Planning one's death

We are all going to die (pass away, kark it, come to the end of our lives) but it is a topic that we are not comfortable talking about in Australia.  If you try to raise the subject with your own children, often they are loath to get into the discussion, as if they do not wish to accept that their seemingly fit and healthy parent/s will somehow no longer be alive on this earth.  It is very difficult to raise the subject with one's ageing parents too.  Especially as it often starts with "Have you made out a Will?"  which might suggest that the person asking is hoping to be the benefactor of one's estate.  

The reality is that we can die at any time - yes, even young people die.  We should all - well, at least all adults - should make some plans.  Everyone!

Yesterday I attended a Parliamentary Committee - a forum where the Parliamentary Committee members listened to what a large number of people with interest in Guardianship Laws - part of the Queensland state Law Reform Commission inquiry.

There were several topics on the table in relation to end of life decisions.  One of the participants, a youngish lady with an illness (even if I did remember I would not write it here) but she has a debilitating illness that has killed several members of her family, and when we saw her walk, we could see some of the challenges she lives with. Clearly she wants euthanasia in Australia - and stated that she would go overseas to fulfill her wish, if it was not law in Australia when she felt ready to go. 

There was much discussion about Advanced Health Directives - and each state of Australia seems to have a slightly different process.  I printed out Queensland's form last night and will set out to complete it over the next few days, and it will go, with other documents, into a file which I will give to a family member.  It will be ready when it is needed.

Any Queenslanders looking for the document can click here - Qld Department of Justice document.  Read it thoroughly, and print it (about 24 pages) but you can purchase it at some newsagents and other places, and start to fill it out.  You will need to take it to your doctor for him/her to fill out a section.  

Discuss it with your children, and other members of the family.  Let them know what your wishes are should you be incapable of making a decision about your health and make sure they are aware of the storage place of your documents.

There are many documents that you will need to collate - but start with these

• Your last Will and Testament
• Your Advanced Life Directive
• Details about your assets
• A list of some of your favourite things (I'll explain that later)

About Queensland's Parliament House

Interesting story from New Zealand

An article in the Courier Mail today details the conviction of a South African man in New Zealand who apparently wrote in a manuscript, details about his mother's death.


"INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed microbiologist Sean Davison is calling for a law change in New Zealand after being sentenced to five months' home detention for counselling and procuring his mother's suicide."

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/suicide-assist-scientist-sean-davison-seeks-nz-law-change/story-e6freonf-1226204563628

Death toll rises

Around nine people have died as a result of the fire - and a registered nurse has been charged with murder - it is alleged he started the fire.  Really just a horrible story.   


Aged care beds are in short supply and there are some 90 people who have had to be moved to alternate premises, and the staff have been offered jobs elsewhere.  I can only imagine how traumatised they would all be.


As well as that those who have had to help with the aftermath of the fire - police, ambulance, firies would all be challenged by the experience. 

Horrific Nursing Home Fire

A terrible tragedy has occurred in New South Wales this morning, where a fire has broken out around 5 am in a nursing home which houses some 100 residents. I have watched some of the footage on Channel 9 News this morning, where representatives of Fire, Police and Ambulance services have detailed what is know so far.  Still residents are being transported to hospitals in the area - with 100 residents it would be an enormous task.


The number of nursing staff on duty at that hour of day would be minimal, and from all accounts Fire Brigades were present within 6 minutes of the alarms going off (local fire station was close by) and the firies had a terrible job of trying to find their way through the smoke filled rooms where visibility was nil, to rescue those inside.


It is one of the nightmares of working in these facilities, especially at night, as there are limited staff, residents in bed and most certainly not mobile enough to get themselves out safely. 


From all accounts so far, it has been a quick and efficient rescue of residents, though sadly some have already died, and no doubt some elderly in hospital with burns or smoke inhalation will have some challenges in the immediate future.


My heart goes out to all involved in this tragedy, especially the nursing staff on duty at the time.  It certainly is one of the worst nightmares.

Dad in a Bag

When my father passed away in July, his remains were cremated.  We have only just collected 'him' from the funeral director, so that we could place his ashes, according to his wishes, in the rose garden of his much loved rose garden.

He was handed to me in a brown paper bag, in which was the plastic 'urn' with his ashes. I strapped it into the back seat of the car.

It was strange having him in the car - and I chatted to him as I drove.  I said to him "Can you believe you are in a brown paper shopping bag." and other things, about what was happening in the family since he left us.

We were not sure where the rose garden was, and initially planned to scatter the ashes in another place where there were roses, but a search of the bowling club revealed this garden, which clearly was the intended space, so my sister and I too turns scattering the ashes among the rose bushes.

Silenced

In the last few days I have had informal discussions with a number of people about the state of  'Aged Care' in Australia.  All have been silent supporters of Euthanasia.   All have spoken of their plans for a dignified end of their lives, and I've heard a raft of unrealistic plans for ending their lives.  No one wants to go into a nursing home.

One discussion was about the way we Australians are silenced as a community.  People feel intimidated discussing the topic, intimidated by 'the government' and the Christian lobby.  But neither the Governments nor the Christian lobby have come up with a solution that removes the risk of spending one's last days in pain, discomfort or with dignity.

Listen to the story of a woman in South Australia who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and of the issue as discussed in the state earlier this year.  Click here

From Exit International's website

"VOLUNTARY euthanasia is illegal in all states and territories in Australia but attempts are being made in South Australia and Tasmania to change these laws.

A Bill has been put to the South Australian Parliament to provide a medical defence for doctors who provide treatment which shortens a patient's life.

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke said multiple Bills had been put to the South Australian Parliament in the past and although all had failed, the outcome had been closer each time.

He said there was no movement to legalise voluntary euthanasia in Queensland and those caught helping someone commit suicide could face life in jail."

Why not discuss the issue with you friends and family, and lobby your state parliamentarians?

To find out more about Exit International click here or type
www.exitinternational.net

Discussions, discussions

I attended the forum on Aged Care, and told a little of our experiences with Aged Care with mum and dad, and since then I have been to Adelaide.  (Mum celebrated her 96th birthday!) and I have had discussions with one of the staff at her nursing home and a recently retired Director of Nursing back here in Brisbane.

There's no doubt that there are major problems in Aged Care in Australia.  The picture is pretty bleak.
Currently there are not enough Aged Care beds, not enough money in the system and not enough staff.
Many nursing homes have carers who have come to Australia from other countries.  I'm bound to sound a little racist here - but there are major problems where staff come from a different culture.

The reality is, that there must be a major shakeup in the Aged Care Industry.  One issue is of course very sensitive and highly emotive, but do we consider some sort of euthanasia?  I don't know how many people (in the industry as well as out of it) say that 'we let sick animals die with some dignity, but not humans!' 

I have heard two women claim that they have arranged for their daughter "to give them a pill" to end their life, but as I have warned them that they may be sending their daughters to prison, or with guilt that affects them badly.  No, I do think we have to take notice more of people like Dr Philip Nitsche who advocates 'Voluntary Euthanasia'.

Surely people with no or very low quality of life should be given the opportunity to die with dignity.