries, who acts as a second opinion doctor for euthanasia cases, told the paper.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Wow.

So the doctors in the Netherlands can now decide who lives and who dies...without the consent of the patient.

The article notes that euthansia is allowed in Holland for those in severe pain who are able to choose the option for themselves. This woman was apparantly in favor of euthansia, even though while suffering from dementia she was "unable to make that clear."

Perhaps the doctors thought they were acting humanely...but I don't suppose I need to point out the rather shady implications of a society that allows doctors to decide for patients when they live and when they die. And Sixty-four really isn't that old in the grand scheme of things. Who knows what dark fruit this precedent might give rise to?


www.dutchnews.nl
(visit the link for the full news article)

That's incredible, I never knew the Netherlands allowed Euthanasia.

The article tries to make it sound as if it was her wish to die.

I still don't agree with it. Once we start allowing this, where do we draw the line?

reply to post by Corruption Exposed


I just posted on a similar topic, with much research and a lengthy argument against this route.

Study Finds Potential Culprit of Alzheimer's Disease


S&F& for you - good find.

The woman, who died in March, left a written statement when she was fully in possession of her faculties saying she wished to die. Her husband and children fully supported the decision.

I am a staunch supporter of right to die in case of mentally capable patients and/or because of unbearable pain. This case is a bit more controversial, tough.

I went through something like this last year with my Mother. She had suffered from dementia for several months. In her case, she went into cardiac arrest, was declared brain dead and had left a Living Will, so we followed her wishes. After going through that, I updated my Living Will. I do know that euthanasia isn't legal where I live, but, in the event it does become legal in the future, I wanted it in there. I hope the person who made the statement about the Government being able to say who lives or dies never has to go through what I did. From what I read, the woman's doctors petitioned the Government for euthanasia, the Government didn't just decide to kill her.

Of course who knows what we will end up with if Obamacare is left in place.

It depends what way you look at it really, perhaps the patients family had been watching her suffer for years and new what life was like for her?

I know if it was me, I'd want someone to make that decision - medical professionals are there to preserve 'life', this is an example of a situation which I wouldnt describe as any kind of life.

stu

Meh...

She wanted to die. Her husband and child supported her wishes. Her quality of life was dwindled down to zero. The only benefit she had left to offer was to fill the bank accounts of Dr.'s and medical facilities.

I support her right to be euthanized and I support the Dr.s decision to move forward with it. I can only hope that someone is so kind as give me the same consideration if ever I am in a similar physical and mental state.

Doesn't the condition of severe dementia carry the implication that the individual cannot make an informed decision?

It seems like of all the euthanasia prospects, these would be the least palatable.

If a patient is not competent, how can we accept a request to kill them?

The law allows medical review board to suspend prosecution of doctors who performed euthanasia when each of the following conditions is fulfilled:

1 the patient's suffering is unbearable with no prospect of improvement
2 the patient's request for euthanasia must be voluntary and persist over time (the request cannot be granted when under the influence of others, psychological illness or drugs)
3 the patient must be fully aware of his/her condition, prospects and options
4 there must be consultation with at least one other independent doctor who needs to confirm the conditions mentioned above
5 the death must be carried out in a medically appropriate fashion by the doctor or patient, in which case the doctor must be present
6 the patient is at least 12 years old (patients between 12 and 16 years of age require the consent of their parents)

Since dementia prevents 2 and 3 anyone performing euthanasia would be breaking the law.

The story more than likely originated from anti-euthanasia lobby who frequently distort stories and make up unusual scenarios to defend their position.

My partner (a nurse) has stated that at the moment she is ever diagnosed with dementia she will top herself immediately.

reply to post by Maxmars


Well, she left a written statement when she was fully in possession of her faculties saying she wished to die. I think I support the doctors decision in such case.

reply to post by malcr


That is why I made sure that my wishes concerning euthanasia were put into my Living Will while I was of sound mind to do so, even though it isn't legal in the State where I live. In the event the law changes, I have declared my wishes, while of sound mind and body.

