I think it should be legal around the world, though maybe not for coma patients. In the UK where I live, I believe patients are allowed to tell doctors that they wish not to be resuscitated should their heart stop, which is sort of a similar thing. I think a person should be allowed to tell doctors to allow them to die after a certain time in a coma.
The main argument against it seems to be that it would be abused, with inheritance-grabbing relatives persuading some poor old guy to allow himself to be killed. But in countries like Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal, there are very few or no cases this happening (so far as I know). So I don't really see the problem; although I feel for someone who feels they need to make this decision, I think it is their moral right to be allowed to make it.
My father in law said he didn't want to be resuscitated whereas my dad said that he did - until the end. Both died in extreme pain, my father in law screamed the ward down before he died and my dad wasn't allowed more morphine as he wanted to be resuscitated. Seeing his pain I had to withdraw liquids so he could get out of here peacefully.
It's the worst decision I ever had to make but if he had been a dog I would've injected him myself :( He had nothing to leave so there was no issue about inheritance but the stress caused me to go totally deaf in one ear.
Damn... I'm sorry. That's really sad :( It must feel terrible... but if it's any consolation, I think you did the right thing. The right choices are always the hardest ones to live with. I hope you can eventually come to terms with what happened.
The main argument against it seems to be that it would be abused, with inheritance-grabbing relatives persuading some poor old guy to allow himself to be killed. But in countries like Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal, there are very few or no cases this happening (so far as I know). So I don't really see the problem; although I feel for someone who feels they need to make this decision, I think it is their moral right to be allowed to make it.
It's the worst decision I ever had to make but if he had been a dog I would've injected him myself :( He had nothing to leave so there was no issue about inheritance but the stress caused me to go totally deaf in one ear.
It is not an easy decision to live with :o((
xx