(December 6, 2021 at 9:51 am)Lawz Wrote: I recently started work in a care home for people with profound neurological illnesses. Several of the residents can clearly be defined as being "totally locked in." From wikipedia, for those unfamiliar with the term:
Quote:Locked-in syndrome (LIS), also known as pseudocoma, is a condition in which a patient is aware but cannot move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body except for vertical eye movements and blinking. The individual is conscious and sufficiently intact cognitively to be able to communicate with eye movements.[3] results are normal in locked-in syndrome. Total locked-in syndrome, or completely locked-in state (CLIS), is a version of locked-in syndrome wherein the eyes are paralyzed as well.
They cannot move their eyes to communicate, they cannot eat or drink nor move a single muscle to, say, scratch their nose, and are kept alive through having nutrients pumped into their stomachs through a tube. To say these people have a low quality of life would be a serious understatement, IMO. I do not know how many are suffering with this globally, but it's probably far more prevalent than is commonly thought due to the taboo and, IMHO horrific nature of TLIS and, of course, the fact these afflicted people are incapable of speaking up for themselves.
It strikes me that given the likelihood these individuals are, shall we say, severely unhappy with their lot, that euthanasia seems the safer option rather than risking their living a protracted, potentially decades lone, living...well, hell. Sometimes it even crosses my mind that although I've moved into this line of work to care for people, what I'm actually doing is torturing many of them through sustaining their lives. Dark thoughts indeed.
Speaking for myself, if I could carry a card in my wallet that said "in the event of total locked in syndrome, please administer an overdose of morphine" I would. I'm in support of having the option of assisted suicide for those with agonising and incurable medical conditions anyway yet this graphic experience of caring for those locked in has doubled down my resolve on this issue, call it euthanasia if you will.
I've started campaigning with https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/
Thoughts and experiences? Thanks.
I agree with you if these people have been diagnosed as 'locked in' . I seem to remember a film with Robert De Niro as a locked in person.
However, if a formal diagnosis has not been made, you might be making some unfounded assumptions. EG A person with catatonic schizophrenia can also present that way. Such people tend to be hyper aware and will at times come out of their condition.
I'm not happy with the notion of carrying a card. Currently assisted dying is legal only in Victoria, with stringent conditions. I'm confident the law will change in my state, but probably not within my lifetime.
I have an Advanced Care Directive. This is a legally binding document setting out my wishes at end of life. IE Palliative care only if I have no quality of life. I have a copy, as does my doctor and each of my siblings. There is a form one fills out. The original and all copies must be certified by a Justice of The Peace.
I don't know how it is in your country, but euthanasia is commonly practiced in this country at aged care facilities. Although it's known by people in the industry, this illegal so no one will talk about it in any formal way.
