I hesitated to write about such an unpleasant and sensitive subject,
but with all this talk of this or that kind of injection, and heart
needles, gas, etc., I felt I should speak up.
There are VERY GOOD reasons why, when physicians commit suicide, they
overwhelmingly do so by means of an overdose of barbiturates.
There is no fear, pain or unpleasantness. Not even the sick feeling
that opiates sometimes cause in humans. You slowly (depending on
dosage) and pleasantly drift off to sleep, and don't wake up.
Phenobarbital or pentobarbital is often the "active ingredient" in a
"tummy shot". It is inexpensive, very effective, and painless.
What many people do not realize, though, is that even a "tummy shot"
can be very quick: they can be gone in under 60 seconds. That might be
a bit TOO quick for many people, who would prefer their friend just
slowly and pleasantly go to sleep. Having it happen that quickly has
an air more of poisoning rather than a gentle passing.
Admittedly, it can be difficult to get pets to swallow medications.
And of course there are a number of good reasons many people will
involve the vet.
But if it were my best friend, my ideal scenario would be oral
barbiturates, at home, hidden as best as possible in a favorite treat.
Followed up later, if necessary, with a subcutaneous injection, if it
is just too difficult to get them to ingest quite enough. An injection
after they go to sleep (even with a fine-gauge needle like an insulin
syringe, because now there should be no sting and no hurry) can ensure
that the dose is adequate to the task.
This way there are no strange places, people, or smells, no sudden
"attack" with a needle, no strange gas mask, etc. etc.
Just drifting off to painless sleep surrounded by loved ones, in a
familiar place.
Those are my thoughts. But I try to pay attention to how the experts
themselves do it when faced with that choice, and imagine what I would
want in the same situation.
A needle in the heart from a stranger isn't it.
Lonny Eachus
============
[Posted in FML 7373]
|
