Death with Dignity
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From: West Los Angeles, CA
Death with Dignity
Death with Dignity.
I debated with myself extensively before deciding to post this. It's an important topic. It's also very controversial. My intention is not to spark divisive debates, but just to share something that got me thinking, wondering, questioning.
It's not the first time I've read articles on the topic. This particular story came to me via a woman I know with whom I've attended some business retreats and seminars as well as a sort of vacation retreat. We were in small group sessions together for multiple days and while we have differing ideologies, I respect her a great deal. She is a good and kind woman. Anyway, she was recently diagnosed and treated for the same illness as the woman, Brittany Maynard, in the story I'm linking here. But luckily, my friend received treatment early. Things look very good for her. She may not need to make the decision that Ms. Maynard is making, or at least not as soon. My friend was fortunate. In an interesting twist of fate, my friend's husband died of the same kind of cancer some years back and so she knows first hand what the process is that she could have had to endure. Anyway, she shared the linked story below with her friends and asked us all to consider what death with dignity means.
And so I am doing that. I thought I would also share that with you folks too.
I have not yet watched the second video in the story linked, but did watch the first. It's gut-wrenching stuff. I know some of you already know firsthand about all of this. To you, it might be old news. But we all have to make our own journeys in our own time so I hope you don't mind me sharing.
http://reason.com/blog/2014/10/06/29...-oregon-for-le
I debated with myself extensively before deciding to post this. It's an important topic. It's also very controversial. My intention is not to spark divisive debates, but just to share something that got me thinking, wondering, questioning.
It's not the first time I've read articles on the topic. This particular story came to me via a woman I know with whom I've attended some business retreats and seminars as well as a sort of vacation retreat. We were in small group sessions together for multiple days and while we have differing ideologies, I respect her a great deal. She is a good and kind woman. Anyway, she was recently diagnosed and treated for the same illness as the woman, Brittany Maynard, in the story I'm linking here. But luckily, my friend received treatment early. Things look very good for her. She may not need to make the decision that Ms. Maynard is making, or at least not as soon. My friend was fortunate. In an interesting twist of fate, my friend's husband died of the same kind of cancer some years back and so she knows first hand what the process is that she could have had to endure. Anyway, she shared the linked story below with her friends and asked us all to consider what death with dignity means.
And so I am doing that. I thought I would also share that with you folks too.
I have not yet watched the second video in the story linked, but did watch the first. It's gut-wrenching stuff. I know some of you already know firsthand about all of this. To you, it might be old news. But we all have to make our own journeys in our own time so I hope you don't mind me sharing.
http://reason.com/blog/2014/10/06/29...-oregon-for-le
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From: West Los Angeles, CA
Okay... the second video does mention the political aspects of the topic. Perhaps my choice to post isn't the best. I'm not inviting debate on the topic. It's just something to think about.
But I'll leave it to Jim or site mods or admins to decide if this should move to politics. I openly admit I am too emotionally touched by the topic to be able to say one way or the other.
But I'll leave it to Jim or site mods or admins to decide if this should move to politics. I openly admit I am too emotionally touched by the topic to be able to say one way or the other.
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: Foothills East of Sacramento
I am not sure this falls into the political camp; some can say its a moral one (and I agree) but I also see this as a societal / cultural issue.
My next door neighbor, an anesthesiologist, brought me up to speed on how lacking this country is in providing decent palliative/ end of life care. The old school of thinking is docs supply what "they" think is the correct therapy. The new school has discovered that when patients say they are in pain, they are in pain. Patients who are in severe pain with self medicating pain supply systems will actually give themselves the proper dose. They found the proper dose may be a fatal one to a "normal" person but that is what is needed for an individual in need.
I have found from personal experience with family members that some hospice care does an excellent job at providing relief for a patient. Sometimes it is for stuff you might not consider (including the family physician) An example is an anti-movement drug to quell "twitching" that leads to bed sores. It boils down to proper and adequate care really does exist but is sometimes hard to find for end of life scenarios. Rather than assisted suicide and the very slippery slope that leads to, proper pain managed natural death is the "natural' course of action to take. It falls into a respect of life, dignity of life that everyone is entitled to. It is understandable that someone would be reluctant to continue in life with some disease (and my and my wife's family has had our share of dementia/ cancer/ old age/ severe falls etc, etc) but there are real world lessons in that not for the person afflicted but also for those left behind. It is not one of those "you are an island" thought threads. It can be convoluted and there are tragic examples out there. Sometimes the will to live evaporates and actual life is not far to dissipate either.
