Posted on 10/13/2008 1:33:37 PM PDT by markomalley
A medical ethics expert has said hallucinogenic drugs could be used to enhance the experience of dying.
The controversial suggestions include using ecstasy and 'magic mushrooms' to encourage closer bonding with family members and reduce anxiety in the final hours of life.
Robin Mackenzie, director of medical law and ethics at the University of Kent, will speak out at a workshop in London today to call for people to be given more choice over how they die.
Dr Mackenzie told the Independent newspaper: 'We have the technology to enhance the experience of dying.
'With neuroimaging [brain scans] we can measure the impact of different practices, such as meditation or drugs, which would allow us to orchestrate our dying, just as we choose the form of a funeral service.'
Research is being carried out into the effects of psilocybin - the drug found in magic mushrooms and ecstasy in terminal cancer patients.
A study at the University of Los Angeles is due to complete in December and research is also being carried out in Spain.
Today's workshop is being organised by Exit International, an Australian group which advocates voluntary euthanasia.
It will be hosted by founder Philip Nitscke, who recently sparked outrage with plans to hold the first DIY suicide workshop in Britain.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Why not just starve to death, after all it’s ‘euphoric.’
I just want to know what someone in the health field says. Thanks.
Isn’t a morphine drip really a form of assisted death? I have watched two friends whose families had the morphine drip administered. It put them into what I would call an induced coma and slowed the heart rate down and then their death was more peaceful for the family. Isn’t this a type of assisted death? I know one family that is struggling with having administered this drug and feeling very responsible for their father’s death.
I just want to know what someone in the health field says. Thanks.
Not at all.
We give a very highly concentrated form and almost never by drip. We give it orally about 99% of the time and it absorbs directly in the mouth if they can’t swallow. Often we don’t have to give it at all, but if someone’s in alot of pain say dying of cancer, it’s the humane thing to do.
We NEVER EVER giv e someone morphine “for the family”.
I’ve worked for 6 hospices in the Atlanta area and not one has overdosed anyone, or sped things up. Hospice neither slows down or speeds up death.
It sounds like THIS hospice did a very poor job of educating these families you speak of though. I would invite them to go to a support group, alot of hospices host grief support groups, ask them to call or look in the paper, and maybe from a different hospice if that’s possible for them.
Hope this helps!
My father was in a coma, his ventilator was removed and the dr. upped his morphine drip, 24 hours later he was gone.
Thank you so very much for your reply. That helped. It was not a hospice situation. Both were in the hospital and failing quickly. The doctor’s asked the families if they wanted to do the morphine drip and they both agreed. It did make the passing go much easier. Your reply helped. Thanks!
Sure, sometimes people don’t have time to get on hospice but if they do, they should. But it’s important for even young people to get a living will.
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