1ºLisa Mayfield Norton I think the point to such legislation is different people have different ideas of what dignity means. If needing to be in a diaper during the last weeks of life is okay by some people, then they are free to make that decision for themselves. Some people might choose to exercise aid in dying before they get to that point, however, because that is not an acceptable level of functioning to them-- they would not think of it as dignity at all. Some people might be in so much pain, they might choose to exercise their aid in dying option before natural death occurs.
Dignity is subjective.
2ºFrancois Dillinger well I'm not a RN but I'll tell you this there are very few RNs I wouldn't trust in my care or a loved one. They are the ones who are there every day and night taking care of us. I've worked with RNs, had them care for myself and family members, take care of loved ones in hospice and nursing homes and there is not a better group of people to do so. She didn't say she wouldn't help, she merely said there were better ways to ease pain and suffering and help people pass with dignity.
3ºLynne Stuparek I am sorry for your loss, and for your FIL’s suffering. That never should have happened. But I want to point out that providing morphine to ease pain in a dying patient is quite different than ordering doses of morphine (in this case fentanyl) at lethal doses. One of the men was still in the process of being stabilized, awaiting CT results, and had not complained of pain. Others were ventilated, thus sedated and not experiencing pain. One woman was given a dose of fentanyl which required 20 vials for a single dose. We need to be careful not to conflate comfort care with assisted dying.