#euthanasia

[angrilystupid]

this is my agenda

[drferox]

I’ve been working at this one job, just this one clinic, a fairly long while now. 12 years, in fact. It means I’m basically part of the furniture at this point, I’ve seen a lot of changes, and I’ve seen a lot of staff come and go.

You know what else is about 12 years? The lifespan of larger or less fortunate pets.

Over the last couple of months I’ve guided a fair few patients to the end of their life, some becoming very frequent visitors as we tried to get their condition under control. I have euthanised these old, beloved dogs that I first met as bouncy little puppies.

It is a peculiar privilege to have been there from cradle to grave for these patients, to have been a recurring encounter on the entirety of these pets’ lives. It’s a sad event, obviously, but there is something beautiful in knowing how deeply loved these animals have been, and for such a long time.

[mostlycatsmostly]

In 2017, she was a sick, young mother in a high kill shelter. Happy Late Gotcha Day to my Lady.

[rwsdarw]

Always thought Gabe had an intrinsic hatred of black cats and ladybugs

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I ran into one of my childhood bullies and asked how she was doing, and she told me her dad wanted euthanasia due to some unspecified illness. Then her dad walked over to us and said, idk why it's illegal, I want to die.

[ohnoitspheo]

All my Coastergirls so far! 🎢

[static-scribblez]

Apparently this is a universal experience for almost every Will Wood fan on this app

[thepro-lifemovement]

Link.

As the euthanasia program in Canada comes under increasing international scrutiny, Canadians living with disabilities are speaking out to show how they have been pressured into assisted suicide or euthanasia. And the hashtag they’re using is starting to go viral.

A woman identifying herself as Dr. T kicked off the “I Am The Face Of MAID” campaign with a tweet arguing that the government would rather kill her than treat her illness. “I am the face of #MAID (assisted-death) in Canada. As a single, 50 yr old female with a genetic condition and a disability pension I will only cost the ‘system,'” she wrote. “I would be approved for untreatable pain if I applied – except my pain IS treatable – the gov just wont cover it.”

She then encouraged others to follow her lead, and the hashtag quickly took off.

“I am the face of #MAID (assisted-death) in Canada,” a woman named Ariane wrote. “As a 42 year old woman with a rare complication of lupus + iatrogenic injuries I will only cost the ‘system.’ I want to live but can’t get the care I need + have been approved for MAID.”

“I am the face of #MAID (assisted-death) in Canada,” another woman named Natalie wrote. “As a 41 yr old woman with fibromyalgia & chronic widespread pain, I will only cost the ‘system.’ I receive nerve block to keep me moving. I would be approved for death if I applied.”

“I am the face of #MAID (assisted-death) in Canada,” still another woman said. “As a 30 y.o. with physical disabilities and ADHD, I will only cost the ‘system.’ I would be approved for MAiD if I applied – doctors are ignoring me to death. Fleeing to live.”

“I’m a 23 year old with ADHD, BPD, CPTSD, POTS, very intense IBS, widespread chronic pain, asthma, and more. Come March if I applied I would be approved due to their expansion with mental health,” another woman tweeted. “I am the face of MAID, but I don’t want to be.”

The campaign worked. Dr. T later followed up that not only did #MAID become a trending topic on Twitter, but her picture was the #1 photo associated with the term.

Many people with disabilities have come forward to speak out about their treatment, which has included being referred for MAID even though they are seeking medical care. Still others have been approved for MAID simply because they are living in poverty, or have disabilities. Disturbingly, the Canadian government is still planning on expanding the MAID program to include those whose only diagnosis is mental illness.

[crippled-peeper]

the two headed calf thing makes me so furious. it’s just cruelty and torture at this point. most regular people cannot comprehend how painful a cervical level spinal cord injury or deformity is. the calf will never stand or walk and that’s obvious by now. that level of deformity is not compatible with life and it’s going to inevitably die. euthanasia is the most humane thing to do in this situation but instead they’re propping it up for photos to make facebook posts and prolonging its suffering. for engagement on fucking Facebook and “thoughts and prayers” comments. it’s so gross and exploitative and I hate it

[gunsatthaphan]

Well this sure wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card dhsjdjd

[feintenstein]

disco angsttt

[chawsl]

Very evil hearted.

[pro-birth]

The letter stated that Gerhard was born on February 20, 1939, that he was blind, had one leg and part of one arm was missing and was described as "an idiot". Hitler sent his personal physician, Karl Brant, to see the child in a hospital in Leipzig. Brant testified at the Nurembourg trial that he had been instructed that if the father's letter was correct that the physicians at the hospital would be told that euthanasia could be carried out - in Hitler's name. Gerhard was euthanized on July 25, 1939.

History indicates that the German T4 euthanasia program began with a parent's request for euthanasia and in the end resulted in the deaths of 250,000 to 275,000 people with disabilities.

Further to that, the technique killing large numbers of people by gassing them to death was first developed in the psychiatric hospitals for the euthanasia program and later installed in the death camps for killing millions of people. According to the Holocaust Museum, T-4 staff were redeployed to the death camps.

[willwood-lyrics]

But I want, I want to believe That you'll remember me When you're just memory

[cheerfullycatholic]

Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in Vatican City, Pope Francis said, “The throw-away culture says, ‘I use you in as much as I need you. When I am not interested in you anymore, or you are in my way, I throw you out’. It is especially the weakest who are treated this way – unborn children, the elderly, the needy and the disadvantaged.” He added, “But people are never to be thrown out, the disadvantaged cannot be thrown away! Every person is a sacred gift, each person is a unique gift, no matter what their age or condition. Let us always respect and promote life! Let’s not throw life away!”

[followthebluebell]

How do you decide when a cats QOL has decreased to the extent that it's time to let go?

Asking for your own experience, any decision I make is mine alone, I just want to ensure I amnt waiting too long before making the call for my little old man and hearing other people's experiences might help to reaffirm when the time is right

I'm so sorry you're in a position where this question is necessary. It's incredibly sad and hard when you realize this something you HAVE to ask. Losing a pet is incredibly tough.

My own personal rule is this: I keep a list of the five things my pet loves to do. Once an animal can't do 3 out of 5, it's time to say goodbye. I try not to include things like eating or sleeping, because that's kind of basic, you know? But I often do include 'loves this specific treat' because an animal turning down their favorite treat is in severe distress.

You also can't divorce your OWN quality of life from your pet's quality of life either. When i had to euthanize Skitten a few years back, I was aware that I could have kept her going a few more weeks. Maybe even a couple of months. But it would have represented a severe impact on my OWN quality of life because I would have been acutely aware of the risk of her dying alone somewhere in the house. There was a chance I'd wake up and she would be gone already.

That sort of stress was just... too much for me.

And that's not even covering the MEDICAL stress of handfeeding a pet, expressing their bladder/stimulating them to poop, cleaning them up after accidents, etc. I'm not going to shame people who DO do this, obviously, but I'm also going to stand by the people who realize they can't do this. It's an important part of the quality of life check, because it's not just your pet's quality of life. It's yours too and I think a lot of pet owners kind of gloss that over.

Laps of Love has its own quality of life assessment that may be valuable to you as well.

I hope this helps and wish you both well.