Comments on: Hobsons Choice http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/05/17/hobsons-choice/ End-of-Life Choice, Palliative Care and Counseling Sun, 29 Jul 2012 05:06:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jane Minner http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/05/17/hobsons-choice/#comment-287 Jane Minner Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:23:43 +0000 http://compassionandchoices.org/blog/?p=1014#comment-287 Sadly, I feel that, as long as the people who oppose death with dignity out-power those in favor of physician assisted death, laws which will allow this humane end to suffering will not be passed. I will be forced to move to Oregon, Montana or Washington if I have need of an assisted death. Thanks to the many wonderful, thoughtful people in these states who use reason to guide their lives and make their laws. Sadly, I feel that, as long as the people who oppose death with dignity out-power those in favor of physician assisted death, laws which will allow this humane end to suffering will not be passed. I will be forced to move to Oregon, Montana or Washington if I have need of an assisted death. Thanks to the many wonderful, thoughtful people in these states who use reason to guide their lives and make their laws.

]]> By: A. Stevens http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/05/17/hobsons-choice/#comment-286 A. Stevens Fri, 28 May 2010 23:35:47 +0000 http://compassionandchoices.org/blog/?p=1014#comment-286 Why are our political policies are so stupid and cruel concerning death with dignity? Why should someone be forced to suffer through a long and painful (pointless) decline into death when it is possible to die quickly and painlessly if willing doctors need only inject an overdose of a barbiturate type drug-- and it's mercifully over? Why does The Law make most physicians afraid to perform this gentle service? Unfortunately, it seems that most people just refuse to think about the inevitable end; and the politicians who write the laws remain conservative in order to be elected or re-elected. Why are our political policies are so stupid and cruel concerning death with dignity?

Why should someone be forced to suffer through a long and painful (pointless) decline into death when it is possible to die quickly and painlessly if willing doctors need only inject an overdose of a barbiturate type drug– and it’s mercifully over?

Why does The Law make most physicians afraid to perform this gentle service?

Unfortunately, it seems that most people just refuse to think about the inevitable end;
and the politicians who write the laws remain conservative in order to be elected
or re-elected.

]]> By: Micheline Claret http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/05/17/hobsons-choice/#comment-285 Micheline Claret Fri, 28 May 2010 03:19:20 +0000 http://compassionandchoices.org/blog/?p=1014#comment-285 People who are competent and terminally ill should be allowed to choose the time of their death and been helped to do so in comfort and with dignity. People who are competent and terminally ill should be allowed to choose the time of their death and been helped to do so in comfort and with dignity.

]]> By: Warren Nakisher http://www.compassionandchoices.org/2010/05/17/hobsons-choice/#comment-284 Warren Nakisher Fri, 28 May 2010 03:09:49 +0000 http://compassionandchoices.org/blog/?p=1014#comment-284 Death is never "pretty." It leaves a hunk of flesh, bone, and bodily fluids. It also leaves behind memories. Memories of who the deceased was, what they accomplished, what they may have done better, and how they died. In our "enlightened" and "loving, caring" society, it seems incongruous that the last memory is often one of needless excruciating suffering, violence, or an attempt to end one's suffering with imperfect tools. I live in a very religious area which is very fundamentalist in its beliefs. I admit that sometimes I pray that some of the most outspoken against physician aid in dieing would be cursed with the deaths that I have seem. "God," I pray, "let this person experience, even for a moment, the agony and helplessness that I have seem others suffer. God, may this horrible experience enlighten this individual so that they may help alleviate the suffering." I know that this is a terrible prayer. I know that it is wrong to wish suffering on anyone for any reason. Yet I hear and see the self-righteousness and feel sick to my stomach at the lack of empathy and compassion. Change comes slowly; but it DOES come. History proves that ethics, beliefs, and the meanings attached to deeds are like a pendulum. The pendulum swings right, then left. History also indicates that the trend is that the pendulum keeps swinging more and more to individual freedom and individual rights, unencumbered by politics and religious limitations. This trend is my sincere hope for our future. Death is never “pretty.” It leaves a hunk of flesh, bone, and bodily fluids. It also leaves behind memories. Memories of who the deceased was, what they accomplished, what they may have done better, and how they died.

In our “enlightened” and “loving, caring” society, it seems incongruous that the last memory is often one of needless excruciating suffering, violence, or an attempt to end one’s suffering with imperfect tools. I live in a very religious area which is very fundamentalist in its beliefs. I admit that sometimes I pray that some of the most outspoken against physician aid in dieing would be cursed with the deaths that I have seem. “God,” I pray, “let this person experience, even for a moment, the agony and helplessness that I have seem others suffer. God, may this horrible experience enlighten this individual so that they may help alleviate the suffering.”

I know that this is a terrible prayer. I know that it is wrong to wish suffering on anyone for any reason. Yet I hear and see the self-righteousness and feel sick to my stomach at the lack of empathy and compassion.

Change comes slowly; but it DOES come. History proves that ethics, beliefs, and the meanings attached to deeds are like a pendulum. The pendulum swings right, then left. History also indicates that the trend is that the pendulum keeps swinging more and more to individual freedom and individual rights, unencumbered by politics and religious limitations. This trend is my sincere hope for our future.

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