Right-to-die law takes effect June 9 - ContraCostaTimes.com

 

From my hometown newspaper, California has now passed this legislation. My experience is that once California falls, that domino takes all the Western states inside of 3 years, northeastern states in 5, midwest and south in about 10.

 

Will this be nationwide or federal soon and what do you all think about it?

I think this issue is deeply personal. Not just for the patient, but for the families. I can only say from experience with my father who just passed in Oct from a liver tumor, I'm thankful for every single minute. I also think that even medicated to reduce pain, there's a significant benefit for the families. I also understand from the patient's point of view that they may want to end it and I don't feel like I'd be able to begrudge them that. So, as convoluted as my thoughts are, I think it's very personal. Now my only reservation is I hate the role that puts physicians in. At what point do you advise your patient of this or even suggest it as a possibility if they are at that stage? What if the patient isn't, in your opinion, at the point where treatment would not benefit and yet they still want to end it? I think it's an ethics nightmare.

^ Well said.

 

Were I a physician, I would have a hard time suggesting the possibility before the patient brought it up.

Let's say this becomes legal across the country. At what point is it no longer a choice and patients are given the cocktail to hasten things because they are taking up space in the hospital/nursing home? After all, the nursing home stay is funded by Medicaid and is costing taxpayers too much, and heck you are going to die anyway.

Let's say this becomes legal across the country. At what point is it no longer a choice and patients are given the cocktail to hasten things because they are taking up space in the hospital/nursing home? After all, the nursing home stay is funded by Medicaid and is costing taxpayers too much, and heck you are going to die anyway.

And this "cocktail" is likely not cheap either. Sure, there are financial issues at play here as well. Another concern is the reimbursement for physicians on the matter. Lord knows, physicians and the facilities that employ them could have a financial interest/benefit in that "assistance" if the reimbursement is high enough. So, the longer I think about it, the less I like it.

I can't imagine that nursing homes, assisted care facilities and the like would be on board with this.

I can't imagine that nursing homes, assisted care facilities and the like would be on board with this.

You know, I wonder if the "waiting lists" would dwindle? If this became a mainstream deal, wouldn't they lose business?

 

I totally agree here pops

I'm all for choice here.

 

But one question I have is surrounding life insurance policies. Don't all policies have clauses that they will not payout if sucks is cause of death?

I'm all for choice here.

 

But one question I have is surrounding life insurance policies. Don't all policies have clauses that they will not payout if sucks is cause of death?

 

I think you meant suicide, right?? Most policies have an exclusion for suicide for the first two years...so people don't buy the policy after they are already contemplating suicide. Most policies pay even if the insured commits suicide after the two year exclusionary period...not all but most.

I think you meant suicide, right?? Most policies have an exclusion for suicide for the first two years...so people don't buy the policy after they are already contemplating suicide. Most policies pay even if the insured commits suicide after the two year exclusionary period...not all but most.

 

Nope. Little known fact if you die by a million sucks they don't pay out.

 

 

........yep should of spell checked.

I've been thinking about this very topic for a couple of years now. I think, after an extraordinary amount of time put into the research and consideration of l, it's a highly personal decision that should be available to all, within certain parameters. I believe a person should have the ability to choose the way they die, and should be able to orchestrate the circumstances of their death in a manner that preserves their dignity. There are any number of ways for a person to ensure their wishes are met post mortum. But in most states, except for DNR or such documents, a person is at the mercy of death....there is limited control over how that occurs.

How to Die in Oregon

 

Fantastic documentary on Oregon's law.

I'm in complete and total support of euthanasia.