Thank you.
Madam Chair, this will probably be more of a statement than anything else.
It's an interesting challenge for the medical profession when it comes to end of life. You get to the point when you can throw technology at it all you want. The reality is that you can have an artificial ventilator and keep someone going for a long time, with them just lying there.
To me, quality of life means a lot more than length of life. As a former police officer, I know that there were a few times when we had DNRs. That seems to be a simplistic way of doing something without using any technological innovation. Do not resuscitate: pretty simple. It's very difficult for the family to accept, but at least it gives a clear indication to the medical profession.
I'm wondering, on the idea of technological innovation, is there a way that we could create an electronic database that shows deterioration in the life of a human being?
Just use me as an example. It gets to a point where I'm 87 years old. I've shown that I have degenerative heart disease. We've tried 15 different things. There's just really no sense in...and I say I don't want it; please let me die with some dignity.
I don't know. What are your thoughts on that, Dr. Birtwhistle?