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Pastimes : The Boxing Ring Revived -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (4461)	2/16/2003 8:27:32 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7720

I agree that a living will is the best vehicle. It provides clear documentation of intent thus protecting both those who want an advance directive and those who want nature to take its course. I have one now, but living wills can only specify withdrawal of treatment, not active hastening of death. I also have a medical power of attorney in the hands of a friend who understands where I'm coming from and thinks similarly. I have further put in writing my thinking on what would be a minimum acceptable quality of life, which changes from time to time. I am appreciative of every day of life I have and hope to have thirty more years, but I know that there is a point, not necessarily a fixed point, where life would not be worth living.* I am horrified at the prospect that I would be stuck alive below my threshold of life quality and am further horrified that my financial resources would be consumed keeping me alive when they could be put to good use. And I get angry that this could be forced on me by arrogant busybodies at a point in my life when I am disabled and incapable of standing up for myself. This subject is definitely a hobby horse of mine, in case you didn't notice. <g> We start out in life squirmy infants unable to distinguish between the universe and ourselves. We come to be able to recognize that we are not the universe but rather think of ourselves as the center of the universe. As we mature, we realize that we aren't the center of the universe at all but just an active particle in it, one among many. Not only that, at least some of the other particles don't view the surrounding universe the same way we do. And some of their views are downright stupid, to boot. Oh, my, what to do! One way is to deal with that is to accept that each has a right to his view, that persuasion is an option that doesn't always work, and that that's OK. One step away from "que sera, sera." Another way to deal with it is to try to control not only physical elements but other people to make them conform to your world view. I am biased toward the former, absent compelling reason to intervene. History and my life experiences tell me that bunches of informed individuals acting creatively and making marketplace decisions are the best way to have a rich society. I consider "my nose" compelling reason to intervene, as in "your right to your opinion ends at my nose." And I consider the option of suicide assisted by a willing participant to be part of my nose. * Regarding knowing that there is a point where life would not be worth living... There was a time, back in my center-of-the-universe salad days, when I thought that my survival was essential. If I were on a sinking ship, I would surely merit the only life preserver. Over time, we mature and gain perspective. We also age. I have had a very full life. I have seen and done just about everything I ever dreamed of. If sixty years is all I get, that would not be the end of the world. I am lying here now, all toasty, watching the snow outside my window. Life is so beautiful that giving it up willingly is barely imaginable. But I also have come to know that, faced with a one-life-jacket scenario, I might very well choose to cede it to a total stranger who still has his life ahead of him. And that facing certain physical problems, I might also choose to bow out. And, having given the matter considerable thought, I am proud, not ashamed, of holding what I consider to be an evolved POV. It might be selfish if there were others dependent on my continued existence, but there aren't. There are others who would be sad and who would miss me, but the only person who would be devastated by my death would be my father, who is pushing ninety and not likely to be around when this becomes an issue. As for the effect of my POV on society at large, well, I think society needs to get a grip when it comes to the notion of death, either that or buy more duct tape. <g>