Things Noticeable this week

[Sir Honkers]

Dr David Goodall's death certainly reinforces my opinion that the issues around assisted suicide are complex; and thankfully not being left up to people on the internet to decide on. While I confess to having qualms about it, if we are going to deny people the right to chose to die then we have an obligation to give their lives meaning and purpose. Something we don't do.

[patwynnfan]

Originally Posted by loosegoose

Dr David Goodall's death certainly reinforces my opinion that the issues around assisted suicide are complex; and thankfully not being left up to people on the internet to decide on. While I confess to having qualms about it, if we are going to deny people the right to chose to die then we have an obligation to give their lives meaning and purpose. Something we don't do.

I agree with your sentiments but when all there is an extremely painful death then there is little you can do.

The wife of a colleague had breast cancer for the second time, she was in her early 60's with 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren. She had had a full and active life but now she had cancer again, this time terminal. For the pain the doctor gave her daily morphine injections, these worked for a time. Eventually the dose wasn't strong enough to take away the agony of the cancer and when she asked for an increase in the dose, the doctor replied "I cannot increase your medication because it would be injurious to your health".

She lasted nearly 3 months before death finally released her from the pain. Assisted suicide does not increase the number of deaths, what it does do is significantly reduce the suffering of a chronically ill person.

[Roubignol]

Originally Posted by rupertramjet

Should have let her fall of a roof, a la Russian style, and blamed it on an accident! The last executions in the United Kingdom were by hanging, and took place in 1964, Russia has not executed anyone since 1996. Officially!

Originally Posted by rotobott

In Russia

In UK since 1964, but abroad since at least 2003, isn't it ?

[ultimatewarlord]

We're used to drug companies making massive profits with certain drugs. You really don't expect to see a high street name ripping off hospital patients to this extent.
W.H Smith selling toothpaste at £7.99. Pricing error, my ass.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-44084638

[seivad]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44097050

Well if Britain can't win this stupid competition any other way. Why not hire an asshole to run on stage mid song.

It'll go down in (UK) Eurovision history, I guess.

[Dr Pepper]

Originally Posted by Sam Spade

Wrong

He had no choice, only one state in Australia allows assisted suicide, and then only if you are terminally ill, David was not, it was a shame he had to travel all that way in order to end his own life.

I still say you're wrong in response-firstly the man was not terminally ill-and it was only his subjective opinion that his life should be ended.
Secondly-he could have ended his life privately-without involving other people-in his own home if needs be.
Thirdly he could have done it without involving the media spectacle that it became.

QED-it WAS all about him-and in particular being the CENTRE of attention for a period. This seems to be a characteristic of these type of crusaders....

[Sam Spade]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

I still say you're wrong in response-firstly the man was not terminally ill-and it was only his subjective opinion that his life should be ended.

He was 104, and tired of life, of his fragility, he wanted the choice of where and when he ended his life, Australian law denied him that.

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

Secondly-he could have ended his life privately-without involving other people-in his own home if needs be.

He could of, but what if it went wrong, what if his attempt caused unbearable pain, what if it did not work?

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

Thirdly he could have done it without involving the media spectacle that it became.

He wanted to publicise the reasons behind his decision to end his life, and why he had to fly half way around the world to do it, what he wanted was to end his life in Australia surrounded by his loved ones.

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

QED-it WAS all about him-and in particular being the CENTRE of attention for a period. This seems to be a characteristic of these type of crusaders....

It was about the right to die, his right to decide when and where, not about being the centre of attention.

[CARLTON BROWN]

Sorry to say that it looks as if the Home Office is going ahead with its ridiculous age verification, anti-porn proposal after all, despite some suggestions to the contrary. Take a look at this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-prove-18.html

[Dr Pepper]

Originally Posted by Sam Spade

He wanted to publicise the reasons behind his decision to end his life, and why he had to fly half way around the world to do it, what he wanted was to end his life in Australia surrounded by his loved ones.

It was about the right to die, his right to decide when and where, not about being the centre of attention.

In which case it was none of our business-but by turning it into a media circus he chose to make it our business-ergo attention seeker till the end= narcissist-and there was no need to fly half way round the world to do so.

In actual fact he's done the 'right to die-ers' a disservice-because his actions prove the lie of 'its just for those in unbearable pain'....

It may come as a horrible shock to you-but this sort of activitity is illegal in most countries...and for good reasons. First you allow it on the grounds of 'unbearable pain' then because of 'quality of life' then best for the family' then 'for convenience'. Its like torture-if you do it 'for a good reason'...then its only a matter of time before you do it for a bad reason.....and the Dutch teenager example should be all the proof needed to end the argument.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by CARLTON BROWN

Sorry to say that it looks as if the Home Office is going ahead with its ridiculous age verification, anti-porn proposal after all, despite some suggestions to the contrary. Take a look at this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-prove-18.html

So we present our private information on passport or driver's licence to a newsagent then. I can't see how that could conceivably go wrong...

The General Data Protection Regulation comes into effect in the UK on 25th May. I presume all these newsagents will have undergone all of the compliance procedures? Or can they just sell the cards without bothering to handle our personal data?

Someone needs to explain the data protection concept to the Home Office.