There has been a scandal in Spain, about the consensus among the Medicos, that they will administer barely concealed euthanasia. In that they have been quietly putting extreme cases of cancer, brought into emergency, to ‘sleep’!

A big investigation found that in some cases the Medicos had asked the implicit consent of the nearest and dearest.
In todays paper there is the big debate that is going on in medical circles. The article is titled “ Trapped in Technology”. It points to the many cases that exist where there is a body maintained on Intensive Care – but with NO inhabitant – the person is in fact dead! As they say that there are many cases where they fight and prevent death – but the victory is Pyrrhic !.

They also quote a Prof. Lorda of the School of Public Health in Granada who says that the Vatican finally accepted that it was purposeless to prolong the life of the Ex Pope and allowed him to die in the Vatican. Also quoting the case of Terry Schiavo , who they say felt no hunger ,because there was no living person in what was effectively a living corpse.

A similar but more difficult problem arose with a brilliant 28 yr old History Professor who had a fever and intense feeling of illness and spinal pain. At the hospital next day they found that he had gangrene in the arms and legs. Septic Meningitis in ALL the body. Under profound sedation he was stable and then they had to make a decision – what next?.

To save the life , but have a living torso – or ?. The Medicos wanted to amputate , but the parents said NO! – 29 days after admission he died. Was there such a thing as a “ Right” decision?,

Premature and malformed babies also come into the discussion. Some half of the cases , where there is every possibility of a very bad quality of life , they are allowed to die.

There is also the discussion where it is technically possible to resuscitate but ethically doubtful . As they point out , terminal patients are vulnerable to being shifted to the private sector where the treatment is very very expensive – chemotherapy costing 5,000 E a shot , “ and it is difficult to distinguish between the interest of the patient and the commercial interest of the Hospital !.”

As one medico pointed out “ the use of technology has changed the treatment of the sick and has dehumanized the relations with patients”.

A further interesting development in the treatment of Cancer is , most unusual , based on maths!. It says that the tumor only increases because there is ‘empty’ space at the boundry.of the tumor.

The idea is to fill this empty space with neutrophils [ granulocyte – white blood cell ] . The tumor unable to expand starts to contract !. It was tried out on rats, and now has been used on a case of liver cancer , with great success . At least the orthodox are realizing that their existing methods are bankrupt , and trying something new.

It will be interesting to see the replies received to your post!
Usually, the subject arouses heated opinions similar to that of the abortion debate...
From my reading on the subject, and from debate over it here in Australia, I still remain undecided regarding euthanasia being a legal, viable and ethical option.
One thing I did read that made my blood run cold was that in, I think it was the Netherlands (please don't scream at me anyone as I may be wrong as to the country in question), many, many terminally ill or elderly people who are no longer able to take care of themselves in their own home are increasingly choosing euthanasia in order to relieve the burden on their families. In fact, they feel 'obligated' to take this option as it is one that is legally accessible to them and to choose not to take this road, infers selfishness and and a disregard for the toll they are taking (often financially but also physically and emotionally) on their carers.
Personally, I think, like homeopathy I suppose, each and every case (where euthanasia could be an option), is unique unto its self.
My daughter died when she was 5yrs old - the 1st hospital and then the ambo's managed to keep her alive on a life support system, until and while, she was being transferred to another hospital but somewhere in between hospitals, someone made the decision to remove the life support.
If I had been given the choice, I don't know what I would have decided...as I said each case is unique...she may have recovered eventually, on the otherhand, she may have remained for years in a vegetative state...who knows...
Anyway, I am looking forward to more posts on the subject especially as it is widely known that homeopathy cannot 'kill' someone but can ease their last moments and perhaps even bring them forward so there is less suffering for the patient.
Fiona
P.S. I start a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health specialising in Chronic and Palliative Care next year, I also volunteer at a cancer help centre (it supports patients who choose orthodox or alternative treatments without bias) and have recovered from cancer so it is a subject that holds a particular interest for me.

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Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost 1874 – 1963)

Dear braveheart
I'm dutch and all my relatives live in the Netherlands and don't think you have the correct country,the elderly are taken in to the family in holland,not abandoned like here in the usa left in homes for the elderly to rott.Perhaps a link to this story? so we can see for ourselfs.

