Not a matter of it, but when
Over at the Times Union Claire Hughes looks at proposed legislation that would make physician-assisted suicide legal in New York through the eyes of a Troy woman who watched her mother, suffering from Huntington's, starve herself to death -- and who now contemplates her own future as a carrier of the gene for the disease. Among the questions: Should the law provide provisions for people facing degenerative diseases such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's to make choices about how they'd like to end their life beyond the six-month window currently proposed so they can make decision while still mentally competent? [TU+ (link around)]
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One of the main reasons we are leaving NYS and moving to Oregon is Oregon's "Death with Dignity" law. And despite all the lies and fear mongering, this law has not been abused and it has also been rarely used - but it is an option. i have a progressive, degenerative neuromuscular disease (an upper motor neuron disease) that could develop into full blown ALS.
If that happens I have no intention of dying a horrific, terrifying, and painful death because of the beliefs of others who think they know how people should die. The film "How to Die in Oregon" is an excellent way for people to understand how the law really works and it examines the stories of people who have considered using it (some did and some did not). And if you have any big ideas of how you think it is to die from ALS, you can observe the reality in graphic detail in the web video series "The Often Awesome Army" which is about a 26 year old young man who was diagnosed with ALS and lived with it to the extreme bitter end. He made that choice, he wanted to do that. The key to that is that he made the CHOICE and was allowed to live and die as he CHOSE. Forcing people to suffer horrific and terrifying deaths for no reason at all (other than you believe they should, religion says they should, the law says the should, and people can make money off these extended, drawn out deaths) is truly sick and evil. We really have to start facing facts with regard to disease and death in this country. Our society is obsessed with youth and life and health and completely ignores the reality of so many, many people.
... said xina on Aug 3, 2015 at 1:13 PM | link