On Sat, 23 Jan 2016 18:01:17 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-01-23 5:01 PM, wrote:
>> On Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:52:50 -0500, Cheryl >
>
>>
>> So sorry, it's a tough decision. I sincerely believe though that it
>> is good that we can make this decision rather than them struggling to
>> live on a little longer. I did the same one with my cat in early
>> December.
>
>
>I wish that we could do it for people too. There comes a time to let
>go, and the decision to try to keep someone alive when they have a
>terminal condition is, IMO, more to do with selfishness than the best
>interests of the person who is suffering. We don't want to pull the plus
>because we don't want to lose them.

I told the doctor in ICU when David was dying that he did not want any
nonsense with resuscitators etc. but when I went for a coffee this new
from Ireland, doubtless RC prolifer, put him on the resuscitator. I
called a person I knew who was then Chairman of the National Ethics
Committee and she came in, checked David, checked his file and told me
she knew exactly how angry he would be and not to worry. She then
spoke to the doctor who flounced in and switched off the machine.

After David died as I was leaving with my kids, in front of them, he
said "I suppose you think you won?" so I told him that I supposed if
he didn't move out of my way my knee could really damage his testicles
- he moved.

So what I learned was (in Canada) you need a medical power of
attorney. My daughters have mine and if I can't speak what they say
goes. Forget about 'living wills' they carry no weight for us, but
medical P of A's do. Nothing short of that is guaranteed.