Originally posted by malcr

My partner (a nurse) has stated that at the moment she is ever diagnosed with dementia she will top herself immediately.

I fully agree with your partner. I have seen all of my maternal grandmother's line, my mother and her 5 sisters, all dying after suffering years of Alzheimers.... That is why I made myself some promises, based on some stuff I have read that you need to keep your mind active, to never stop studying, and the day I am diagnosed with Alzheimers, I would take my own life...

The scariest thing I can think of is to be put in a situation where suicide was not an option. Alzheimer runs in my family - if we were a civilized country I would be able to lay down parameters which I would consider the point that I want my life to end, if I was capable or not of making the decision. Unfortunately my life is ruled by followers of the iron age mythologies. What ever happened to that church and state thing anyway.

By the way there is no coming back from Alzheimers.

So Doctor's now prefer the @hypocritical oath', do they ???? Watch a bunch of ass kissing cranks

Originally posted by silent thunder


Wow.

So the doctors in the Netherlands can now decide who lives and who dies...without the consent of the patient.

The article notes that euthansia is allowed in Holland for those in severe pain who are able to choose the option for themselves. This woman was apparantly in favor of euthansia, even though while suffering from dementia she was "unable to make that clear."

Perhaps the doctors thought they were acting humanely...but I don't suppose I need to point out the rather shady implications of a society that allows doctors to decide for patients when they live and when they die. And Sixty-four really isn't that old in the grand scheme of things. Who knows what dark fruit this precedent might give rise to?


www.dutchnews.nl
(visit the link for the full news article)

My grandmother suffered from senile dementia for 8 years. I got to watch my grandmother forget me, and she even forgot her own daughter my mother. In the end she even forgot who she was too, she forgot how to eat and drink and had to have feeding tubes and IV's in here constantly. It started after her first stroke and she had 7 more strokes after that. It was the last stroke that finally killed her. In the end she couldn't even talk and communicate wether or not she wanted to die. It's a hard thing to watch.

I told my wife if i was ever incapacitated or got dementia or alzheimers so bad that i ended up like my grandmother she better find someone to put me down because i would be pissed off at being left that way, drooling down my chin not knowing who i am and not being able to remember anyone or remember my God. Death is a better alternative than sufferubng through that and forcing yoour family to suffer watching you deteriorate. This is something you will never unsderstand unless you lose a family member to dementia or alzhiemers, you just couldn't possibly understand it until youre faced with it.

Sorry, but the first reply I sent should have said;

HYPOCRITICAL OATH and What (Instead of watch)

Editing does not seem to work
Neither does this ruddy keyboard

The woman was the person who made the decision, when she was still lucid.

The problem was when the time came, they could not check with her to see if she still wanted it, as she was now in full-on dementia.

But it was still very much her decision.

The woman was a long-time supporter of euthanasia but became unable to make this clear as the disease progressed. Nevertheless, a medical committee approved her right to die, the paper says.
[...]
The woman, who died in March, left a written statement when she was fully in possession of her faculties saying she wished to die. Her husband and children fully supported the decision.

I feel euthanasia should be more accepted. With strict rules of course. But I watched my 84 year old great uncle die a horribly slow death when I was a kid and it still sticks with me. He lived in a small town, probably without access to the best medical care. He had stomach cancer and they removed 3/4 of his stomach. He could eat a half of one of those kids containers of applesauce and drink ounces of water at a time. But he was a 6 foot tall German man. To me, THAT is abuse in it's most horrific form. He died of malnutrition, but according to documents, he died of "complications from stomach cancer".

reply to post by lonewolf19792000


I understand excatly how you feel. I watched my grandmother go like that. It tore my grandfather and my parents apart. It was by no means easy for me either. I had my son and she was in a nursing home. Didn't even know who I was. She never did get to meet him and it hurts still.

The last time she ever remembered me was 2 years before she died. Called me Foxy, she used to always call me that.

I can't blame people for not wanting to go through it or put their families through it. When she finally came to her death bed she hung on for 2 months. There was just nothing of her left. We all loved her, but we wanted it to be over. I have no problem with people choosing the end their lives in these kind of situations.