It's worse than the article says, because it's from a doctor's perspective.
I have CRPS, one of the contenders for worst chronic pain you can have. It's a "suicide disease", because if it advances to stage 3/4, there's a suicide rate of about 70%. It sucks a lot. I've had well over 200 spinal procedures over the last 30 years to try to mitigate the pain, with dozens of other surgical procedures in less tricky spots.
I also have Brugada Syndrome, a "drop dead suddenly without warning" disease. When diagnosed, I wanted to take my time before consenting to having an implanted defib. The doctors announced that "Mr Foster, we believe you are not rational at the moment", fortunately I had a friend with me who assured them I was probably the most rational man in Brisbane.
I was threatened with an ITO (Involuntary Treatment Order) if I didn't go ahead with having an internal defibrilator put in me. I went ahead with the procedure.
So I can't even die by refusing treatment, as "sane" people resist dying at all odds. If I don't want invasive, painful procedures that take over a year to recover from, then the courts will claim I'm suicidal and issue an order to the hospitals to proceed with more bloody cutting.
No, sane people say "I've had enough". Fortunately my current GP understands, as he says "Sometimes people feel they've had enough medicine".
It's not personal-- the docs are there to cure disease and just doing what they know, personhood be darned.
Also, in the moment, it's entirely possible that somebody who is otherwise completely rational who just had a life-altering experience is temporarily less than completely rational and you're only hearing that one side of the story.
That's the problem. It's not personal, and humanity is not even a factor in that hospital's assessment.
Why does society refuse to allow people to have mental and physical autonomy in matters like this? Sure, they pay lip service to it, but when it comes down to the hard moments, we almost always end up erring on the wrong side.
Yep. They just see a life to save, and will do everything they can to achieve it. It get's worse with a rare disease, as they want to be in the paper about it.
> Did this threat come from a doctor? What an astounding lack of empathy.
Perhaps this is a US vs. other countries thing, but I live in Germany and was born in the UK, and I'm quite shocked that you are surprised by unempathetic (or downright evil) doctors
May I ask if you’ve considered taking measures to end your own life?
I think I’ve had an unusual number of people close to me choose that option, including my father recently so I guess I’m still trying to reconcile it all. Their pain vs mine, what could have played out differently, etc.
I sincerely wish the best outcome for you and yours.
Yes. I don't qualify for Voluntary Assisted Dying though. If I ever need it I can take stronger measures, using simple science and engineering. I did have a cardiologist suggest that if he was me he'd refuse getting implant upgrades and fixes, which was sobering.
Chronic pain changes you, and rarely for the better. It's nigh impossible for someone who hasn't had to deal with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for months or years on end pain that's up on the extreme end of the scale. We try to hide it, to protect our families and loved ones for what we live, but sometimes it's too much.
Suicide is natures' rational solution to unending torment. Christian teachings and traditions try to say that suffering is holy, and it is righteous to endure. How come it makes people into assholes then?
Between knowing I have the option, and the amazing power of venlafaxine, I do not need to either fixate on or commit suicide though. At least for a while now.
I will never judge anyone who intentionally kills themselves as I don't know how painful their reality was.
I have CRPS, one of the contenders for worst chronic pain you can have. It's a "suicide disease", because if it advances to stage 3/4, there's a suicide rate of about 70%. It sucks a lot. I've had well over 200 spinal procedures over the last 30 years to try to mitigate the pain, with dozens of other surgical procedures in less tricky spots.
I also have Brugada Syndrome, a "drop dead suddenly without warning" disease. When diagnosed, I wanted to take my time before consenting to having an implanted defib. The doctors announced that "Mr Foster, we believe you are not rational at the moment", fortunately I had a friend with me who assured them I was probably the most rational man in Brisbane.
I was threatened with an ITO (Involuntary Treatment Order) if I didn't go ahead with having an internal defibrilator put in me. I went ahead with the procedure.
So I can't even die by refusing treatment, as "sane" people resist dying at all odds. If I don't want invasive, painful procedures that take over a year to recover from, then the courts will claim I'm suicidal and issue an order to the hospitals to proceed with more bloody cutting.
No, sane people say "I've had enough". Fortunately my current GP understands, as he says "Sometimes people feel they've had enough medicine".