dudeone Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Deaf Twins Going Blind Euthanized By Russell Goldman | ABC News – 9 hrs ago http://news.yahoo.com/deaf-twins-going-blind-euthanized-165500992--abc-news-topstories.html Two deaf twin brothers in Belgium were euthanized by their doctor after realizing they were going blind and would be unable to see each other ever again, their physician says. The 45-year-old men, whose names have not been made public, were legally put to death by lethal injection at the Brussels University Hospital in Jette, on Dec. 14. The men, who were born deaf, had a cup of coffee and said goodbye to other family members before walking into hospital room together to die, their doctor told Belgian television station RTL. "They were very happy. It was a relief to see the end of their suffering," said Dr. David Dufour. "They had a cup of coffee in the hall. It went well and a rich conversation. Then the separation from their parents and brother was very serene and beautiful," he said. "At the last there was a little wave of their hands and then they were gone," More than 1,000 people legally availed themselves of doctor-assisted deaths in Belgium in 2011, most of them were terminally ill cancer patients. The brothers are unique in that their illness was not terminal. Belgian law, however, allows doctors to euthanize "suffering" patients who are both mentally sound, over 18 and want to die. Belgian lawmakers are considering a law that would extend euthanasia to dementia patients and children, whose families and doctors consented. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanucksSayEh Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Ridiculous that people get thrown in jail for doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobble Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 If patients are competent and have a valid reason, I don't see why doctors can't help them out humanely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillerGenuineDraft Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 This makes me happy. Most people become sympathetic to one's situation and think that Euthanasia is flat out wrong. Those who are empathetic to one's situation can really see why euthanasia can be a good thing. I'm glad they ended their lives happy. You don't hear that too often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Makes sense under the appropriate conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobble Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 My great uncle is currently in hospital. He is 98 and due to complications he is just waiting out his time in a hospital bed. Now, I probably can't imagine what it'd be like to be in such a position yet, but if I had the option to say my goodbyes and go out on my own terms, you think it would be respectful to have that option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Korea Bob.Loblaw Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I bet the deafblind community is in an uproar after this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gumballthechewy Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I would rather be dead than suffer to tell you the truth. People have a right to death, it's their life to do with what they please. If I was in a coma with low hope of ever coming back or if I ever became a vegetable, pull the plug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcgillnuck Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Unfortunately this is just one of those issues that politicians can't take a stand on in this country if they want to get elected. pro-euthanasia = pro-death pro legalizing marijuana or pro safe injection sites = pro-drug anti expansion of the prison industrial complex = pro-crime There's just not a lot of room for nuance in Canadian politics. Everything has to be in black and white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tearloch7 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Unfortunately this is just one of those issues that politicians can't take a stand on in this country if they want to get elected. pro-euthanasia = pro-death pro legalizing marijuana or pro safe injection sites = pro-drug anti expansion of the prison industrial complex = pro-crime There's just not a lot of room for nuance in Canadian politics. Everything has to be in black and white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin 'The Norris' Bieksa Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I bet the deafblind community is in an uproar after this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom-The-Great Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 dont think they have seen or heard about this yet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckster19 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I bet the deafblind community is in an uproar after this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Nothing really that controversial. The brothers could have easily committed suicide without doctors anyways. The last part is scary, where family and doctors can decide to euthanize you without your consent. Lots of gray zones there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Sad story, but its nice to know that they went off on their own terms, happy and together. Hopefully one day Canada will allow people in similar positions to make the same choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bookie Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwboX_Ebzto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.K. Chesterton Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Euthanasia is sadly becoming more and more acceptable, as indicated by the members of this forum. What is obvious is that once you make it legal, all sorts of abuses of it will happen, particularly if it becomes legal when all the baby boomers reach a ripe old age and we greedily seek their deaths so we won't have to pay for their care. All in all, while being deaf and blind is no doubt a difficult thing to live with, I think there are much harder circumstances in life than that. People can still live vibrant lives without their hearing or sight. I think it's a mark of selfishness that people would take their own life, a life not really their own, but a gift. “Think of all those ages through which men have had the courage to die, and then remember that we have actually fallen to talking about having the courage to live.” - G.K. Chesterton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdeath Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Henrik: Good thing you don't have a twin Manny! Manny: I'M NOT DEAF EITHER YOU IDIOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Common sense Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Henrik: Good thing you don't have a twin Manny! Manny: I'M NOT DEAF EITHER YOU IDIOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danthecanucksfan Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Henrik: Good thing you don't have a twin Manny! Manny: I'M NOT DEAF EITHER YOU IDIOT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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