Star Trek Star Leonard Nimoy's Widow Says He Asked for Nurses' Assistance to End His Life

[RandySF]

Leonard Nimoy, the actor who originated the role of Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, died in 2015 at the age of 83 from complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a new interview, Nimoy’s widow, Susan Bay, says Nimoy sought the aid of his nurses to end his life.

Nimoy went public with his illness in 2014 after being spotted at an airport in a wheelchair. The condition was blamed on years of smoking despite Nimoy having quit 30 years prior. He dedicated the rest of his life to a public campaign encouraging others to kick the habit, but his condition worsened.

"You cannot catch your breath," Bay tells Inside Edition, "He couldn't go out. For him to go from the parking lot to the movie theater, forget it.

"He was on a campaign to use his profile and make people think twice about lighting up," Bay continues. She then goes on to describe Nimoy’s final days, saying that Nimoy told her it was time and asked for the help of his nurses.

"He didn't want to be confined to a wheelchair and not able to breathe," Bay said. "[Nimoy’s nurses] keep adding a little more morphine over the period. He was in such a compromised situation that it did not take long. I believe in dying with dignity. Leonard believed ... in dying with dignity."



https://comicbook.com/startrek/2019/05/05/star-trek-leonard-nimoy-nurses-assisted-death/

[3catwoman3]

1. May his spirit...

...live long and prosper in whatever alternate universe might follow this one.

[in2herbs]

2. I wonder how many people would be less afraid of dying if they, and not doctors, controlled the

when and where?

[onethatcares]

5. I have never

attempted to use the drug, heroin.

If I am at the point in my life that I want out, I should have the right to pave the way on my terms.

[Grins]

3. Nimoy's nurses kept adding morphine?

"[Nimoy’s nurses] keep adding a little more morphine over the period."

I'm not a lawyer, but that's a sentence that should have never been written. For the sake of his nurse's or the hospital in which he received care. There is some Reich-wing Evangelical nutbag out there that could make a royal and legal stink about that (See also, Schiavo, Terri). Unless it is a member of their own family, of course (See, DeLay, Tom).

[lunatica]

4. He may have been in palliative care

It’s a time when the patient is going to die. The family is given morphine for the family to administer at the end of life under instruction from the doctors and nurses. One of the important decisions when someone is dying of a painful disease is the alleviation of that pain. There is no reason to force a terminally ill person to experience pain.

[Dixc]

7. Thank you for the common sense reply

In my experience, the nurses "advised" increased pain relief when the end was near. It was the last way for me to help my loved one.

[pazzyanne]

12. Thank you, lunatica!

Was just going to say this myself. My brother was in hospice the last 3 months of his life. He had a lot of pain (from cancer - Also a heavy smoker in his earlier life). He was given control of the PRN morphine so he could decide when it was time for his next dose and not be dependent on waiting for his next prescribed dose. My family was more than happy to have this option available to him. And yes, the nurses did bring it in to him when he asked for it.

[LastDemocratInSC]

16. Morphine is also given because it decreases the sensations of not being able to breathe.

It doesn't change the fact that the person can't breathe but it relieves the sensations and anxiety.

[blueinredohio]

17. My mother had palliative care then a week later she had hospice

she didn't receive morphine until she was on hospice.

[Larrybanal]

8. legal in CA

death with dignity is legal in CA and I know several people who were in hospice and offered the slow morphine way out...all but one took that option...one person was so far gone he had no idea what was happening but his ex insisted on keeping him miserable for far too long

[iluvtennis]

11. I voted for this in California. As long as someone's mind is legally sound, they should be able to

decide if they want to leave this earth in dignity.

[tymorial]

10. They increased the morphine over time. The argument they were managing pain is reasonable

It became legal in California later that year anyway. No one is going to bring charges. Still I do understand your point of view. Making this assertion could cause questions to be raised by local law authorities

[pdsimdars]

6. I had to have my sweet dog put to sleep last week. It was a beautiful experience.

She was given a shot that put her 'on cloud nine' and when totally relaxed given the final intravenous injection. I was laying right beside her and she just went into a peaceful sleep.
Now, if we can do that to our pets, why can't we help our loved ones? And also, if they are going to put prisoners to death, why can't they go that easily? It is crazy.

[iamthebandfanman]

9. ill never understand

why we cant stomach euthanasia for folks who have fatal illnesses that dont want to go through the pain of dying that way. i mean my god we do it for our pets so they dont live in agony.. wheres the disconnect there?

btw, im not a big fan of organisations like Hospice. I know they do some good work, but given my first hand experience i think they are nuts. i dont mind that fact they convinced my grandma to stop taking treatments and pass.. something im okay with, even if guided in that direction.. but its how she was treated in the hospital that disturbed me. they literally cut off your food and water and wait for you to die from it. like, what ? how is that non-painful ?? id rather take a bullet to the head than lay in a hospital bed for a week and half slowing dying from lack of nutrition .. which by that point my grandmother was unable to communicate to the people around her. i feel like they just wanted her to die as quick as possible to get her out of the hospice room in the hospital.
maybe im wrong.. sure feels like im not.
she didnt need to go through that while dying. its cruel (imho).

[Lars39]

13. A body's organs are shutting down, the need for food and water goes away.

Others can probably describe what happens much better.

[pazzyanne]

14. I don't know if this will help you or not.

Often times toward end of life, food and liquids cause discomfort, sometimes severe, and the patient loses interest in both. That is because the body's organs are shutting down and can no longer cope with processing food and liquids. It is, in many ways, an act of compassion. I don't know the circumstances for your grandmother, and it does differ from person to person. Just wanted to explain the reason this is done sometimes.

[blueinredohio]

18. I agree people should be able to chose when they're ready to die.

I'm sorry for what your grandmother went through. We were lucky enough to keep my mother a t home while in hospice. They showed us how to give the medicines and they said if she will eat or drink ANYTHING give it to her.

[Faygo Kid]

15. I have COPD and I quit smoking in 2005. It's awful.

That was after 37 years of smoking. Oops! I also have neuropathy, so I spend lots of time indoors with my friends here on DU, after a very active and physical life. It is what it is.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

19. COPD is nasty stuff.

Young people who want to smoke ought to be required to visit people with COPD.