How the heck did we get to this point where suffering, terminally ill, dying patients have to say they're suffering so much it's literally 'unbearable', or they don't qualify?
I totally agree. (I'm a GP and AD dr in Wairarapa) and what about the ridiculous 48hr rule? (48h notice must be given to change a departure date). So much to say. ( as a UK trained GP i am ashamed that my country of origin still hasn't legalised AD) Should be 12m for neurodegenerative disease but as you say, time limits are ridiculous anyway.... my other gripe is that AD is fully funded yet patients pay to attend GP / practice nurses etc - if primary care and public health were properly funded some of these poor people might have been prevented from having a terminal illness in the first place.
So much appreciate your time and energy bringing these things into general awareness. This is horrific and heartbreaking. An animal gets better treatment.
I had a friend who chose to utilize AD. His daughter was against it in the beginning, but accepted it was his choice to die on his terms, and with dignity. She was by his side, and said it was very peaceful.
I have another friend who is in her mid 50’s, and had a stroke two years ago. She is paralyzed down her left side, and her quality of life is extremely diminished.
She is living in a rest home hospital, with elderly people dying all around her. She’s reluctant to make friends, because of this.
She’s lost all her dignity. She has to wear nappies, and has to be put in and out of bed. She has to be dressed, and to eat what they serve her, and when they serve her.
She spends a lot time online because she is bored, and has been scammed out of most of her savings. She has had control of her bank accounts because she has lost all her independence, and that’s really the only thing she has. She was very savvy prior to her stroke, so those of us close to her find it quite distressing.
It would take a miracle for her to improve enough to live back at home.
She’s asked me to put a pillow over her head. She is chronically depressed and would commit suicide if she was physically able to.
She’s not terminally ill, so she doesn’t qualify for AD.
So agree Gary, I am a hospice nurse. The patient must ask us about AD before we can give them information. Some times they are not clear enough. Others wait until it is unbearable, then want AD and its too late. I explain they need to start the process early. Pts who have talked to me about AD, appreciate being able to do and not be judged. I can't comprehend that the anti AD are okay about extending a person's suffering. The confusion frequently at EOL that stops AD is crazy. I think people will just bring their date forward to ensure they can have AD.
That's precisely what happens: people are sometimes feeling forced to pick a earlier than prederred date for assisted dying rather than get turned down, for example due to confusion from pain meds, disease progression, or infection.
😱Thanks for sharing as I hadn't been aware of this, despite being adjacent to 2 people opting for AD - the people nearest had to have these conversations & didn't want to talk about the trauma (understandably 🫂). I'm guessing that making an Advance Directive about this would be ignored as well 🤷 Once again failing to learn from the experiences of other countries who have much more experience. The only upside is that we have the legislation AT ALL & therefore it can be improved upon rather than starting from scratch 🤔 At least now more of us are informed to push for, and support, changes 💪
I totally agree. (I'm a GP and AD dr in Wairarapa) and what about the ridiculous 48hr rule? (48h notice must be given to change a departure date). So much to say. ( as a UK trained GP i am ashamed that my country of origin still hasn't legalised AD) Should be 12m for neurodegenerative disease but as you say, time limits are ridiculous anyway.... my other gripe is that AD is fully funded yet patients pay to attend GP / practice nurses etc - if primary care and public health were properly funded some of these poor people might have been prevented from having a terminal illness in the first place.
There's a contradiction in people having to jump through hoops to meet Assisted Dying criteria.
If youre fit, healthy, and mentally aware, you can end your life at any time, using any number of means.
If you're bedridden,dying, and wasting away, the means of ending your life is non existent and depends on the able bodied agreement of others.
The first can achieve ending their life though they don't need it.
The second can't, even though they need it.
A contradiction like no other.
So much appreciate your time and energy bringing these things into general awareness. This is horrific and heartbreaking. An animal gets better treatment.
Thank you for writing this. I didn't realize that a patient's illness had to be unbearable to qualify for AD. How horrible!
I had a friend who chose to utilize AD. His daughter was against it in the beginning, but accepted it was his choice to die on his terms, and with dignity. She was by his side, and said it was very peaceful.
I have another friend who is in her mid 50’s, and had a stroke two years ago. She is paralyzed down her left side, and her quality of life is extremely diminished.
She is living in a rest home hospital, with elderly people dying all around her. She’s reluctant to make friends, because of this.
She’s lost all her dignity. She has to wear nappies, and has to be put in and out of bed. She has to be dressed, and to eat what they serve her, and when they serve her.
She spends a lot time online because she is bored, and has been scammed out of most of her savings. She has had control of her bank accounts because she has lost all her independence, and that’s really the only thing she has. She was very savvy prior to her stroke, so those of us close to her find it quite distressing.
It would take a miracle for her to improve enough to live back at home.
She’s asked me to put a pillow over her head. She is chronically depressed and would commit suicide if she was physically able to.
She’s not terminally ill, so she doesn’t qualify for AD.
It’s heartbreaking 😓
Just dreadful. It breaks my heart to read this story
Thankyou for writing this.
Thank you for the information.
Thank you so much and in memory of my late husband who died almost 23 years ago
Thank you. I had no idea.
So agree Gary, I am a hospice nurse. The patient must ask us about AD before we can give them information. Some times they are not clear enough. Others wait until it is unbearable, then want AD and its too late. I explain they need to start the process early. Pts who have talked to me about AD, appreciate being able to do and not be judged. I can't comprehend that the anti AD are okay about extending a person's suffering. The confusion frequently at EOL that stops AD is crazy. I think people will just bring their date forward to ensure they can have AD.
That's precisely what happens: people are sometimes feeling forced to pick a earlier than prederred date for assisted dying rather than get turned down, for example due to confusion from pain meds, disease progression, or infection.
😱Thanks for sharing as I hadn't been aware of this, despite being adjacent to 2 people opting for AD - the people nearest had to have these conversations & didn't want to talk about the trauma (understandably 🫂). I'm guessing that making an Advance Directive about this would be ignored as well 🤷 Once again failing to learn from the experiences of other countries who have much more experience. The only upside is that we have the legislation AT ALL & therefore it can be improved upon rather than starting from scratch 🤔 At least now more of us are informed to push for, and support, changes 💪
If you want, given the rest of the conditions are met, to die and it is denied isn't that alone 'unbearable suffering'?