My Nan had terminal cancer and very late stage dementia. She had virtually no awareness of her surroundings and therefore no power over the tough decisions we faced. I think she would have wanted us to let her go. My Mum had her power of attorney and said she couldnt give up on her, but in the end it was the doctors who said they were stopping her treatment. It took my Nan 16 hours for her to die. She lay there, barely conscious struggling for SIXTEEN HOURS until she eventually gave out and stopped breathing. I watched every painful rise and fall off her chest for sixteen long hours. I would have given anything to just end her suffering earlier. Does that make me wrong or a murderer? I dont think so. You wouldnt leave an animal to die that slowly.

I do however appreciate the complexity of this issue and every case should be treated individually as its no black and white. The difficulty with that is it often takes longer to reach a decision than the person lives. Its hard.