It's a tough, moral dilemma. The end of my mom's life was excruciating as well and she couldn't eat or drink. Her life was always rough and I know she stuck it out as long as she did for us even though I knew she was suicidal. It kills me not having her but it would be worse if she was still around and in that kind of physical and emotional pain. This may seem horrible to some people but the way I see it, if we feel it's the right thing to do to put our pets down when they're in excruciating pain and there's no real hope for getting better then why do we feel it's wrong to say someone in that situation shouldn't want to or actually kill themselves...that's just my opinion

Among the many things that hospice workers helped us with was obtaining medical power of attorney and do not resuscitate orders for free & quickly.

Again, I can't possibly praise them enough. I cannot imagine how we would have gotten through that time without their assistance.

To try and compare euthanizing a pet that has no soul and a human being created by God is absolutely ridiculous!

Hospice was a great help when my grandfather passed away. They not only help the patient, but were great with the rest of the family and explaining things, and helping us deal with everything, especially emotionally.

i agree letting her have access to the medication just in case. i also agree with the previous poster who made the comment about putting a beloved pet down is the "humane" thing to do, but not the case for a human? Not everyone believes the same. i would want the option if it were me dying and slow and painful death.

Actually, it's not at all. Assuming that the doctrine or ideals of one's own religion are applicable to the life or situations of another, however...*walks away from an epic rant that none of us have time for*

Put very simply: all living creatures have finite lifespans and, for various reasons and to different extents, our parts wear out. The failure of some parts of the body often cause strain/pain on other parts, which decreases the quality and value that one finds in their own lives.

Being animals ourselves, in choosing to have pets we are essentially taking a less powerful animal into our care. When said animal's body reaches the end of it's lifespan (prematurely or not), we as the more powerful animals make the decisions that it cannot. We will end that animal's life, so as to end it's suffering.

The freedom of choice in this arena is still being fought, largely due to legal nightmares. Some of this is understandable, some is not...*avoids another rant*...ANYway...

OP - I'm sorry that you're going through this. The potential loss of a loved one can be incredibly difficult, especially if it's drawn out. That said, knowing that your mother is of sound mind, decisions that involve her welfare are still hers to make.

I'm going to be very blunt with you: if someone truly wants to take their own life, they are going to find a way to do it. While this is very likely a horrifying concept...so are failed attempts. To be completely honest, if your mother intends to use her medications to end her own suffering, taking those medications away will most likely cause her to look for another option. Other options that become available to her may be spontaneous and/or out of her control, and the results less certain...therein possibly causing more pain.

Do not reflect poorly on yourself for being compassionate. You are able to look beyond the prospects of your own loss and sorrow and, instead, look at the reality of another person's suffering. That is a relatively rare trait, and can be difficult for others to relate to. In letting her keep her medications, you are making no decisions for her - simply letting her have control over her own life, as most of us would likely want in a similar situation.

My heart goes out to you - this is not an easy situation. The choices your mother makes are her own, and for her own reasons: they are not your responsibility, so long as she is mentally capable of making them.

Your role in this is to be her loving, caring child, and see that she knows and feels that love for the rest of her life...which is something you seem to have covered *smiles*.

I know that we're strangers, but I'm just a PM away if you need someone to talk to. Good luck to you.

I'm so sorry for your family for having to endure this. There is no good or easy answer, certainly not one that a person who hasn't been through what your mother and your family have can give. I lost my mom very suddenly, so I wouldn't presume to understand your situation exactly (and I hope that others who haven't been in your shoes don't likewise presume).

I'm gratified to read that so many people have found such solace with hospice care. That seems like a very worthwhile option to investigate.

My heart goes out to you and yours. May your mom find peace and surcease from pain.

I thank you for this! It gives me a different way of looking at how I react to things. I have been made to believe by multiple people around me that I am cold and heartless because this is definitely a trait I have. I have a sort of "to-each-his-own" way of looking at life in general and somehow that comes off wrong. When my grandma died, while everyone else cried I was grateful that she was no longer suffering. I thought something was wrong with me. It's how I feel about my mom. She's suffered a long, long time. And I don't fear death and haven't for a long time. I think that plays into it too. I'm pretty matter-of-fact about all this and a lot of people things that's odd. Heck, I think it's odd. But I hate what her life has become more than I hate the thought of her death. I hate that no one who has met her in the last 20 years really knows her at all. This person that is left isn't my mom. I mourned the loss of her a long time ago.

Weren't pets also created by God, assuming there is one? Also, I might be crazy, and I probably am, but my pets mean as much to me as my family members because they are my family. That said, a person should have say in the way they go.

With my HMO you decide what you want to do or not to do , this is an Advanced Directive, if I say DNR ( do not resucitate) it must be honored. At my HMO this information is on the computer. My ex husband had a DNR drawn up by a lawyer , the hospital honored his wishes, He was in the hospital in hospice care and he only lived a day or two after all treatment was stopped. My two sons were impressed by the hospice nurses in the care they gave to their dad.

:hug:

Eliana, my heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time :hug:


I would like to ask that no further comments about the souls of animals be posted in this thread and that any further replies here be limited to support for the OP. If you would like to comment on animals, please visit http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/gene...have-soul.html

Thanks :)

:hug:

You couldn't pay me enough to take away meds under those circumstances. Frankly, I'd want her to call me when she'd taken the dose so I could stay with her as she left this world.

*cringe* sorry..I wasn't trying to spark any debate, that wasn't the purpose of my post.

I hope you're doing alright Eliana. You're such a strong person and we all care about your well being.