Posts by Rosemary McDonald
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Access: Right to die?, in reply to
No it isn’t, it’s an individual, asking for the right to decide how she wants here doctor to treat her illness.
Seriously, I agree,
But, in terms of; "I am dying of this illness. In all probability it will cause me pain and suffering that I am not prepared endure. I want the right to ask my doctor to prescribe and/or administer a drug that will kill me, to spare me this pain."
Not all the other stuff.
Not all the "abject humiliation and loss of dignity through dependence on others for my most intimate cares" crap.
Because that is the daily reality for very many New Zealand citizens. It is fact, it is life, there is no avoiding it.
And yet, with the proper care, from the right people who can perform these tasks without diluting dignity, a good and productive life can be had. An enjoyable life.
And a little less of how intelligent and determined and accomplished we are...because it kind of implies that those who do live with what others consider to be "unbearable humiliation", are somehow less....
And, this whole thing could have played out in comparative privacy...out of the glare of the media.
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Access: Right to die?, in reply to
She said how terrible it was and it would be better to hurry it up.
in her case, now is good
then those of us who abandoned the 'Panel' may dare to venture back....
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Access: Right to die?, in reply to
The description of incontinence as “unbearable” caught my ear too. Fear of disability is not a reason for help dying, and it does not reflect well on someone who cites it in court.
They inject a bit if variety today.... the "abject humiliation of incontinence", and feared people dealing with her most intimate bodily functions."
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/274627/'court-not-place-for-right-to-die-case'
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to
A pity they did not point out to the media that the Appeal Court (Spencer) slammed the PHDAct(2) for the clumsy, unintelligible, vindictive nasty piece of work that it is.
A pity the Greens didn't point out to the media that the Spencer case exposed some of the more interesting facts of the whole issue....
1. the low number of people who made complaints to the HRC (before May 2013) despite all the publicity around the Atkinson case.
2. the low, low uptake of Funded Family Care, which, despite it's many, many flaws would have given at least some parent carers a little more financial security.
The Greens could have done a little research and found out (as I did) that despite the PHDAct(2) decree that the "exceptions" (the 272 arrangements whereby family where being paid) had to be terminated by June 2014....some are continuing as if the PHDAct(2) never happened.
I am told they "have a strategy".
SNAFU.
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Access: It’s just a bout of Chronic Sorrow, in reply to
More to this than meets the eye...as usual.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/274616/relationships-aotearoa-says-likely-to-close
Now....which organisation will take over the contract....who is primed and ready, waiting in the wings??? -
Envirologue: Fool me Once: Lessons on…, in reply to
but where's Labour gone?
Very good question.
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Access: Right to die?, in reply to
And there's me thinking that the smile on his face was due to the potential savings if right to die legislation was passed.
Further degrading of services, more insecurity, and entrenching of loss of rights for disabled people...they'll be begging for the needle/pill/whatever.
All the party leaders, with handy links, are positioned at further down the page. Our Leader, so positioned, is in either the "foe" or "friend" position.
Unfortunate.
@ Sacha....the word 'unbearable' has been worn out over this issue.
I'm disappointed that on one hand they are claiming that this case will not set a precedent, that it is only about this one person, and subsequently turning it into a media circus.
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Access: Right to die?, in reply to
I've been trying to show some respect and ignore the (what I assumed to be unwanted) media coverage of this case. Ignore the trotting out of the usual pain/suffering/burden/loss of dignity/dependent/incontinent/unable to clean one's self etc lines. Tried to put aside the claim that loss of function is more difficult to bear for those who are more mentally accomplished.
Then, Sacha, I followed your link...and found this...http://lecretia.org/you-can-help/
and there's John Key's smiling face prominently displayed in the prime position on the webpage.
So I am assuming he supports the right to die/GP assisted suicide/voluntary euthanasia campaign.
While at the same time shitting from a great height on disabled people who have still not had their right to live as equals fully respected or accepted.
Message received, loud and clear.
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Hard News: 2015: The Budget of what?, in reply to
He bought in 1981, we bought in 1987.
A few changes in the national economy in the intervening years....
We were "lucky" not to have to pay off student loans.
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Hard News: 2015: The Budget of what?, in reply to
and...."Mortgage rates peaked at 20.5% in June 1987...."
just about the time we bought out first home....needed a deposit of 25%, two incomes.
Luckily...we had been able to save...