If You Don't Have A Health Care Directive
Fill one out. There are a bunch of them on the Internet, free. Here's the one I used.
I filled mine out, had my neighbors witness it, and had them initial this little doohickey I added at the bottom:
I do not want to live as a human turnip, and I’ve had a great life and prefer that I be let die instead of forced to live on as a body in a bed being kept alive by machines if that becomes the case. Don’t be sentimental! Let me go.
And then I listed three possible friends with medical/epidemiological/research backgrounds to contact for medical advice.
I made five copies of this, filed the original, and shrunk down a little version and put it in my wallet.
You can also register your living will here for $125. An explanation of how that works is here.
Already done. Indeed, on the off chance that my dream becomes a reality, I have also added provision for proactive, assisted euthanasia, should the law at the time my living will is put into play allow it.
I also had my parents witness it, along with my partner (this done during the time we were separated). I also authorized them to make medical decisions, if I am not in a position to do so. An attorney friend suggested that having my parents sign, is another step to ensuring that no one else in the family can attempt to preempt my wishes. (I have a sib who might try, at least she has made clear she would in the case of my parents)
Thanks for bringing this up. It is of critical importance to anyone who wishes to retain control of their desires, even if they become unable to articulate them.
DuWayne at January 11, 2008 8:20 AM
Amy, No one is forcing you to do anything. Why would you want to force a physician to murder you?
William at January 11, 2008 9:45 AM
You're deliberately not getting this, William. She's not forcing anyone to do anything. She's making her wishes known as to how she wants to be taken care of in the event that she is not capable of telling people. It is her decision, no one else's. It is her right and her repsonsibility. And it is her physician's and surviving family members repsonsibility to carry out those wishes. You're quite the moron. I noticed you evaded answering my question on the other thread, even when someone else asked you to.
DuWayne, good to hear from you! How's the new, wee bairn faring? o_O
Flynne at January 11, 2008 10:18 AM
William, you've got unanswered challengers on the previous article. It would be helpful if you kept your position in one place. You look like you're hiding by re-starting the same argument here.
moreta at January 11, 2008 10:31 AM
Flynne -
Awesome. About a week ago, he discovered that the things that flopped about around his head, were hands and that he could actually make them do things. Yesterday, he discovered he could actually grasp things with them on purpose. Unfortunately, while he has figured out how to take things out of his mouth, such as ye olde pacifiers, he has not figured out how to make them go back in properly. This is apparently most irritating, when he yanks his boob out of his mouth, for both him and momma.
William -
Actually, Amy isn't forcing anyone to do anything. She is forcing them not to. My desires are the closest to your assertion, but even there (and the current legal prohibitions aside), I am not interested in forcing anyone to do anything.
I have been in contact with a coalition in Oregon, who are lobbying for legal, proactive euthanasia. They in turn, have provided a rather sizable list of physicians who are very supportive of the same and would be willing to fulfill such wishes, should it become legal to do so and circumstances required it. Physicians who feel as I do, that allowing people to die for desired lack of intervention is cruel and unnecessary. That the reasonable and compassionate thing to do is to help them along, in accordance to their wishes.
Your absurd assertion that this is murder, really boggles the mind, never mind your idiot notion that anyone would force anyone else to do anything against their wishes.
I have dealt with these assholes who believe they have an inherent right to force others to live, under conditions they most assuredly do not wish to. They really, really piss me off. Bad enough that it's against the law to provide a merciful end. People like you, would take away what few rights we do have to control what happens to us.
Fuck you.
DuWayne at January 11, 2008 10:51 PM
Here in Switzerland euthanasia is legal - and creates quite the discussion, as many people from surrounding countries come here to take advantage of it. The terminally ill, in lots of pain, often just wish it were over. My father was one such. The hospital once even revived him (against his explicitly stated wishes), and he lingered on for another really fulfilling year. For the sarcasm-challenged, that is "fulfilling" in the sense of tubes and wires.
I can only imagine that the people against euthanasia have never known anyone who was seriously ill - and are incapable of even imagining what it must be like. My god, you put your pet to sleep if it's suffering - why should you deny this simple dignity to people?
Here, the big problem is: where to offer the service? Hospitals don't want it - death damages their images. The company that provides euthanasia had (note the past tense) a nicely outfitted apartment, with the idea that people should end their lives in pleasant surroundings. The neighborhood found "a hearse a day" too gruesome, and forced them to leave. They tried an industrial quarter next, and even just a nice place in the woods. No one will let them stay for long - even it they have to put some weird new paragraph in their local laws.
Most people here agree its a good (or at least an acceptable) idea, but no one wants them next door. Death must be kept entirely out of sight, out of mind.
bradley13 at January 11, 2008 11:59 PM
DuWayne, just a suggestion: you might drop the profanity. Your points are good, and they would sound a lot more mature without the four letter words...
bradley13 at January 12, 2008 12:02 AM
Bradley13 -
I realize that this is quite probably true. The thing is that I have been quite cranky lately, the especial target of my ire, being people who think it's quite reasonable to take an interest in controlling the lives of others. Not that this excuses immature behavior, but I honestly could care less. I actually edited out a lot more profanity, before clicking post - something I often do. What I leave behind is probably not indicative of a great maturity level, but it's rather cathartic.
If it helps any, with people that spew garbage like William's, whom I meet in person, I am really quite an asshole.
DuWayne at January 12, 2008 1:09 AM
At least you realize what you are.
William at January 12, 2008 3:15 AM
William, I only give as I get. Unfortunately, I imagine you are clueless as to how much of an absolute asshole you are.
If you don't want to be allowed to die, instead of becoming a vegetable, then by all means, don't make out a living will. If you don't want to be a trauma surgeon in the position where you would have to compromise your ethics not to save people who don't wish to be saved, then by all means, don't be a trauma surgeon. It's really that simple.
But no, you feel the desire, probably even a need, to interfere with the choices that others make for themselves. Because you can't stand the fact that people might actually want to make choices that are contrary to your moral framework. Get over yourself.
I know plenty of people who would just love to see every church or other places of worship stand empty. I know plenty of people (myself included) who would love to see hatred and bigotry disappear from public view. I know plenty of people (again myself included) who would love to see ignorant idiocy and denialism disappear from public view. These same people and I, unlike you, also believe in freedom of conscience and expression. These values by far outweigh the desire to see an end to anything we might disagree with.
DuWayne at January 12, 2008 11:12 AM
When I checked in to Cedars for some fairly serious surgery a couple of years ago, they seemed more interested in my completed directive than in making sure I had insurance -- and they were plenty interested in that.
Just after I checked in, the whole Terri Schiavo nonsense took place -- as I watched it from my hospital bed, I thanked God (just in case) that I'd made my wishes known.
TE at January 13, 2008 12:28 AM
I was having some minor exploratory surgery (an endoscopy) and filled this out beforehand.
And bradley13, it's in a nursing home's financial interest to prolong your life -- even if it's no life for you at all. Very important to have the DNR in place in a hospital lest you live for years as a vegetable in a bed.
Amy Alkon at January 13, 2008 12:54 AM
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