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]