Paralympian has said she is "thinking about euthanasia" after Rio Paralympics

[NDallasRuss]

"Marieke Vervoort, a Belgian Paralympian set to compete at Rio 2016, has said she is "thinking about euthanasia" after the Games because of the pain caused by her incurable degenerative spinal disease that prevents her from sleeping.

She told the Daily Express (h/t John Carney of the Daily Mail Australia): "I have a bucket list, including stunt flying, and I have started thinking about euthanasia."

Speaking to Le Parisien (h/t Carney), she said: "Everybody sees me laugh with my gold medal, but no one sees the dark side. I suffer greatly, sometimes sleeping only 10 minutes a night—and still go for the gold. Rio is my last wish."

Link to article

I say that she's lucky that she lives in a country where she has the right to decide for herself how her life goes, and when the quality of life has diminished to the point where it's no longer worth all of the pain and suffering.

 

[BelemNole]

Tough lady. Glad she can choose to go out on her terms once she's ready.

 

[Lemon Thrower]

she needs to make sure she does those things in the correct order.

 

[fsu1jreed]

Tough lady. Glad she can choose to go out on her terms once she's ready.

This...........I have similar plans once my life becomes a daily !@#$ show. Hopefully, euthanasia is legal here by that time.........otherwise, I'll have to down a script and go swimming.

 

[S3M1N0L3]

Amazing that in America it is illegal for an adult to make an informed decision about ending their own life on their terms due to medical issues..

Land of the free...

 

[SoddyNole]

If you are going to off yourself why would the legality of such actions be a concern?

It is sad they can not come up with a way either surgery, medicine or some other avenue to remedy such pain.

 

[NDallasRuss]

If you are going to off yourself why would the legality of such actions be a concern?

While in some places attempted suicide is a crime, the main issue here is with the assisted part. It would be way better for someone to be able to a) decide for themselves, and b) have the procedure performed by trained professionals, rather than downing a bottle of pills and going swimming.

 

[fsu1jreed]

While in some places attempted suicide is a crime, the main issue here is with the assisted part. It would be way better for someone to be able to a) decide for themselves, and b) have the procedure performed by trained professionals, rather than downing a bottle of pills and going swimming.

This!

 

[S3M1N0L3]

If you are going to off yourself why would the legality of such actions be a concern?

It is sad they can not come up with a way either surgery, medicine or some other avenue to remedy such pain.

Life insurance for one. Nobody will pay if you off yourself, even if it is the most humane ending.

Man, if I ever get to a really bad state, I want an OD of propofol. I had an endoscopy and that stuff knocks you out so quick you can't even pay attention to the process of "going under". You just wake up when it's all done. So I can't really think of a better way. You'd be knocked out instantly and just never wake up.

 

[SoddyNole]

Life insurance for one. Nobody will pay if you off yourself, even if it is the most humane ending.

Man, if I ever get to a really bad state, I want an OD of propofol. I had an endoscopy and that stuff knocks you out so quick you can't even pay attention to the process of "going under". You just wake up when it's all done. So I can't really think of a better way. You'd be knocked out instantly and just never wake up.

That is incorrect on life insurance. Typically the policy has to be in force for 2 years.

 

[fsu1jreed]

That is incorrect on life insurance. Typically the policy has to be in force for 2 years.

Nope, my life insurance through my work has a suicide clause.........granted I've got the maximum amount which is 4x my salary, or almost 200K, so maybe that's why that is.

 

[LesClaypool]

Atypical that there WOULD be a suicide clause beyond 2 years.

 

[nynole1]

Amazing that in America it is illegal for an adult to make an informed decision about ending their own life on their terms due to medical issues..

Land of the free...

Ironically, that's often the excuse used to end the life of an unborn child and its completely legal.

 

[S3M1N0L3]

Ironically, that's often the excuse used to end the life of an unborn child and its completely legal.

I was going to mention that in my original post but wasn't going to open that can of worms. Killing perfectly healthy unborn babies in the womb is a "woman's right" but ending your own life as a sane adult due to debilitating disease is not. Putting your sick dog down is "humane" but putting down sick humans is "illegal" even if it is their wish to end the suffering.

I'm guessing the reason has more to do with the health industry wanting to get as much out of you as possible before you finally kick the bucket.

 

[Gonolz]

I really wish someone would explain to Ryan Lochte that this is an option. I'm not sure, however, that he would be smart enough to understand that it has nothing to do with kids in China.

 

[Lemon Thrower]

on a related topic, there has been at least one case of a full paraplegic being partially healed (therapy is ongoing) by stem cell injections.

https://blog.cirm.ca.gov/tag/kris-boesen/

 

[Random_John]

Here is a Pro/Con on the subject:

www.euthanasia.procon.org

 

[fsu1jreed]

on a related topic, there has been at least one case of a full paraplegic being partially healed (therapy is ongoing) by stem cell injections.

https://blog.cirm.ca.gov/tag/kris-boesen/

While I like to see anyone paralyzed get anything back, he was just hurt in March of this year............there's absolutely no way that you can point to the stem cell therapy as the reason he got anything back. They even state that.

It’s not unheard of for people with the kind of injury Kris had to make a partial recovery, to regain some use of their arms and hands, so it’s impossible to know right now if the stem cell transplant was the deciding factor.

Now, had he been hurt for numerous years and then that happen, then they might have something.........but as of now, he is still in spinal shock.

 

[NDallasRuss]

...spinal shock.

 

[SoddyNole]

boy band?

 

[NDallasRuss]

boy band?

Yes, but they'll be very death metal-ey.

 

[SeaPA]

I saw this other story this morning & found it interesting and somewhat related.

http://wbay.com/2016/09/07/groups-ask-county-to-stop-jerika-bolens-planned-death/

Fourteen-year-old Jerika Bolen suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type two. The incurable disease destroys nerve cells that control voluntary muscle activity. Jerika’s movement is mostly limited to her head and hands. She said she is in constant pain. Her mother, Jen Bolen, agrees with her daughter’s wishes to enter hospice care.

However, several groups who push for rights of the disabled, are now pushing the State & County to prevent her from doing as she wants, essentially arguing that because she's a minor she can't make such a decision, and if her mother makes that decision for her it's child neglect.

 

[fsu1jreed]

I saw this other story this morning & found it interesting and somewhat related.

http://wbay.com/2016/09/07/groups-ask-county-to-stop-jerika-bolens-planned-death/

Fourteen-year-old Jerika Bolen suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type two. The incurable disease destroys nerve cells that control voluntary muscle activity. Jerika’s movement is mostly limited to her head and hands. She said she is in constant pain. Her mother, Jen Bolen, agrees with her daughter’s wishes to enter hospice care.

However, several groups who push for rights of the disabled, are now pushing the State & County to prevent her from doing as she wants, essentially arguing that because she's a minor she can't make such a decision, and if her mother makes that decision for her it's child neglect.

Wouldn't wish that on anyone.