Roge0196

“

Euthanasia.

 It is practically impossible to achieve a general agreement when it concerning about Euthanasia. It is a polemic issue because it gathers involves religious beliefs, legal and philosophical aspects which all we know are very difficult topics to handle in any culture and in any place. Some countries have found a way to legalize this act leaving letting the decision in the hands of the doctors, the patient and his next of kin. The decision is never easy to take and the answer, if it was the best, might never be known for sure.  Nobody wants to be in a situation in charge of to deciding if a person who is technically dead death must keep ¨should be kept living¨ with the support of medical equipments or must pass away after turn of the machines.

 What about the chances of the someone who is suffering was so intensely that the decision to turning off the equipment would give the definitive relief to the dying? It would be the best to do sodo be done. But if was the opposite, if the dying was aware of about his condition desiring for a chance to live, trying to communicate to someone and feeling that the doctor will would put an end to in his chances to survive? At last what about a guilty conscience of leaving letting a family member in the hospital for years without any hope, suffering inside alone and desiring nothing less than to rest in peace?

 How much could relatives stand seeing their beloved family member suffering from by a fatal and terminal disease lying laid down on an hospital bed, having a number of medical equipments connected to his the patient body´s, breathing for and feeding that person day after day and year after year. It's not a good picture to see a dying person (babies, youths or seniors) full connected with tubes pipes, wires, drains, suffering by the disease and the collateral problems that years in a coma brings. It is sad and deeply painful.

 Probably we will not find the answer to in Euthanasia, but it may lead be led us to think  more about it, and think about life, reflecting about what we are doing done in our day-by-day routine. God bless and forgive all of us if one day we have to face this situation.

”

Roge:

I have been in situation you write about with my mother a year ago.  In the US, we can make an official legal document, called a "living will" where we give instructions on what we want the doctors and relatives to do if we become in a medical situation such as you describe.  I recommend that everyone make a "living will". My mother had made this document for herself, so we (my brothers and I) knew in our hearts what she wanted us to do. She did not want to live on life support machines, with no hope of recovery.

We also have special places called "hospices" where people can stay when they are near the end of their lives. These are places filled with  kindness, comfort, dignity and love. It is where families can be together and say good bye over the last few days or weeks. The loved ones die in a natural way, as pain-free as possible. 

What you describe (removing artificial life support systems) is not the same as euthanasia in the US.  Euthanasia is when a person has a terminal illness with a very slow decline and will have to live with that condition for a long time. They are in pain and suffering and very much aware of their condition. What they want is to do is commit medical suicide - to die at a time and place of their own choosing, painlessly. It is not legal in the US to give someone an overdose of drugs that will kill them, even if they want it or even beg for it. This is the contentious issue of euthanasia - does a person have a right to choose for themselves to die?  Should doctors be permitted to deliver a lethal dose of medication if someone asks for it?  Today, if someone does this, they would be guilty of murder, and could be put into prison. 

Euthanasia is legal in some countries, but only under very special circumstances. 

Roge0196

“You have excluded a sentence "...must pass away after turn of the machines." ”

The sentence was not smooth. Here is a better rephrasing:

...if a person who is technically dead should be kept living¨with the support of medical equipment or be allowed to die naturally after the life support machines are turned off.

Roge0196

“What they want is to do is commit medical suicide"”

Some doctors believe that euthenasia should be legalized. They want to help people wh are suffering from a terminal illness, but do not want to be accused and convicted of murder. So they set up a device which will give someone a lethal dose of sleeping medication if that person turns it on by themself.  

i do have sad memories of my mother's passing away. But our whole family and minister was with her, and she seemed to be very peaceful