cheers Andrews.... thats a key part of the over-population problem. medical advances and pharmacology availability means even people in most primitive and remote places have access to life prolonging treatments. its become the norm that people aren't allowed to die a natural death.
I myself am conflicted over the ethics involved as, personally, I would like to die when my time comes.... but then when I had my heart attack a few years ago I passively (willingly) accepted all the treatment that was available and continue to take the medication. now I find I'm almost as fit as I was before the heart attack, not as mobile as before but fit and strong enough to do what I need to do around home.
how then could I advocate for a natural death for anyone else? and also my past professional instincts tell me if I saw any suffer as I did I would instantly help them to remain alive.
its one hell of a conundrum. how do we control population growth?
VAD is something I've advocated for throughout my professional life. I've seen too many suffer terribly through seeming pointless prolongation. many people I've nursed have told me they'd rather die sooner than later. yet palliative care, particularly in the catholic system, prolongs suffering of those with terminal illness while eschewing treatment options, such as diamorphine, due to legal and ideological restrictions.
