I am a man with disabilities.
Moving HURTS.
My walking stick has been in my family two generations.
Like many people, I have disabilities you can not see. But the being a gimp thing is pretty damn obvious.
Back before I became a crip, I was a paramedic and a flight medic.
I worked as a paramedic for almost ten years. Houston, Little Rock, Tucson & South Tucson, Oakland, and up in the mountains doing rope work. The videos you see on television of medics going down hoists out of helicopters with red crosses on them, into floods, ravines, and mountains? That was me. I flew all over the western United States in both little prop planes and on high-flying Lear Jets. I worked in big-city inner-city neighborhoods — the ghetto — and I flew above it all as a flight medic. Except for the moments when I dropped in and pulled someone out.
All that is behind me now. Even walking hobbling to the bathroom hurts.
Some people, who claim disabled status, are lying about I-1000, the Death With Dignity initiative. They claim it is a trick to put down folks like me, people with long-term chronic injuries or medical issues. They are liars trying to scare people.
Don’t be fooled.
Death With Dignity has NOTHING to do with people with disabilities. That is a vicious, cruel, dishonorable lie.
I’m going to tell you the truth:
If you’re a cripple or a gimp or a wheelie, or just so hurt you don’t know how you can take it some days, I-1000 doesn’t apply to you AT ALL. Nada. Nicht. Non. Not one fracking bit. The ONLY people Death With Dignity applies to are people who are TERMINALLY ill.
If you have a disease which multiple physicians sign off as fatal, that you’re going to DIE and die soon, then and only then can YOU request a dose. That’s it. It is your call, no one else.
None of this has anything to do with people with disabilities. Not a thing. If you have pain, get a good pain doctor. It’s amazing how much pain can be managed with meds these days. I KNOW. I take pain and associated meds every three to four hours around the clock and have for years. Most of the time they work.
Here’s my point. Pain hurts. Disabilities suck. But Death With Dignity isn’t about people with disabilities. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
Don’t listen to the liars.
Unless what you have is fatal NOW, unless you are dying NOW, Death With Dignity has jack shit to do with you. Because it only applies if you are dying NOW and multiple doctors say so.
In that final moment, I know I want my mother, my children, myself, to be able to be as PRESENT, as AWARE as possible. When death comes — and it is coming, one death to a life, that’s the way it works — I want my eyes to be open so I can watch the transition happen.
Death With Dignity allows this to happen.
The liars would have you believe otherwise. That it has something to do with being a gimp, a cripple, a wheelie, or otherwise a person with a disability. It does not.
Death With Dignity has to do with YOU and the people you love; with being in charge of your life… and your death… when it is time. YOU, and your doctors, and your family, will know when it is time.
Right now it is time, please, to Vote YES on Prop. 1000.
[Jesse Wendel is the Publisher of Group News Blog.]
The HA propaganda content on this issue is getting to resemble a blending of the drumbeat of Pravda and the sympathy tales told on Queen for a Day.
What next,Goldy. Are you going to suggest the Grim Reaper as the new symbol for the Democratic Party?
There are more important issues to discuss, like all the people who are dying all over the world, some at the behest of our nation, without so much as a speck of dignity.
The timing of I1000 being on this year’s ballot is at least awkward. It’s evidently serving to divide those of us on the left who are religious and accept the idea that when we leave this world should be determined by our Maker more than by ourselves, from our political bretheren who are areligious or frankly anti-relegious. Any division among us when it’s time to cast our votes can do nothing but benefit the other side.
I have not seen the attacks on I-1000 jesse describes. Where are they? Certainly not in the new media or here.
So, for whatever it is worth I-1000 does not deal with the very real problme of the chronically ill and, in my opinion that failure is another reason NOT to vote for it.
I 1000 does not address the most pressing needs of ill people who may want to choose rational suicide.
Let me add to HA’s collection of horror stories.
