Brittany: Dying on 1st November

Image courtesy of NBC

American Brittany Maynard, 29, has decided to end her life on 1st November 2014. She was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumour in January 2014. After an initial prognosis suggested that she could survive for anywhere between 3 and 10 years, she was later told by doctors that she had just 6 months to live.

In the below video she explains her decision:

“I can't even tell you the amount of relief that it provides me to know that I don't have to die the way that it's been described to me, that my brain tumour would take me on its own... I will die upstairs in my bedroom that I share with my husband, with my mother and my husband by my side and pass peacefully with some music that I like in the background.”

As The Independent reports:

Brittany is remaining positive about the time left to her and urges others to “seize the day” and pursue only that which they care about.

“I hope to enjoy however many days I have on this beautiful earth and spend as much of it outside as I can surrounded by those I love."

Brittany has also emphasised that her decision is a direct result of her tragic circumstances and is not suicide.

This is a photo from her wedding day:

Image courtesy of The Independent 

Do you think Brittany is making the right choice? Do you think Oregon is right to have this euthanasia law? Do you agree that it is not suicide? 

UPDATE: Brittany ended her life on 3rd November 2015 - Read more <here>

The Ultimate Grandfather!

Image courtesy of CNA

50,000 pilgrims went to Saint Peter's Square last Sunday for a meeting between Pope Francis and elderly people from around the world. One special guest was retired pontiff Benedict XVI.

The current Holy Father described Pope Benedict as the “grandfather of all grandfathers". He went on to say. “I have said many times that it gives me great pleasure that he lives here in the Vatican, because it is like having a wise grandfather at home. Thank you!”

Pope Francis went on to warn against the reality of the abandonment of the elderly, describing it as a “hidden euthanasia,”. He said it is the effect of a “culture which discards” human beings. Children, unemployed youth, and elderly persons are discarded on the pretense of maintaining a system of economic “balance”. The center of this culture is no longer “the human person,” but “money.” reported CNA.

“We are all called to counter this poisonous culture of waste." was a clear message to all.

Read more <here>

Judge says "Switch It Off!"

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

BBC reports, "A boy with irreversible brain damage should be taken off a life-support machine despite the objections of his parents, a High Court judge has ruled."

This decision is despite his mother saying, "He is still alive... Miracles do happen.", and his father saying, "We know he is reacting to certain things. He still has life. We don't have the right, as parents, as individuals, to take this privilege from him."

They are devout Christians and don't feel they have the right to make this decision, however medical experts do not see a possibility of recovery. The judge says it is in the boys "best interests". 

A lawyer for the hospital said, "Her [the mother] deep religious feelings and beliefs lead her to believe... there may be a miracle. Unfortunately, looking at the medical evidence, the miracle the parents hope and pray for is unlikely to happen."

Do you think the right decision has been made? Do you think the parents have allowed their religious belief to overtake medical advice? Do you think they will look back and agree it was the right decision? Why do you think the hospital took this to court?

Read more <here>

Murderer Allowed Euthanasia Rather Than Prison

Image courtesy of The National Post

Frank Van Den Bleeken is a 50-year-old Belgian serving life in prison for sexual assault and murder. He has successfully argued that he is living a life of  unbearable psychological suffering and has been granted the right to die under Belgium’s liberal euthanasia laws. At least 15 other inmates are considering making requests as a result.

Since 2002, the people of Belgium can ask doctors to end their lives if a panel of medical experts agree that their physical or mental suffering is, "unbearable and irreversible".

Ven Den Bleeken has argued that he would never be able to overcome his violent impulses and as a result would spend his life in prison, “I’m a danger to society... What am I supposed to do? What’s the point in sitting here until the end of time and rotting away? I’d rather be euthanised.”

He asked to end his life three years ago. The board that assesses each case said he had to seek psychological help first but after he failed to find such treatment, his request was granted on Monday.

