More pain still

[Planey]

I was inspired to ask this question when reading the Chronic Pain thread, but did not want to derail it.

Does the church have a policy on euthanasia? Do any of you have your own personal view on the topic?

As I get older and more fragile (and have older relatives in various states of health) this topic has come more to the fore in my thoughts.

Graeme

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Here in Oregon there is a "Death with Dignity" law for physicians to prescribe lethal doses of medication. The patient has to fill out a form, the patient's physician must also, as does a consulting physician, psychologist, and pharmacist.

http://public.health.oregon.gov/PROVIDER...s/pasforms.aspx

I kind of look at it this way: I wouldn't let an animal suffer, and if a person is of sound mind who has a terminal illness, and who has done all the required steps listed above, I would not begrudge him/her the privilege of dying with dignity.

This sort of hits home with me. My father was in a coma. He had brainstem function, but the doctors said he had brain damage from being without oxygen for too long. My dad had always said he did not want to live as a "vegetable." We could have kept him alive with IV fluids and feeding tube, because he was capable of breathing on his own. My mom, brother, and I all agreed that Dad would not want to live that way... so they unhooked the lines, and took my father to a hospice. My mom and brother stayed with him from 8AM to 4PM, and I stayed with him throughout the evenings and nights. It took 4 days for him to die. But he wasn't in pain. And he wasn't going to be a vegetable.

So, while my father was not given a lethal dose of medication to end his life, it was ended by our decision to withhold nourishment.