(Disclaimer : This is not a flamefest) Regarding Panceriatic Cancer

[UndertheOcean]

I witnessed the demise of a few friends and relatives from this horrible death sentence. The saddest was my 29 year old cousin who practically was skin on bones when she died ... She was in so much pain we were GLAD she died and her suffering ended.

I think euthanasia must be legalized for such cases ... Painless and professionally executed euthanasia rather than forcing the patient to either suffer or attempt suicide.

We afford such mercy to dying animals , why not to humans ?

[Birthmark]

1. It doesn't have to be euthanasia

If a doctor merely writes a prescription for a powerful pain-killer --and explicitly lets the patient know that taking too much will them-- then the doctor need not be directly involved. It will be solely at the discretion of the patient.

[hlthe2b]

3. I understand singling out Pancreatic cancer, but some do

make it and I would never wish to take their hope away. Having said that, I am a staunch supporter of euthanasia with protections. We are so much kinder to our suffering aged & beloved pets, than our (supposed) beloved mom and dad.

[UndertheOcean]

5. Suicide by overdose does not have a 100% sucess rate

This is best left to professionals , rather than adopting a self-help approach

[Birthmark]

10. You're probably right.

But I think that euthanasia is a non-starter for a lot of people. I agree with you that a well thought out policy would be a couple of billion times better than my proposal. My comment is made with the idea in mind that euthanasia can't pass. But if it can...I'm all for it. It's positively inhuman to many the way things are at present.

[cynatnite]

8. I disagree with that approach...

For one thing drug overdose is not always successful. A number of things can go wrong. THat's not to mention the liability doctors can face for such a move.

Euthansia should be made legal in order to protect the patients who want to die because of their illness and to also protect those physicians who help them. There should not only be legal protection, but also an avenue for those patients who are terminal with a painful and protracted death ahead of them.

Just handing them pills is not the answer and can do more harm than good.

[kestrel91316]

2. I was very sad to hear today that Buddy (Patrick) Swayze

is fighting this nasty disease. He was a good friend of a colleague of mine some years ago and a very nice guy, from what I heard. Very sad to think what will probably happen to him.....

[Mike03]

4. Thanks for posting this.

Kick and Rec.

I'm in the process of trying to educate myself on every single aspect of cancer, and pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating.

My heart goes out to you and your cousin, and others who were affected.

After witnessing the suffering of some cancer sufferers, I would probably blow my brains out rather than go through treatment.

[bobbolink]

9. I concur with the very last of your post, and it SHOULD be our decision!

Those who would take away my decision sure aren't the ones holding my hand during the suffering!!!

[wellstone dem]

6. A very good friend of mine

also died of this terrible cancer. It sneaks up on most people, by the time it is diagnosed it is too late to effectively treat it. My friend was diagnosed in September and died in January. I miss her so much.

[alarimer]

7. It killed my grandfather 25 years ago.

It was really a death sentence then. I would think things had changed somewhat since then but I really don't know.

[Happyhippychick]

11. It took my grandmother 21 years ago.

I'm terribly sad about Patrick Swayze.

[Pastiche423]

12. We do in Oregon

http://www.deathwithdignity.org/