![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Living Will
This is something that I intend to post around once a year, simply so that there is a record of my wishes over a long period of time. My family already know my views on voluntary euthanasia, but if they're ever called up on to act, then I want something out there to back them up.
If I reach a stage (which I hopefully never will) when I am unable to recognise my own family (due to something like Alzheimer's), then I do not wish to continue living beyond that point.
If I reach a stage where disability and poor health (in spite of good quality medical care) have reached the stage where I have no independent mobility and am in frequent pain and have no way of doing things that I enjoy (such as sewing, chatting to friends, reading books, singing, etc.) then if I ask to die, believe me.
I have no religious beliefs and no fear of death.
As long as I enjoy my life, I wish to continue living. At the point where life becomes a burden to me, that's the point when I wish to cease it.
The thought that someone else's beliefs/ethics will force me to remain living when I no longer wish to do so is extremely repugnant to me.
It's my damn life.
If I reach a stage (which I hopefully never will) when I am unable to recognise my own family (due to something like Alzheimer's), then I do not wish to continue living beyond that point.
If I reach a stage where disability and poor health (in spite of good quality medical care) have reached the stage where I have no independent mobility and am in frequent pain and have no way of doing things that I enjoy (such as sewing, chatting to friends, reading books, singing, etc.) then if I ask to die, believe me.
I have no religious beliefs and no fear of death.
As long as I enjoy my life, I wish to continue living. At the point where life becomes a burden to me, that's the point when I wish to cease it.
The thought that someone else's beliefs/ethics will force me to remain living when I no longer wish to do so is extremely repugnant to me.
It's my damn life.
no subject
And yet I cannot make the same decision as you. I'm not one of those people who considers suicide an unforgivable sin, but I hope that I do not ever choose it. Not because I'd be hoping for miracle cures, as some would, not even because I will necessarily be able to trust God when I am weak and in pain (though I hope I will), but because I am not the Author of my life, and I don't get to choose when the story ends. Or I choose not to choose, if you see what I mean. There are times when I long for Heaven, but it's very rude to barge into God's home before He invites you in. 8-P
Please don't take this to mean that I condemn your choice. I could wish that you would choose differently, but it's your decision.
no subject
(One of the reasons I love you is because you don't condemn people who make different choices.)
no subject
Christ and so many of the Prophets healed people with God's power; He wants people to be healed, and that includes slowly and carefully using scientific knowledge, as well as quickly and miraculously.
I know there are some sects who feel that they must refuse all medical treatment, but I think that's silly.
I think it's equally silly to use heroic measures to keep someone alive on life-support when there's no hope of recovery, barring a miracle. And I thank God that we didn't have to face that kind of choice with my mother, she died so quickly there was nothing anyone could have done.
To put it in a more personal way, if you asked me to kill you, I couldn't do it. If you asked me to turn off your life-support when you were already dying, I probably could.
One of the reasons I love you is because you don't condemn people who make different choices.
{hugs}
"Judge not, lest ye be judged." Not my job to condemn. To inform, perhaps, but not to condemn. I am not the Judge of the world, God is.
no subject