Choice at the end of life

[watervole]

 If you have views on assisted dying, then you can read and comment on the draft bill to legalise assisted dying in the UK here 

For myself, I believe that it is my life and I should have the right to end it if I have an incurable illness and nothing but pain to look forward to.

I also want the right (which this bill would not give, so I've added comments)  to state my requests in advance should I become severely mentally incapacitated by Alzheimer's or similar.  I can see the logic in requiring people to be mentally competent when requesting that they be allowed to die, but I, and many in my family, have a horror of living on when our mind has gone.  I'd like to be able to state my wishes now, so that I would be allowed to die if my mind deteriorated beyond a certain point.  (If I can no longer read, and I can't recognise my family, then I'm no longer me and I doubt very much if I'd be getting any pleasure from life)

I hate the idea that the last of my money would go on expensive care for an empty shell, instead of going to my children. 

Comments

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I share your opinion to the last letter. Also I am going to arrange my last things now - not about the property, THAT is very simple.
But I would never become a burden to my family or anyone else.

[sweetheartwhale.livejournal.com]

Totally in agreement on that one. Though I don't have any money or indeed any children,but wouldn't want relatives/friends left with someone who didn't know them at all.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I'm with you 100%. I want to write a living will and have it legally binding if i develope Alzhimer's or un-treatable cancer or any disease that takes a way my enjoyment of life.

[sammason.livejournal.com]

Well said.

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

Hear hear!