Do you think this is an acceptable use of euthanasia laws? Is this similar to allowing capital punishment? Is this an easy way out of his jail sentence? Is this a result of the 'slippery slope' of euthanasia opposition talk abut?

Read more:  <here>

UK Euthanasia Bill (2014): More People Dying?

Image courtesy of Golden Age of Gaia

The pro-euthanasia campaigners are again rallying for support as the Assisted Dying Bill gets closer and closer to be debated in parliament (Read about it <here>). This week has see two key supporters emerge... former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey (see <here>) and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (see <here>).

The Dignity in Dying group (see <here>) have been trying to use social media to trying and gain further support. This is the message that has been promoted on Facebook:

However, in direct contrast, an interview extract has appeared from a former Euthanasia supporting professor from Holland. In his summary he says:

• Beginning in 2008, the numbers of these deaths show an increase of 15% annually, year after year.
• The annual report of the committees for 2012 recorded 4,188 cases (compared with 1,882 in 2002).
• 2013 saw a continuation of this trend and I expect the 6,000 line to be crossed this year or the next. 
• Euthanasia is on the way to become a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer patients.
• The Dutch Right to Die Society NVVE have declared they will not rest until a lethal pill is made available to anyone over 70 years who wishes to die.
• In the first years after 2002 hardly any patients with psychiatric illnesses or dementia appear in reports, these numbers are now sharply on the rise. Cases have been reported in which a large part of the suffering of those given euthanasia or assisted suicide consisted in being aged, lonely or bereaved.

He concludes by saying:

I used to be a supporter of the Dutch law. But now, with twelve years of experience, I take a very different view. At the very least, wait for an honest and intellectually satisfying analysis of the reasons behind the explosive increase in the numbers. Is it because the law should have had better safeguards? Or is it because the mere existence of such a law is an invitation to see assisted suicide and euthanasia as a normality instead of a last resort? Before those questions are answered, don’t go there. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not likely to ever go back in again.

Read the full article <here>

Do you think the support of people such as Lord Cary and Desmond Tutu will be significant? Do you think the UK Government has considered the full implications of the laws? Do you think a law change would be a slippery slope? Do you think the law should change?

Plenty more on euthanasia on the blog <here>

Deaf... Going Blind: Euthanasia the Solution?

Two Belgium men ended their lives just before Christmas after being born deaf and finding that they would soon also go blind.

Marc and Eddy Verbessem had spent their entire lives together, sharing a flat and both working as cobblers. Their local hospital refused to give them injections to end their lives, but eventually they found a doctor willing to carry out the procedure.

The law states euthanasia can be carried out in cases of 'unbearable suffering'. Yet debate has begun as to whether this can be classed in this way or not.

Their older brother said:

"Many will wonder why my brothers have opted for euthanasia because there are plenty of deaf and blind that have a 'normal' life... But my brothers trudged from one disease to another. They were really worn out." 
The doctor who carried it out said:

"It is certain that the twins meet all the conditions for euthanasia."
However Chris Gastmans, a professor in medical ethics at a local Catholic university responded by saying:

"Is this the only humane response that we can offer in such situations? I feel uncomfortable here as ethicist. Today it seems that euthanasia is the only right way to end life. And I think that's not a good thing. In a society as wealthy as ours, we must find another, caring way to deal with human frailty."

Most cases in Belgium, which legalised euthanasia in 2002, are for patients who are terminally ill or suffering physical pain. However the law has very recently be changed to allow the euthanasia of children and Alzheimer's sufferers.

Do you think this was the right decision for the twins? Do you think that euthanasia was the only solution? Do you think the law is correct to allow for such cases? Do you think there will be future implications as a result of this case?

"I'm Not In Pain": Vegetative Patient

BBC reports:

 

"A Canadian man who was believed to have been in a vegetative state for more than a decade, has been able to tell scientists that he is not in any pain.

It's the first time an uncommunicative, severely brain-injured patient has been able to give answers clinically relevant to their care."