Regards the issue of death it is a personal thing to decide to die or not by letting go of lifesupport.I suppose your 'religious' upbringing will determine this.
The fear of death is a big issue for many. One must prepair ahead to make end as you like it to be.And yes homeopathy can't kill anyone,it will make the transition easier if that is wanted.Sorry about your daughters death,no parent needs this sorrow no matter what one believes.To be a mother,give life,birth to a baby and then see them die is the worst horror...............
Gina Tyler

Hi Gina,
I did not EVER mean to imply that Dutch people euthanase their elderely, simply there was a law that allowed euthansia by choice as opposed to it being a criminal act in other countries. Please forgive me for any inference made, it was not intended to be malicious, simply a comment on certain laws in certain countries. And yes, I agree, that like the USA, the elderly here are also often left to rot in nursing homes. I lasted working in one for 3 whole days but left ASAP because I was so appalled at the conditions and treatment meted out to people who were in what was considered to be a highly respected nursing home.

__________________
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost 1874 – 1963)

Hi Passkey:

This is a malicious interpretation of the facts - sycosyhilitic and insensitive.
ED: OK I should not get into judgements here, but clearly this man (Hes' in the school of public health as a professor???) has no idea what he's talking about.

THis one I fuly agree with.

If someone is terminally sick or on the verge of death, why do they need technology? Why does the tate have to decide what should be done with them in terms of care? Is it becasue people have become so insensitive to life in any form that they'd rather just do away with it, or leave the decision to the state?

Instead, they can be home, looked after by dutiful family or offspring. They can be given homeopathy, food and water. It calls for some amount of sacrifice, love and maturity. BUT that never hurt anhone in the long term. I and I personally believe taht anyone who took this route would be abundantly blessed by GOd above (or that Supreme Being) for the rest of their life.

It is up to each individual to make a difference in these situations - always remembering that one can be in that situation oneself in the future. Wouldn't one, as a human being prefer anothers love? Epecially from people one has loved in ones life?

If anything, the Pope's illness and death was a manifestation of how love goes around and comes right back to you. Hardly an example for euthanasia!

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http://www.homeopathy2health.com

Your religious upbringing or current beliefs have no legal validity in a country/state whose laws forbid euthanasia. Although these anti-euthanasia laws in Australia have been courageously challenged - one recently that saw a devoted elderly husband being given a 2 year suspended sentence for relieving his terminally ill wife of her unrelieved and intolerable pain (like he was gonna do it again 2 years time with another wife!) - and continue to be.
However, I do see where you are coming from but think that it raises the old debate of the Church vs. the State vs. the People and not necessarily in that order.
Once again, I think you are brave to raise the subject but think we should try and stick to the humanist way of looking at things rather than raise the touchy subject of the late Pope for instance!
There probably are Catholics on this forum and trust me, you don't want to upset a Catholic who idolises the Pope and thinks he is 'the voice of God on earth'.

__________________
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost 1874 – 1963)

Read Kent's lectures about this subject.

However from personal experience, if you give a remedy to help with transition, if the vital force is still strong, then you will either remediate their condition for a period of time or they will go (because they are ready to)

In my experience a remedy was selected (on the basis of Kent's lectures and repertorisation) and the recipient was able to recover for a period of time and then die some 18 months later in a peaceful and dignifed manner, having sorted out what they needed to in the interim.

Ouch Fiona! (on behalf of Catholics - must be very few on this forum.)
I don't "idolise" the Pope, but I would expect him to hear and be close to the voice of God on earth - most of the time...

Interetesting!
What happened with this case?
thanks!
d.r leela

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http://www.homeopathy2health.com

I probably lean more on the side of 'let nature take its course' without helping someone to die (by means of actually giving them something that will definitely bring about their death). I would never want to be put in the position of someone asking me to assist them to die. But in thinking about this more deeply, I realise it's not so simple. If someone who was suffering tremendous pain asked me to give them something that would definitely end their life - I simply could not and would not do it. I would consider it a tremendous burden - and not my place to hasten anyone's death. Having said all that, Ozzie made a very good point about palliation; treating someone with homeopathy to ease their suffering -- and if they are ready to go - they will. If not ready to pass on, then perhaps their quaility of life will be improved enough to regain some dignity during their last days without suffering.

On the topic of the elderly and nursing homes. To think this is what so many people have to look forward to after living a long life just wrenches me. What a sad, lonely end to a long life. My mother in law recently passed away and my father in law is coming to live with us. Personally, we could not bear the thought of him going into a nursing home. It will definitely change our daily lives in almost every respect - but we felt there was no other option. The way we see it is: this is life - elderly family members are a rich part of the family - not disposable burdens. And we also feel that the changes to come are not all going to be 'bad' even if hard work at times. Hopefully the experience will leave a deep impression upon my children about the value of life (and family) and what it means to love selflessly - and how to cope with changes that come along. I pray when others are faced with the same situation, they will put their elderly family members needs as a high priority, even if it means making major changes to their own lives. I cannot believe this topic arose when it did. Talk about syncronicity.

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"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

What a lovely, heart-warming post...

__________________
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference.
(Robert Frost 1874 – 1963)