My next door neighbor, an anesthesiologist, brought me up to speed on how lacking this country is in providing decent palliative/ end of life care. The old school of thinking is docs supply what "they" think is the correct therapy. The new school has discovered that when patients say they are in pain, they are in pain. Patients who are in severe pain with self medicating pain supply systems will actually give themselves the proper dose. They found the proper dose may be a fatal one to a "normal" person but that is what is needed for an individual in need.
I have found from personal experience with family members that some hospice care does an excellent job at providing relief for a patient. Sometimes it is for stuff you might not consider (including the family physician) An example is an anti-movement drug to quell "twitching" that leads to bed sores. It boils down to proper and adequate care really does exist but is sometimes hard to find for end of life scenarios. Rather than assisted suicide and the very slippery slope that leads to, proper pain managed natural death is the "natural' course of action to take. It falls into a respect of life, dignity of life that everyone is entitled to. It is understandable that someone would be reluctant to continue in life with some disease (and my and my wife's family has had our share of dementia/ cancer/ old age/ severe falls etc, etc) but there are real world lessons in that not for the person afflicted but also for those left behind. It is not one of those "you are an island" thought threads. It can be convoluted and there are tragic examples out there. Sometimes the will to live evaporates and actual life is not far to dissipate either.
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Very nice. As someone who is facing this issue, I highly recommend searching on YouTube for the David Letterman interview with Warren Zevon, after Warren's diagnosis of terminal cancer. Warren expresses his views and feelings on the the subject far more eloquently than me. Letterman devoted the entire show to Warren, in fact.
Much along the same vein, I highly recommend the all-too-brief book, "Mortality", by Christpher Hitchens.
Much along the same vein, I highly recommend the all-too-brief book, "Mortality", by Christpher Hitchens.
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Smalltown
I give this woman who moved to Oregon, nothing but praise for having the courage to make this decision. Hospice may keep you comfortable, they may be able to manage your pain, but if a patient chooses not to waste away or deal with the various issues that come with sickness and dying, they (in my opinion) should have the right to make the decision to end their life.
A man I know of recently committed suicide. He was in his mid-late eighties. He lost his wife less than six months ago, he had no children, four step children out of the area, and only one brother with whom he was not close. He missed his wife, he was ill, undergoing medical treatment with more to come and had already lost 30 pounds he could not afford to lose.
He wrote a note the night before, called police the before he acted and told them where to find him.
I get why this man did what he did. One should not have to resort to a violent end (gun) if you decide you do not want to die a slow agonizing death.
A man I know of recently committed suicide. He was in his mid-late eighties. He lost his wife less than six months ago, he had no children, four step children out of the area, and only one brother with whom he was not close. He missed his wife, he was ill, undergoing medical treatment with more to come and had already lost 30 pounds he could not afford to lose.
He wrote a note the night before, called police the before he acted and told them where to find him.
I get why this man did what he did. One should not have to resort to a violent end (gun) if you decide you do not want to die a slow agonizing death.
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canton, MA
Agreed.
Anything else I say on this subject would send it straight to politics.
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From: Medina, OH
After having a loved one, my late wife, go through a long, slow, inevitable death I can say first hand that "Death with Dignity" should be a right. I can't tell you the number of times that she pleaded with me to end her life. Why should someone be made to suffer through pain that we would not make a dog go through? Where is the sense in that? 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65,402
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From: Smalltown
After having a loved one, my late wife, go through a long, slow, inevitable death I can say first hand that "Death with Dignity" should be a right. I can't tell you the number of times that she pleaded with me to end her life. Why should someone be made to suffer through pain that we would not make a dog go through? Where is the sense in that?
This says it all.
Our pets have the rights to die with dignity we should too.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: NM/CO
Originally Posted by Scooterboy' timestamp='1412871868' post='23362935
After having a loved one, my late wife, go through a long, slow, inevitable death I can say first hand that "Death with Dignity" should be a right. I can't tell you the number of times that she pleaded with me to end her life. Why should someone be made to suffer through pain that we would not make a dog go through? Where is the sense in that?
This says it all.
Our pets have the rights to die with dignity we should too.