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Post by Rich Fisher on Feb 27, 2009 14:04:45 GMT -4
>>Wife Of Assisted Suicide Doctor Speaks Out
(Baltimore, MD) -- The wife of the doctor who is behind bars today for allegedly assisting in the suicides of possibly 200-deaths around the country is speaking out in support of her husband. Dr. Larry Egbert of Baltimore was arrested for his role as the medical director of the Final Exit Network. Police say members paid 50-dollars for help in ending their lives, after which the network removes any evidence. Ellen Egbert is a peace activist and is standing behind her husband. She said although he knew an arrest was possible, he was not going to let it stop him from helping people in their right to die.
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Post by funnel101 on Feb 27, 2009 16:58:46 GMT -4
I'm sure a lot of you will disagree, but I think people have the right to die in a dignified and painless manner. We put animals to sleep out of compassion for them, to spare them suffering; why shouldn't people be allowed the same option? If someone is dying and knows that what's ahead is just more pain and more suffering, I think we should give that person the option of a painless death. I don't think this option should be pushed on people for financial reasons, but I think it should be there as an option.
Frankly, after watching my cat suffer through kidney failure and then die peacefully and painlessly at the vet's, I told my husband that if I was ever suffering like that and dying that I hoped I'd have the same option.
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Post by AquaHolic on Feb 27, 2009 17:36:26 GMT -4
I'm sure a lot of you will disagree, but I think people have the right to die in a dignified and painless manner. We put animals to sleep out of compassion for them, to spare them suffering; why shouldn't people be allowed the same option? If someone is dying and knows that what's ahead is just more pain and more suffering, I think we should give that person the option of a painless death. I don't think this option should be pushed on people for financial reasons, but I think it should be there as an option. Frankly, after watching my cat suffer through kidney failure and then die peacefully and painlessly at the vet's, I told my husband that if I was ever suffering like that and dying that I hoped I'd have the same option. I think more would agree with you funnel....I do. If I want to die because there is no cure then I should be allowed to die...when the quality of my life has degraded to a certain point which would be in a directive written by me. I do however think it needs to be in writing before a person loses their faculties. Because after they lose them how do we really know that is what they wanted done.Must be in writing first. Just like they have the DNR request that is supposed to be honored by hospitals/doctors etc...
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Post by linda712 on Feb 27, 2009 17:44:00 GMT -4
Funnel, I do not disagree with you. Years ago when this subject first surfaced, I was horrified at the thought of it. But I've watched persons very close to me, as well as those not so close, suffer a long hard inevitable death. I've personally witnessed the devastation and heartache in knowing there is nothing that can be done. And I've lived afterward with the grief of remembrance of the agonies suffered by all.
I don't know that I would have the courage to go through with it, as well as I don't know that I wouldn't, if placed in that situation. However, if one chooses not to suffer it to the end, they should have that right. I do know for a fact, I would never want to suffer the way my father did.
However, this current doctor, his "method" is deplorable.
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Post by mcbeth on Feb 27, 2009 18:46:17 GMT -4
I agree that we should be permitted the ability to die with as much dignity as possible. I don't necessarily disagree with the concept of deciding when to end your own life if there is no hope left at all. I spent an entire month last summer, watching my mom's life drain from her, and thank goodness she had the ability to make her own decisions even up to the very end. She didn't want to be put on machines so when she stopped breathing at the end, they just waited for her very strong heart to stop beating and didn't do anything "heroic" to save a body that was too ravaged by cancer to go on any longer. I don't know that she would have chosen to end it all before "her time" came, because fortunately she had enough pain medication to allow her to be somewhat comfortable. (Which is exactly what good nursing care is all about, btw). But, she did say once that she didn't disagree with the concept, either. I have to respect anyone's decision that when there is no hope, that they shouldn't have to continue to suffer just because "medical advances" make it possible. I hold out hope for cures, but there comes a point where the body just stops.
As for Kevorkian, I have always been of the opinion that he got a little too much enjoyment out of helping people die, and I always thought he was just creepy. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always suspected his personal motives in the pursuit of allowing people to choose to die. (jmho).
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Post by al on Feb 28, 2009 0:22:07 GMT -4
I work with hospitals - I've seen alot of circumstances. There are more folks needed to advise/assist in termination.
I have seen many people suffer needlessly - both in my job and personally.
Why suffer, it's inevitable.
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Post by dej on Feb 28, 2009 4:51:39 GMT -4
Funnel, I agree as well. It needs to be an option, and is a personal decision to make once the condition is clearly terminal. My concern is that some people are weaker than others, and would opt for this because of the suffering during treatment.
When my wife was undergoing treatment for her cancer, there were times she swore that if there was a recurrence of cancer after the treatment, she would not do it again, feeling it would not be worth the additional suffering. Since then we have 12 more years together (and still counting) and she admits that it would be worth it to keep fighting until there is absolutely no doubt about the outcome.
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Post by shorti on Mar 3, 2009 18:44:29 GMT -4
This is a tough one for me... while i believe in the sanctity of life itself... I believe there is a time... It's where my faith & my fears collide...
I think if you have an incurable disease & the treatments are making the quality of your life so intensely painful & so bad then the option to stop all treatments is available... that's always available to everyone... from what i understand.... but to aid it by creating some "cocktail" I don't agree with that... because as the survivor(the family/friends) deal with grief - they would also have to deal with the what if's as well... i know that's not something I would want to burden my family with... it's tough... i agree that people should be allowed to die w/ dignity... and in peace... and with as little suffering as possible... because I too have personally witnessed close ones that have just faded away & suffered... and it was hard... for all involved... but i take peace in the fact that they are no longer suffering and they are watching over me now...
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Post by funnel101 on Mar 3, 2009 19:00:34 GMT -4
I believe in the sanctity of life as well, shorti. But when I was making the decision to put down my cat, who was dying of kidney failure, one of the most helpful statements I read online was that to not put her down would not be prolonging her life, but her death.
That being said, I don't think I could ever actually be the doctor (or the vet!) who administered those cocktails...
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Post by bchevy on Mar 3, 2009 22:02:10 GMT -4
We do it for our pets, we should be allowed the same peaceful exit for ourselves and our loved ones.
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