I watched it Temps and found it very moving.  I don't know the rights and wrongs of it but both of those men featured had no doubts whatsoever and I think they were hugely brave.  Whether I could be that brave.....I dont know.  Till you're in the same situation as them we will never know.

What did you think of it?

Temps  I didn't watch it, no. I couldn't have watched the man dying to be honest. 

I've recorded it to watch on the weekend.

I'm not really sure what to make of it Aquarius.  I certainly don't think ill of the men  that were on the program.  But, I don't know....I mean the man in the wheelchair who had his parents with him.  My goodness, i don't know if I could do that for my child.  I mean if he was certain this was what he wanted to do, it's his decision and you couldn't let him go through it alone, but to think what he was going to do.  I don't know I could be as brave as either party, the person doing it or the person sitting next to them! 

 

I understand the reasoning, but it's such a shame they have to do it before their health deteriorates too much.  They're almost able to enjoy life, but they have to do this before they get too ill so as they can have the mental capacity to make the decision and physical ability to drink the drink.

 

When the man was reaching for the water and the doctor said no, omg that was so chilling.

 

Triggs,   I really didn't think they were going to show it, I thought they were going to zoom out and kind of change the scene while it was going on.  I was kind of too stunned to change the channel.

ooops...I've kind of given away the ending

I didn't watch it. I couldn't last night.

 

Did anyone find they wish they had not watched it?   Was the programme made very respectfully? 

I think Terry is brave to publicly raise the issue, I personally support the clinic in Switzerland. Terminal illness patients should be allowed to choose to end their own life, and if it's carried out respectfully and regulated legally, then I'm ok with it

Hi Peachy

 

It wasn't easy viewing, but I'm glad I watched it.  It was very well made, very matter of fact.  It wasn't glamourising it, just kind of showing what happens.  Pratchett was so moved by the whole thing and he showed his emotions.  I thought it was very respectfully done. 

 

He seems to be very much promoting it for the UK doesn't he Sweet?  As Pratchett said, he died with dignity with his wife beside him, holding his hand instead of what might have happened (though I have to say I missed the start, so I don't know what he was suffering from).

 

i thought when he asked the wife 'do you think I should do it today' and she replied 'it's up to you'.  I would have been shouting, no come on lets go home! lol

I've always had the thought that terminally ill people should have the right to control how they die and after watching last night I still feel that way.  I've seen soooo much suffering around dying to last me a lifetime so I actually wanted to watch the programme to see how it was handled.  I don't know how much they edited out, but it came over as being dignified and loving and the people were treated with respect from start to finish.

As I said before, I don't know whether I would be brave enough to do it ~ I'd much prefer to go peacefully in my sleep ~ but that rarely happens and maybe that's what drove these poor people to take their own measures.  Peter Smedley had motor neurone disease and what little I know of it makes me think he was truly right to do what he did.....whilst he still could.

I hope Terry Pratchett gets somewhere with his campaign then seriously ill people won't have to traipse half way round Europe to end their life in a dignified manner.

What was the chocolate about?  Why did he have to eat the chocolate?

 

I agree with you, it did seem very dignified.  I just felt so much for the wife.  I suppose the thing is, if they involve her too much she might feel an element of guilt later, it had to be all about him and the doctor really.  It's all so well thought out and planned.  She just had to keep everything in and be so brave until he'd passed.

 

It was just such a stark reality wasn't it?

I felt for the wife and the mother too Temps.  Where they got their strength from I don't know!

The chocolates were there because the medication was very bitter.  Just another instance of how thoughtful the whole process was by Dignitas.

I've just been talking to a friend who watched it too.  She said she wanted to watch it, but she didn't want to watch it and that's how I felt too, but her conclusion was that she was glad she had sat through a difficult thing to watch.  It WAS stark I agree but it showed other facets too.  It showed the strength of the family members ~ that only comes from unselfish and deep love.

It also showed the compassion of the Dignitas people.  And last of all the bravery of all those involved ~ even Terry Pratchett because it must have been hugely poignant to him as that's the way he wants to go, so he must have seen himself in Peter Smedley and the younger man whom he cried for.  The human spirit is a tremendous thing isn't it!

I haven't watched it yet..... but I will at the weekend when I have a bit more time. The subject interests me greatly because I've always believed I'd want the right to choose when the time comes, but I also don't know if I would have the guts to do it..... from what I've read here, the people on the film are very brave!

That sums it up for me Aquarius.  Yes it is a tremendous thing and it's such shame life goes that way that you're faced with such an awful choice but if faced with it, I'd love to have their bravery.

 

I know Ducky, it 's such a huge decision.  I suppose it's the one thing we're all certain of, it'll happen at some stage and it would be nice if you can have a say in how it's done.

That's how I felt too. A couple of times I thought right I'm going out of the room as I can't watch any more but I never left - something made it very compelling. Thought I did feel a bit of a voyeur watching a hugely personal event. The bravery of the people is something I would like to think I had if the situation arose.

i would think if you asked just about anyone  'are you afraid of  dying?'

 many people would reply' no not afraid of dying,but of how it's going to happen'

 

i didn't watch the programme, but i've always believed in the right  to choose.

I thought I had recorded it, but I just managed to get the debate programme.

 

Anyway, having watched that dramatised version about the English Doctor, who chose to end her life there, I'd much rather have a doctor give me a shed load of Morphine, in my own country, preferably in my own bed.

 

I hope, by the time my time comes, that we will be offering as much dignity to humans, as we do to our pets.

I watched it ,but I really  wish I hadn't.