It horrifies me that many people are forced to starve and dehydrate to death if they cannot administer a lethal dose to themselves because anyone who assisted them in seeking a painless, dignified death would be a criminal risking prosecution for murder.
Yes they are, but unlike a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare they're not legally binding. I'm glad you mentioned Living Wills, which led me to find this explanation http://www.compassionindying.org.uk/living-wills
Now that you've raised the subject I remember that I have a Living Will, written by Solicitor #1 who wrote my Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs. In fact, I gave PoA for Prop n Fin to Solicitor #1. But I hired another, Solicitor #2. to write my PoA for Health and Welfare. Now I wonder whether I'd have done well to ask Solicitor #2 to upgrade my Living Will as (I see on the website I've just linked to) would have been possible. I'll contact Solicitor #2 about this. In any case, I think my Living Will should be in her safe alongside the PoA for Hel n Wel, not in Solicitor #1's safe where it is now.
'It horrifies me that many people are forced to starve and dehydrate to death'
Yes indeed, it's horrific. My subscription to Dignitas (the Swiss clinic) is due but I've mixed feeling about Dignitas. Reading some of the remarks made during the House of Lords debate, I found myself thinking about practical ways to shuffle off this mortal coil without having to schlep all the way to Switzerland. One of the Lords mentioned people 'putting a plastic bag over their head' and I thought, oh yes, plastic bags are easily got. I could use that method in secret so that nobody could be accused of crime for helping me.
As usual when discussing assisted dying, I feel a need to point out that I'm not suicidal. Yet. Nor am I mentally incapable, yet.
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It horrifies me that many people are forced to starve and dehydrate to death if they cannot administer a lethal dose to themselves because anyone who assisted them in seeking a painless, dignified death would be a criminal risking prosecution for murder.
Living wills are a good option.
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Yes they are, but unlike a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare they're not legally binding. I'm glad you mentioned Living Wills, which led me to find this explanation http://www.compassionindying.org.uk/living-wills
Now that you've raised the subject I remember that I have a Living Will, written by Solicitor #1 who wrote my Power of Attorney for Property and Financial Affairs. In fact, I gave PoA for Prop n Fin to Solicitor #1. But I hired another, Solicitor #2. to write my PoA for Health and Welfare. Now I wonder whether I'd have done well to ask Solicitor #2 to upgrade my Living Will as (I see on the website I've just linked to) would have been possible. I'll contact Solicitor #2 about this. In any case, I think my Living Will should be in her safe alongside the PoA for Hel n Wel, not in Solicitor #1's safe where it is now.
Reply
Yes indeed, it's horrific. My subscription to Dignitas (the Swiss clinic) is due but I've mixed feeling about Dignitas. Reading some of the remarks made during the House of Lords debate, I found myself thinking about practical ways to shuffle off this mortal coil without having to schlep all the way to Switzerland. One of the Lords mentioned people 'putting a plastic bag over their head' and I thought, oh yes, plastic bags are easily got. I could use that method in secret so that nobody could be accused of crime for helping me.
As usual when discussing assisted dying, I feel a need to point out that I'm not suicidal. Yet. Nor am I mentally incapable, yet.
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