My uncle was a star. First member of our family to go toa an Ivy, first to become a Professor. Sol was a gastrointestinal radiologist and rose to be Chair of Radiology. Unlike my realtively decalsse home, Sol’s home was full of opera and literature, high level political debate. In some ways he was my role model.
Sol lived to see his kids go on to interesting careers as intellectuals. Lewis is a frustrated writer and NY City school teacher who now writes software. Nancy is a leading figure in the epidemiology of AIDS.
Sol retired to Florida … even intellectual Jews know that is where we go at the end of our lives! Then he began to have symptoms. He died a few years ago after many, many years when he had no way of communicating with us. Confined to a paralyzed bidy, this wonderful uncle lived a life that non of us could know. His body kept going forever, but we could only guess at what he was feeling.
To me, Sol’s story is the major reason we need legislation that wold allow each of us t stipulate how and when we wish to die.
I have vowed never to allow mylife to end like Sol’s. Unfortunately As Jesse writes, I-1000 does NOT address this very real need.
There is another class of folks whose deaths go badly … the terminally ill who do not have money.
I have also recently related the story of a friend’s father whose prolonged death impoverished his family, including depriving the man’s wife on money that she could have used to deal with her own end of life.
Again,I-1000 does NOT address this very real need unless one thinks that patients should be able to request suicide as a way of saving a buck. Where does that lead?
With all due respect to Jesse, Lee, and other I-1000 supporters here, how many terminally ill folks do they know who would qualify for I-1000. Not depressed? Certainly Alan Ginsberg, a poet and a buddhist, was prepared for his last few weeks as was Art Buchwald, very funny guy even to his death. Most of the time, however the last six months of someone’s life is a complex, private affair.
How does I-1000 change this? Current law allows any doctor to prescribe the same drugs as Oregon uses in its cocktail. Physicians routinely, with NO legal challenge, pre3scribe similar drugs as a means to alive suffering. This is often done with a clear understanding that the patient is trading relief for longer life.
Is the current practice really that different than I-1000? Apparently not because very few folks in Oregon have used the law.
Why do so few (about 50 last year) choose Oregon’s answer? I do not know but one answer maybe that I-1000 is intrusive in a very private affair. Currently a patient’s choices are made ijn private, by discussions with physicians and family. Under I-1000 this private and dignified process is replaced by some sort of state action requiring a second physician to concur and, perhaps, a psychologist to certify that this fatally ill person is not depressed.
Does I-1000 do any harm? I am not sure but I worry that the rules created for I-1000 may become the rules all the time. In other words in order to set a patient controlled morphine drip (a common way of dealing with terminal pain) under I 1000 a physician may need ot find another physician who will agree to this and a shrink to decide whether the patient is competnet o adminsiter the drug. This looks to me like bait for the legal sharks.
In addition by putting this decision in the hands of the healthcare provider, I-1000 creates a conflict of interest. Jesse, are you aware that many physicians are now paid by the money they save the insurance company?
I can not speak for anyone else, but if I were discussing my death with my physician, I wold prefer that she not have a financial incentive to shorten my life.
Does I-1000 do any good? apparently not much, based on the statistics from Oregon.
@3 Artfart
I agree. If the Repricans were doing this we would accuse them of trying to swing the election from Obama by motivating the Palinistas.
@2 Joel
I agree with you on this one. There is NO evidence of a need for this law, Waht it does do is undermine our current system.
The ONLY rational for this is a poorly thought out effort to legalize suicide on a wider scale.
Joel @1,
Well, clearly, this was a coordinated effort. Hence the two guest posts we’ve had on HA this week. Think of it as Death with Dignity Week, in which we attempt to argue for the measure from a personal perspective.
Nothing conspiratorial or Pravdaesque, just a series of focused posts on the subject. You know, instead of usual “catty personal attacks” you deride.
I believe in choice of death as an individual choice. You want to die, kill yourself.
I do not believe it is an interest of the state at all. In any way.
