Forums » Open clinical » Radiology » Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 21/3/2012 11:42 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 6
First: 25/6/2010 Last: 21/3/2012 |
He does not have "locked in Syndrome" as stated in the media. This diagnosis includes the inability to express himself verbally, or I belive communicate. From what I have seen on television he looks capable of sucking from as straw, although another would have to place or put a drink in a position to enable this. The question then is whether a lethal drink could be given to him to drink himself. So we go back to aiding and abetting suicide, not actively killing. But hey, this is only my opinion. Any one who choses to can express thier opinion. Poor man, no one would wish that on any one. |
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 27/3/2012 3:58 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 177
First: 23/12/2010 Last: 26/4/2013 |
I think he should be allowed to terminate his own life if that be his wish. But there is more to life than that. One today is exposed to life (in the media) being all about enjoying and pleasure. What happens when the honeymoon period with life being a "bed of roses" ends? More money should be spent on counselling and preparing everyone who falls sick and indeed preparing everyone for the eventuality that life has its end stage, when sickness returns us back to the dust from which we spring. That is where a "measure" of "spirituality" is essential in our daily lives. Having said that, I must mention that almost every elderly patient I know here in India, is of the opinion that their life should not be a prolonged burden for someone else. Just my opinion. Joe |
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 18/6/2012 8:55 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1452
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 25/5/2013 |
There was a Channel 4 Dispatches on just now about Tony Nicklinson's attempt to get the courts to rule it is ok for a doctor to kill him. I was surprised to hear that in the Netherlands (where this practice is legal) that around 3,000 people die a year with the help of a doctor. Seems quite high to me? Also, having seen Tony he seems like a intelligent man but his physical disability is making his life a misery and he is completely dependent on his wife as a carer. No one knows what it would be liked to be locked-in and I am sure it can be a miserable existence. However, the programme tonight showed Tony as a human being with his full mental capabilities. Some might say this shows that he should have the autonomy and decision to die and others might say that this shows he has life and potential. I wish him well whatever the outcome. |
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 18/6/2012 10:23 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3045
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 20/5/2013 |
I somewhat unwillingly agree that Mr. Nicklinson should be allowed to kill himself, & it is afterall his self wish, which I think should be honored considering his “locked-in syndrome” & his wife's opinion being ”the only way to relieve Tony’s suffering will be to kill him. There’s absolutely nothing else that can be done for him”. Mr. Nickinson definitely has a right to choose what happens to him given he is in such an appalling situation where his intellect is undimiminished but his physical body is a prison with walls that are insurmountable and only one exit available but it is a tortuous and lengthy route out which is very unlikely to have the doors flung open. A complex & difficult to take decision, but the wishes of Mr. Nickinson should be honored. |
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 19/6/2012 10:34 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 184
First: 13/10/2009 Last: 24/5/2013 |
My initial response was that this is the wrong question - it is whether someone else should be allowed to kill him. He has limited options as it very unlikely that he will win his case. Firstly he could refuse fluid and nutrition. As this could be seen as a suicidal attempt any attempt to relieve his distress could also be seen as aiding and abetting suicide. Of course he could be lucky - there must be some doctors who would see this as appropriate. Secondly he could consider Dignitas but would need to join and wait for the stipulated period. There must be enough folk who would make anonymous donations to help , if help be needed - and any supporting fund would not have to stipulate its purpose? We see assisted dying as an isolated issue , but there are those who argue that those with major disability should be kept alive because that is how Society shows it respects its vulnerable. Certainly the arguments about the vulnerable lead one to suspect that this group should not be able to refuse life prolonging therapy - and this applies to everyone , as once one loses consciousness one loses capacity and becomes one of the vulnerable..... Although a longterm , strong supporter of assisted dying , I am very aware of pressures at times for therapy to be withdrawn or withheld inappropriately from some of those who really are vulnerable and I have had to resist these pressures more than once. The problem is that opponents of assisted dying do not seem to want to engage in discussion on how to protect this group.
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 19/6/2012 2:30 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1452
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 25/5/2013 |
I fed all the text preceding this post into wordle, which shows how often certain words have been used in this debate so far. The larger and bolder the words, the more times they have been mentioned. 
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 19/6/2012 2:55 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
The title of this forum is actually wrong because the debate is not whether Mr Nicklinson should be able to kill himself- the answer is he phyysically cant. |
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Re: Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
posted at 20/6/2012 4:30 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2952
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 25/5/2013 |
It is Catch 22. We must also consider whether the needs of one person should affect the lives of millions. Legislative changes may open up a Pandora's Box which we can't close. The Netherlands have their solutions; the Germans theirs in 1942 at Wannsee. It was just another conference.
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Forums » Open clinical » Radiology » Should Mr Nicklinson be allowed to kill himself?
