No elderly person should have to fear this pathway

From Maurice Le Cocq.

OVER the years I have had many of my pets put to sleep, whether through injury, infirmity or terminal illness. The vet has slipped an injection into their paw and death has been instantaneous. They never had time to register what was happening – death occurred before they could even blink.

Compare this with the often long-drawn-out and agonising death on the Liverpool Care Pathway and one would have to agree with Deputy Pryke – euthanasia it is not!

In our so-called humane society today we state that it is illegal to put a suffering human being down with either a lethal injection or pills or liquid (such is legal at the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland).

Instead, our loved ones have to suffer one of the cruellest deaths imaginable, starved and denied water until they die.

If we did the same to an animal we would be reported to the RSPCA/JSPCA and no doubt prosecuted for cruelty to animals.

If we starved or denied water to a prisoner we would undoubtedly be reported to the Hague Convention, yet if the same policy is applied to the elderly, our parents and grandparents, it is perfectly permissible to allow them to die in great discomfort over quite long periods of time. You never forget seeing a loved one in this situation, with parched, cracked lips, desperate for water, yet if you even try to moisten their lips the nursing staff admonish you for prolonging their agony.

Is this really what we want in our so-called civilised society? The fact that Deputy Pryke, the Hospital, Hospice and States Members all agree that this is not only acceptable but ‘best practice’ is a frightening thought. Not since the days of the workhouse have old people had so much cause to be so fearful of needing care.

No one, possibly elderly, frightened and maybe terminally ill, should fear that their end may be hastened without consultation with them or their families, simply to free up needed hospital or nursing home beds.

If we do not agree with this practice we need to make sure that our families, our doctor, and hospital doctors and staff know our wishes before we become unable to express them, or so that there is no misunderstanding.

Since our Health department state quite publically that they intend to continue with the practice we need to make it quite clear if we disapprove so that we cannot be placed on this contentious pathway, preferably putting it down in writing to avoid any confusion.