The problem with this is even the most disturbed and extreme cases of mental illness can resolve. People do get better, albeit it sometimes takes years. I worked in psychiatry for 33yrs, 5 of them running a forensic unit in Sussex which dealt with the most seriously ill people. I saw many advances in therapy and drugs which enabled many people to recover and function well. These same people had spent years expressing a wish to die, they were very glad that option had not succeeded for whatever reason once recovered. The one thing I felt the longer I worked as a nurse was that no one has the right to take life, assist such while in a position of power, or write anyone off. This is not to minimise the distress living in such a condition may entail. I would never judge those that make suicide attempts or sadly take their own life. I hold on to the memory of a chance meeting some years ago when taking my girls to toddler group. An ex-patient of the forensic unit was there, as always in these situations I did not register any recognition to preserve her dignity. She approached me however and described what staying alive through a decade of horrible torment now meant to her with a young baby and happy marriage. Made my day.
But as you have said Most can but means some can't be helped. I see assisted suicide as a better way of going about killing yourself. At least this way you can say bye to your loved ones. Instead of them finding you have killed and having to witness a terrible sight. But I only agree with assisted suicide for people with a mental illness if it have had a period of time being watched by a doctor.
This story is getting attention now. It just proves how messed up America is. A 13-year-old in Pikesville, Maryland is facing assaultcharges for kissing a 14-year-old girl. Local WBFF says that the Baltimore County Police andBaltimore County school officials filed assault after an 8th grade students at Pikesville Middle School kissed a girl who was a year older than him on Wednesday. School officials said that the girl immediately said she had not wanted the boy to kiss her. The incident only took a second, but that was enough for it to be considered assault by the school. Local reports say that the kiss was a result of a dare, and was not intended as an act of assault. In years past this might have been dealt with by the school and parents, but in this no tolerance era, the school defaulted to filing a police report. Now, the police have confirmed that the boy is facing a second-degree assault charge. No one was injured, the police say, but they stand by the decision to arrest andcharge the 13-year-old, rather than resolving this incident peacefully and without locking a child in a cage. http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/09/charges-filed-against-13-year-old/#
Sorry Beefy, my point was it's impossible to tell in psychiatry who will eventually recover. Even the most skilled practitioner can't tell. So who chooses those who can die? Also remember most of us smug nurses and Drs like to see ourselves as life savers and incorporate it into our personal value systems and codes of conduct. I think most people are comfortable with that. But hey, the uplifting (and healthy) thing is it is now discussed openly. In my early years death was given many names, not all easily recognisable. I still squirm to remember missing the coded clues given me while working on a medical ward, I spent 5 mins asking a dead person if they wanted sugar in their tea.
I see it as a person has a right to die as much as they have a right to live. At the end of the day for some people it is too much to handle and we will never know how much pain they are in. I agree with you about openly talking about is a good thing tho.
Assisted dying is a difficult issue in psychiatric cases...are they in a fit state to make such a decision? But in the cases of terminally ill patients, I think they could enjoy their remaining life more knowing they face an easy death. It could extend their life because they might delay suicide because it is within their control. Mentally I think it could be better for such patients. On the other hand, people who feel a burden already, may feel even more of a burden knowing they had an option. A very difficult subject.
Patients are allowed to exercise their right to have a DNR, but in extreme cases of being terminally ill and in extreme pain they are not allowed to have assisted suicide....doesn't make sense to me. I remember a couple of years ago of an English man who motor neurone disease had a documentary made about his story all the way up to and including his death in a Swiss clinic. I am not normally an emotional bloke but have to admit his story made me very sad, he had the full backing of his family because of the pain he had to endure every day and had no quality of life.
. There was also a programme presented by the late Terry Pratchett, which took the viewer right through the whole assisted dying process. Pratchett was considering this line of self determination because he'd been diagnosed with alzheimer's disease.
Whilst you're all enjoying football today, I'll be worrying about how much nipple is too much for YouTube. Glamorous eh!?
Just discovered that Pimms with ginger beer (which is delicious anyway) is even better with a large squeeze of lemon juice. Happy Days.
Haha, no, in all seriousness it's something fairly sheer that young madam is wearing in the latest video and it goes beyond 'hint' to 'fairly obvious'. Now I'm all for a bit of controversy and pushing boundaries, but not if it means the vid gets taken down by YouTube. That would not be good...
Did you see Mourinho's face when out with his daughter who had let everything hang out? As for Fable: Talent doesn't need tits.
I too worked in Mental Health services for 33 years, and new many who were actively suicidal, some of who were 'successful'. It always seem to me to be a matter of choice. It was my choice as a health professional to try and save a life and by doing so I preserved the patient's choice to choose again..