I had an uncle who was always very erratic and different. I like him, we got along fine. He and my aunt Pearl lived in Friday Harbor in a small cluttered house off the beach, no kids. I would go visit every summer and get to be a guest in a relaxed beach community. Fun to the max. Spoiled to the max and she was a very good cook. Clam chowder from hours freshly dug clams. Wonderful taste. a bit of sand in the bottom.
Uncle Tom shot himself one bright day, Pearl had left to walk to the store and visit on the way. I was a teenager. He was home alone, just one bullet from the .45. I asked Aunt Pearl, and she said very simply, he was very sick and decided it was time to die. You know he always lived life on his terms.
She never replaced the front window glass, commented she liked the hole as it was a real part of their life together.
She sold me the 57 Ford, totally mint, which had been in the garage, 11,00 miles, only driven a few time a month on the island over 20 years, $500.00. I drove it for years and years and years.
Tom did not require an assist, most people do not. Get some courage and chart your own course and leave the state out of it.
Ok, I admit I haven’t read all that there is about I-1000 from either side, but unless you try to find things, there isn’t much out there in the press or otherwise.
I certainly have my own personal opinion and view of this and having lost a parent after a long illness I can see what individuals might think. But I don’t really understand why we need this law. If someone wants to end his/her life, there is nothing anyone can do to “prevent” it (ok, I’m not talking about the distraut, not terminally ill who choose suicide, etc). So if someone is terminally ill and they want to end their life…what is preventing them ? Morality ? Thoughts that it might be wrong to commit suicide ? Public Stigma ?
What makes I-1000 approved “death with dignity” different from standard suicide. Pardon the terminology here, but I can’t think of a different comparison.
Jesse writes:
“In that final moment, I know I want my mother, my children, myself, to be able to be as PRESENT, as AWARE as possible. When death comes — and it is coming, one death to a life, that’s the way it works — I want my eyes to be open so I can watch the transition happen.”
Question: How much of the transition do you really watch when you are full with barbiturates ?
My father was ill for many years and basically in a semi coma for the last 2 weeks of his life. However, when he passed away, his eyes opened, he looked at us, then up (yes up), sighed and was gone. That’s certainly a transition I can understand. While his last few weeks might not be with “dignity” in some peoples sense or understanding, his passing certainly was full of dignity.
I haven’t seen anything which would make me think that I-1000 is needed or even wanted. I-1000 put the decision to some extent in someone elses hand. That is the danger. If a terminally ill person isn’t sure about what to do or feels that suicide might be the wrong approach…would I-1000 make it different ? Or could it be that it’s a scape goat for his/her own insecurity…”if the doc says it’s ok…I’ll do it”
Goldy
Obviously HA has its (your) editorial flavor. But why not ask Joel to write a piece? Will the PI be PIssed off?
First, I-1000 is not perfect, as many of you have pointed out. And if you’re waiting for the perfect law, you will be waiting a very long time. Sometimes you have to take these issues on in babysteps, because no one is willing to take the leap of faith.
Speaking of faith, you can decide that suicide is against your religion and yet still vote for death with dignity for others. You can choose not to exercise the option when your time comes.
Arthur, while I’m glad you’re ok with Uncle Tom shooting himself, I prefer not to subject my spouse to the mess left behind. Pardon me my crudeness, but cleaning my brains off the wall will no doubt have a negative impact on the grieving process. I would also like to leave behind an insurance policy of some sort to cover my funeral expenses, something that is usually denied if you shoot yourself. (Dutch, you may want to take note of that too). Perhaps passing I-1000 won’t change that: insurance companies look for any reason to deny payment, and the religious ambiguities of this issue give them a loophole big enough to drive a Kenworth truck through. Baby steps…….just keep taking those baby steps.
