MAID Concerns - How Will Our Politicians Respond?

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I'm sorry Bette. I know you're going through some heavy stuff right now and I do empathize with you. Many of us are going through heavy s**t right now. It's still no excuse for ableism.

You wanted to poke at that bear. I didn't want to discuss it with you now.
 
Wait, wait. This isn't about a loss of cognitive abilities.....

Again, you are NOT understanding what end-stage dementia is like.

I have been trying to find information that helps you to understand. I am unwilling to post photos of my father, but, i did try to explains ome. I have the images of him burned in my brain.

I found some images of another man that line up to him about a year before hi death....but again not close to end-state.

There are articles,such as this one, which talk about treating dementia as a terminal illness with the same respoect for it. End-of-life issues in advanced dementia
The problem is that you can't give an advanced directive.
You don't know what it's like either, and you want the law changed because of your anecdotes, fears and feelings, that are not science based and cannot define the problem (isn't that the line you always use on me)?

Nor should we have advanced directives. We should be teaching people early to accept and expect changes to their abilities, whatever they may be. Starting with each of us, today.

Start loving the person you are going to be in 20 years, unconditionally.
 
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No bear poking here.

At all.

I have had elderly relatives die of a variety of causes. Dementia, nor stroke, would be places I don't wanna go.
 
If there is a choice, I want to be put down. Now, if that's just a bump in the palliative sedation, that's cool.
 
For what its worth I will jump in.

I haven't followed this thread in detail, and I don't plan to go back and read everything. I also understand where Kimmio is coming from.

But I do not believe it is ableist if people place parameters on their suffering. Dementia is a terminal illness that can be associated with profound suffering. I do not believe that a person pre-determining that certain symptoms of dementia would compromise their quality of life significantly - so much so that they would wish to limit their suffering - takes away from the value of my son's life.
 
Kimmio, what would you like to have given to you regarding what end-stage dementia is like.
I will find studies for you, if that will help. (I'm not sure that it will, so don't want to provide them if you aren't really interested).

Now, you say, I dont' really know.
I can name what specific conditions there are which would indicate that I should be able to be given MAID as a predirective.
I would work through those with a lawyer, and an expert in dementia care.
The ask is that I be given the right to do so.
 
I must also say that I agree with Pinga's statement. There is a significant difference between intellectual disability and progressive dementia.
 
Thank you, so much, DaisyJane, for speaking so clearly to the dilemma we speak of. Matthew is sacred. Bette is not.
 
For what its worth I will jump in.

I haven't followed this thread in detail, and I don't plan to go back and read everything. I also understand where Kimmio is coming from.

But I do not believe it is ableist if people place parameters on their suffering. Dementia is a terminal illness that can be associated with profound suffering. I do not believe that a person pre-determining that certain symptoms of dementia would compromise their quality of life significantly - so much so that they would wish to limit their suffering - takes away from the value of my son's life.
I'm sorry about Matthew, first.

I highly disagree with you. I think you actually have some ableism to work on too. Despite your education and experience. You're using your son to make points you have no business making.
 
What if you were just comfortable at the end of your life? Not enough? They have to take that extra step? Why? If you are comfortable then why is that necessary?


I have recently learned the hard way that death may not be as peaceful as we wish it would be. So, yes, sometimes that extra step is necessary.
 
Are there people with disabilities who are ableist? Yes.

Are there educators who are ableist? Yes.

Are their highly educated people with ableist ideas? Yes.

Are there medical professionals who are ableist? Yes.

Are there well intended parents of children with disabilities who are ableist? Yes.

Do those voices get heard while the voices of the disabled, ignored? Yes.

Is there internalized ableism? Yes.

Is society ableist? Yes.

With that, I am also out of here. It seems like feelings and personal anecdotes are acceptable science, acceptable learning, acceptable opinion, unless the one who has experience is coming from the disability rights are human rights position outlined by the UN. Our feelings don't matter as much as upper middle class educated feelings. Check your privelege DJ. That's all I'm saying. Because you've used your privelege the way you have and your experience the way you have...to advocate for MAID...I don't trust your opinion.

(Btw, replace the above with racism or homophobia, it's still true.)
 
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Kimmio, I provided one link. Did you happen to look at it?
What specific areas would you like me to find for you that aren't anecdotal?
 
Thank you, so much, DaisyJane, for speaking so clearly to the dilemma we speak of. Matthew is sacred. Bette is not.
Sorry Bette. Did I miss something? I am sorry if I offended you. I haven't read the whole thread. You are most certainly sacred.
 
Oh, s**t, no, DJ. I was talking about the difference in sacredness between those who have never had any real autonomy, and those who have the facility to have had so. I used Matthew's and my names as examples of the difference.
 
Actually I'm back for a second - responding to Kimmio's suggestion that I am speaking to matters to which I have no right to speak.

First, I have EVERY right to make the points I am making. I have spent years being told my voice - as a mother - did not matter. I have years of hard-won experience parenting a very disabled child. I have spent years pursuing advanced degrees. You do not get to decide that my expertise does not matter simply because we disagree. I have every right to speak, and to hold my my carefully considered views.

I understand where you are coming from, and there are points of your overall argument with which I agree. But just because you disagree with someone does not make them ableist, nor does it give you the right to decide whose voice matters. For someone who is very concerned about oppression you seem very willing oppress.
 
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Oh, s**t, no, DJ. I was talking about the difference in sacredness between those who have never had any real autonomy, and those who have the facility to have had so. I used Matthew's and my names as examples of the difference.
Okay, got it. I somehow worried that my post suggested that your life was less sacred which made me concerned.
 
Start loving the person you are going to be in 20 years, unconditionally.

This isn't always about loving your future disabled self. Sometimes it is about determining what constitutes suffering and placing boundaries.

Kimmio, you are rightly concerned about making sure all voices are heard. Which means that you need to allow all voices to be heard, not just yours.
 
This isn't always about loving your future disabled self. Sometimes it is about determining what constitutes suffering and placing boundaries.

Kimmio, you are rightly concerned about making sure all voices are heard. Which means that you need to allow all voices to be heard, not just yours.

Removed insults



If suffering is the issue then why can't someone who lost their life savings and has no home ask for MAiD? A person whose grief is taking a long time? Why can't someone suffering the effects of racism ask for it? Why only people with disabilities?
 
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