It's just not fair that we can help our dogs pass on but not our loved ones...

[GloBug]

My sweet friend Enes is dying. She is 91 and had has a wonderful and long life. But she has stage 4 ovarian cancer, her legs are so swollen they look like they will pop, she can't eat, you can tell that systems are slowly shutting down, she is miserable and she is ready to pass on to her next adventure. She is not dying with dignity and grace, but with misery and pain. Her son and her daughter are burdened with the heartbreak of watching their strong, always happy mother slowly die, and the pain they experience is great.

We can help our furbabies, and even though it is painful, watching them try to live like this would be deemed cruel. But we can't help those we love the most.

It's so very very sad.

 

[KathyC]

I agree with you. My mother died from pancreatic cancer & suffered so much pain. She couldn't eat & barely took sips of liquid; in the end she didn't even look human as she was simply a skeleton with a layer of skin. It was horrible for her going thru it & for us watching it happen to her. One nite while holding her hand I whispered in her ear that it was ok for her to go, that I would always love her & I would miss her terribly but I had a wonderful husband (she loved Mike like a son) and 4 great kids that would be here to take care of me & I didn't want her to suffer any longer. She passed the next evening; it was the day after Thanksgiving. When someone is laying in bed suffering with absolutely NO hope of ever getting out of that bed again, they can't eat or drink but they are in pain, there should be a way to help them pass over. People should not have to suffer; we don't allow our pets to suffer & it shouldn't happen to people either. Yes, they tried to control the pain but she was never totally pain free until she finally slipped into a coma. There has to be a better way.

 

[popcorn]

It has always bothered me how humans are left to suffer sometimes horribly, but our fur babies can pass without too much suffering. But Alf told his Dad that it was okay to leave us that the whole family was settled, And he was gone by the next morning. His Mom passed soon after she saw 3 of her grandkids & said her goodbyes. Its almost like they need our permission to leave.

Liz

 

[Calgon1]

Greetings from the home state of Dr. Kevorkian.

I understand where you're coming from completely. Assisted suicide is legal in the three American states of Oregon (via the Oregon Death with Dignity Act ), Washington (by Washington Death with Dignity Act), and Montana (through a trial court ruling). There are relatively substantial barriers to the use of some of these provisions.

For instance, Oregon requires a physician to prescribe medication but it must be self-administered. The prognosis must be for a life span of 6 months or less. The person must be a 'resident' of Oregon. A written request for prescription and two oral requests from the patient are also needed to escape criminal liability, plus written confirmation by doctor that the act is voluntary and informed. This limited model has withstood Constitutional scrutiny: Gonzales v Oregon 368 F. 3d 1118 (2004), affirmed by 546 U.S. 243 (2006).

Having worked in a few hospitals, I can tell you that it is a heck of a lot more widespread than just the three states listed above. Many, many hopelessly, terminally ill are, after comprehensive discussions with their attending physician, placed on a morphine (or other medication) drip. The only difference is that the attending doesn't (literally) try to make a Federal case out of the whole thing. It's just quietly done and it's over.

I will include your friend in my prayers. Hoping for a calmer transition to her next life ... God Bless.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

I understand what you are talking about.

I was fortunate that when we learned that my mother's cancer was spreading -- she wasn't in a lot of pain. The cancer spread quickly and she was gone within 6 weeks.

Feel so sorry for your friends going through this.

 

[nieciez]

Glo it is heart breaking and barbaric that we leave our loved ones to suffer so when there is no hope. Your friend will continue to be in my prayers.

 

[Corky]

Glo - I am sorry for your friend. It is a shame that we treat our terminally ill with such disrespect at the time that they need our respect and "true" love the most. No one should have to suffer at the very end of their life.

 

[Cruise cutie]

Glo I simply cannot comprehend your friend is in Pain...*WHY*???????we have hospice and comfort care..I can truthfully tell you I will NOT ABIDE by my patients being in pain, and they are not!!

someone is falling down on their job..your dear friend should NOT HAVE to suffer..Calgon is right..get in action !!!demand better options.!! It's 32 years now I've done this ...

my patients DO NOT SUFFER!!.now truthfully it may be that Enes would be in a twilight rest in order not to suffer but she would not be in pain..so the choice has to be made to say goodbye to hear "TALKING" from her to you all..BUT choices have to be made..good luck..huge hugs..Joanne

 

[ShipMaven]

Glo - I, too, am wondering why a hospice facility is not involved. We have such services/facilities here in the Phoenix area. They will not take measures to prolong life, but do take appropriate measures to make the patient comfortable and relieve pain as much as possible.

May God watch over Enes.

 

[GloBug]

Oh, she has hospice. They come out to her home twice a week. My friend and her daughter do not like the nurse that comes out. The doctor sent out some morphine and it is in the refrigerator. Julie, the daughter, asked the hospice nurse to tell the doctor they were ready to begin using the morphine, and to ask how much to use. When the hospice nurse came back, Julie asked what the doctor had said, and the nurse responded that she hadn't spoken to the doctor yet. Julie was livid, and was going to demand a new nurse, the last I spoke to her (which was Saturday).

But still, why should they go through this. Our animals don't...

 

[JacquieP]

Glo, they need a new Hospice nurse NOW! My mom had Stage 4 Ovarian cancer also, but had a stroke the day after surgery, followed by a heart attack the following morning. It was, by far, the best thing that could have happened to her. After I saw the CT scan following the stroke, I called the doctor and asked him to stop the hyperalimentation feeding, then reminded him of her Living Will. No problem after that. I sincerely hope your friend is able to be pain free and at peace soon!

 

[Jeanie]

I am so sorry for your friend