Dutch, there is a very big need for this law and more. My grandmother’s last stroke left her bedridden in a hospital and removed any hope that she could take her own life. She made her wishes clear while she still had a mind to do so, and we did the best we could to carry them out: when she could no longer eat, we refused a feeding tube. And watched as her body slowly consumed itself in a subconscious attempt to extend the life she had already abandoned. God help me, I regret every day that I didn’t do what I knew she wanted us all to do, what would have been the right and compassionate thing to do.
We need this law, and the many posters on this site who share their stories prove this. If you’re tired of seeing all the posts about I-1000, realize it’s because the world needs to see just how cruel the current laws are.
BP: Aside from the fact whether you are for or against this initiative based on your religious or moral views, the fear by many (and I have to agree with them) is that many might/could make the decision for others.
The life insurance is not an issue as all policies currently have a suicide clause built in where you can’t committ suicide within the first 4 years …after that…the clause is null and void. (preventing people to buy a policy and then committ suicide).
What happens with cases where the person was in a coma (and had made it clear before via living will they were DNR), but then woke up and became better ?
If we are against the death penalty because we might kill an innocent person, why are we for the “death with dignity” when the person could get better or heal ? How many “terminal” ill people do we know who were told you have 6 months to live and that was 12 years ago ?
I know 3.
And no, should suicide be against my religion, I can not vote for it and let others do it. That would be wrong from a religious and moral point of view.
13 Bananaphone
I ahev a sincere question …..
I think your argument is the best that can be had for I-1000 … the law is like a little petting before going further. Seems Ok but I would feel more confidant if I knew where you wanted to go.
The actual experience with this law in Oregon seems to say that few if any see it a a benefit.
The lack of an enthusiastic use of the law suggests it may not be serving your purpose.
What is the purpose? Do you feel that the choice of death should be gernally made easier in our society?
I’m voting for I-1000.
By the way – This is assisted sucicide.
The proponents have used PR language to mask the pig.
It is suicide with assist. Period.
So why all the Madison Ave. marketing language?
Becaue Gardners’ family millions are funding it.
I am voting no.
Calling the legal ability to kill yourself “Death with Dignity” is debatable.
I remember my grandfather was terminally ill and in a nursing home for many months. My Grandma would go in to be with him every day, hold his hand and read Scripture..for hours. My mom & dad, aunts & uncles and grandkids would take shifts. He would squeeze our hands and occassional utter a Hello. He could hear what was being said. The day he died, my Grandma was reading the Bible. My mom was there. She finished reading the Chapter, kissed him on the cheek and smiled. She knew exactly where he was now. Out of pain and with the Lord. The idea of killing my grandfather before God’s time was likely incomprehensible to her.
I would lean more toward that as a “Death with Dignity”…waiting on God’s time to take us.
Goldy–
This is certainly a worthy issue to discuss.
I doubt it’s going to make many D’s into R’s….but it does seem to cross party lines.
Question:
If this passes, will you be selling euthanasia pills on HA???
Mr.Cynical
A fascinating aspect of this mega thread is that the current tendril is so short. I suspect the mine is running out of gold.
Back at your story of your grandfather, I have no argument but I do have a question. Suppose instead of the picture you have, the person in the bed had intractable suffering?
Would suicide then be OK?
SJ–
No.
It’s a slippery slope thing plus I can find no Biblical justification for taking ones own life…innocent life.
We can agree to disagree SJ…can’t we?
@21 Mr Cynical
Of course we can disagree, but mayI push the issue further?
What abutyour self? faced with horrible pain, offered morphine ad lib, would you take it?
Isn’t this conmtrary tothe central story of Christianity? Did not Jesus choose his ow death?
No,
taking morphine to stem pain isn’t contrary to the “story of Christianity” as you put it.
The “story” is about life and death.We can’t save ourselves so God came and took our punishment on our behalf so that we could have an eternal relationship with Him. Don’t get it twisted.
He chose death so that we could live. There’s something important in that message my dear. You should listen to it. And don’t forget, he was God, he rose again and overcame death, which was called the enemy. don’t get that twisted either.