This was the result of a new technology, an fMRI machine, and will mean that doctors and scientists will need to think again when dealing with patients in PVS (Permanent Vegetative State).

Usually after emerging from a coma there are no signs of communication or awareness of surroundings.

However doctors have now said:

"Scott Routley has been able to show he has a conscious, thinking mind. We have scanned him several times and his pattern of brain activity shows he is clearly choosing to answer our questions. We believe he knows who and where he is."

Another patient in PVS who has undergone this groundbreaking technology has shown that he has been able to gain new memories in this state:

"Steven Graham answers yes when asked whether his sister has a daughter. His niece was born after his car accident five years ago."

This raises some interesting questions when debating the topic of euthanasia. Arguing that the patient is uncommunicative or unaware may not be true. Would this knowledge effect a families decision? Does it make it harder to decide what to do?

Read full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20268044

Watch: The Mind Reader: Unlocking My Voice - a Panorama Special - will be broadcast on Tuesday 13 November at 22:35 on BBC One. Or catch up later on the BBC iPlayer using the link above.

'Brain Dead' Man is now Trainee Accountant

An article published by The Christian Institute highlights the case of Steven Thorpe who was declared 'brain dead' by doctors and his family advised to switch off his life support machine. Doctors said he would never recover from his injuries sustained in a car crash aged 17.

They chose to get a second opinion. Steven, now 21, said:

“I think the doctors wanted to give me three days on the life support machine and the following day they said they wanted to turn it off. The words they used to my parents were ‘you need to start thinking about organ donations’. I think that’s what gave my dad energy, he thought ‘no way’."

Steven is currently training to be an accountant. He has had four operations to reconstruct his face so far since leaving hospital.

The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said:

“The injury to Steven’s brain was extremely critical and several CT scans of the head showed almost irreversible damage. It is extremely rare that a patient having suffered such extensive trauma to the brain should survive.”

This raises lots of questions about the switching off of life support machines. Often families are reluctant to 'let go' of loved ones, and often claim to see flickers of life. Sometimes these are genuine, other times wishful thinking. Steven's family had to go private for a second opinion, should this be standard on the NHS? Just because a recovery is 'rare' and damage is 'almost irreversible' should families be given 3 days?

The article links to other stories of 'miralce' recoveries: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/%e2%80%98brain-dead%e2%80%99-man-stuns-docs-with-his-amazing-recovery/

Govt Opposes Paralysed Man’s Bid For Euthanasia

"The High Court case of a paralysed man who wants a doctor to be allowed to kill him should be dismissed, the Ministry of Justice has said.

The Government says there are “compelling reasons” for the court not to get involved in Tony Nicklinson’s case, saying that only Parliament can make such a decision.

A medical ethics expert cautioned that cases such as Mr Nicklinson’s are “extremely rare and hard cases make bad law”."

The MoJ are suggesting that as this case is rare, it would be dangerous to allow euthanasia as it would set a precedent. This is what many suggest is the danger of a 'slippery slope'. Do you think in these circumstances euthanasia should be allowed? What would see as the implications if they did?

Read more: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/govt-opposes-paralysed-mans-bid-for-euthanasia/

Jail for Man Aged 79 Who Killed His Dementia-Stricken Wife

This case highlights some of the issues concerned with a persons quality of life, but also of the sanctity of life. Could this be considered a straightforward murder? Was it in fact a 'mercy killing' more similar to euthanasia? Do you think his sentence is correct?

Family anger at jailing of 'devoted and loving' father who killed his dementia-stricken wife
Couple who married 58 years ago were ‘devoted and loving’
But Malcolm Beardon finally snapped when wife Margaret turned on him and accused him of stealing from her
The couple's son said he did not blame his father for his mother's death

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087158/Malcolm-Beardon-Family-anger-jailing-placid-father-killed-dementia-stricken-wife.html#ixzz1kI6adAQE