How to Die in Oregon

How to Die in Oregon:

This is an excellent documentary that needs wide viewing. However, it provides merely a small first step to the real discussion we should be having about "quality of death" issues.

As presently conceived, "death with dignity" laws are presented as a humane alternative to suffering. This is legitimate but not enough. "Death with dignity" also should be available to those who want to celebrate a long, good life.

Say a man or woman is "old" (70? 80? 90? average life expectancy + 3?) and has lived a full life and simply is ready to pass. Where's our humane concern to such an attitude, which is perfectly rational? We force this person to sneak off on his own and do the deed as best s/he can. Shame on us! This person should have available the same prescribed drugs given to the elderly person with a terminal disease.

Here's an idea (not original with me). Let's define life itself as a terminal disease, how about that? After so many years of "living," you qualify to end your life for whatever reason you have. If you lived 90 years, who is anyone to tell you you need to hang around because death is ... what? wrong? an irrational option?

Until we broaden our humane concerns and include "quality of death" definitions that embrace individual responsible decisions, we are not a humane culture. Why can't death with dignity be a celebration of life and not, as now, only an escape from suffering?

So we've barely begun this discussion. I doubt if we'll actually have it soon. Not in my lifetime (which I define, not my doctor or anyone else!).