Choosing Life

Below is the story about the just-married young woman who is choosing to set the date of her own death because she has inoperable and the most seriously aggressive form of brain cancer with a medical prognosis of only six months to live. I concur with her controversial belief that she wants to set the time and modality of her death and has set it for November 1.

I have personally seen throughout my life insufferable things done in the name of "saving" a patient and I always wondered the eternal question: save that patient for what? I have strong feelings about the humongous money spent to extend not life but seemingly never-ending pain and suffering.  I believe that to be a living death sentence in and of itself and out of the question for me.  I have told those I love as well as those who handle my legal and medical affairs that I never want an extension at all costs of a suffering and painful life to be my fate.

It is a personal decision and I am understanding of those who would not do as the 29 year old woman will. I, though, support her decision and would choose death when choosing a quality-life free from pain and suffering is impossible to attain. I place the story about it here or below.

I also place below two books which I think are of great interest and, related to issues about which I have thought and about which, perhaps, pertain to the issue in question here.  I hope (I say hope) to read them both.

http://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation/watch/woman-with-brain-cancer-chooses-to-die-339250243741?cid=sm_m_main_1_20141009_33180226
 
Author: Atul Gwande

"Being Mortal and What Matters in the End"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805095152/ref=botm_bill_center_spotlight?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_r=09TMV9CFG6M1BYBKF5ZJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1934209642&pf_rd_i=390919011
 
Author: Sam Harris

"Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality without Religion"

http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Spirituality-Without-Religion/dp/1451636016/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412945559&sr=1-1&keywords=sam+harris+spirituality+without+religion