The Right to die.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Let me ask you all this question:

Have you EVER "euthanized" ANYTHING beyond a bug yourself? Particularly, a mammal?

If you have, then you should know with that comes responsibilities, that are sometimes difficult to swallow. You cannot do it with cruel intentions and malice and it must always be done with compassion...

Extending it to humans is difficult--especially if one has never seen another human die albeit slowly, painfully or quickly. Then, it is tough to imagine modern burial techniques--i.e. one must still prep the body even if it is to be cremated.

The best anyone can do is not only have a DNR, no code (because my grandmother's was ignored prolonging her painful existence), but also a Physician's Health Directive, POLST form and a living will and trust.

I personally do NOT want any healthcare worker injecting me with any lethal injections of anything even if I am from the Borg Collective... If I die naturally, with minimal pain because of the morphine drip, then hey, K.I.M.

But healthcare worker assisted suicide no matter what the cause--unrealistic in a "civilized society"... We know we can do better. There are some fine scientists working on the concepts of pain management, chronic diseases of the aging, and improvement of the quality of life. We MUST persuade people that we are better and we will improve health and wellness by all means necessary!

Dr. AKA_Monet
Ariafya LLC

I know what you're saying, as I've sat by someone's side as they slipped away - and that's precisely why I really don't know how I feel on this topic anymore. I hate to say "you don't know it unless you've been through it," and I think people have been perfectly reasonable in this thread, but for me, the whole experience raised more personal questions that I haven't been able to answer.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I know what you're saying, as I've sat by someone's side as they slipped away - and that's precisely why I really don't know how I feel on this topic anymore. I hate to say "you don't know it unless you've been through it," and I think people have been perfectly reasonable in this thread, but for me, the whole experience raised more personal questions that I haven't been able to answer.

I know someone quite well who has to make "life and death decisions" about GMO rodents...

For aggressive euthanasia, by exsanguination, she says her limit is ~10 mice. For "passive aggressive" euthanasia, by asphyxiation, she says her limit ~50 mice.

For rats, after 2, she cannot work anymore.

And after a whole process of euthanizing rodents, she cannot work anymore for ~2 days because she says the whole process is too much for her. Sometimes, she has nightmares. Especially if blood was involved or a full necropsy (an autopsy for animals).

And publish literature on the subject, especially with veterinarian care, says folks limits differ from one animal to another. Like for rodents, not too bad, but for non-human primates, euthanasia is painful to do and watch...

She says sometime you can see in their beady little eyes. And euthanasia is different for neonates mice... She does not like having to do that.