Deciding when suicide is a rational choice
How the Final Exit Network works to make hastening one's own death a rational endeavor–a review of the process. (Continue reading ...)
Understanding Advance Directives and their problems for dementia
On this blog, we have dealt often with aspects of advance directives. To prepare for using a dementia directive, readers may benefit from a discussion of the development of advance directives and problems with their language. References to several dementia directives or supplements are provided. (Continue reading ...)
Confessions of a FEN Coordinator
A FEN Coordinator discusses how FEN works and explains who FEN can and cannot help. (Continue reading ...)
Disability activist slams right-to-die (RTD) law proposed in Minnesota
The Minnesota State House of Representatives and Senate are considering companion End-of-Life Option Act bills, and committee hearings have begun. Since Minnesota is the state that will not permit even discussing end-of-life options among those who might want to decide the timing of their deaths with people who are experienced in how to achieve peaceful deaths on our own terms, it seems surprising that right-to-die (RTD) bills have been introduced in its legislature. Nevertheless, opponents of the RTD are amping up their arguments against such legislation. (Continue reading ...)
Exploring Compassion & Choices’ approach to dementia, Part 2
In its new "Dementia Values & Priorities Tool," Compassion and Choices (C&C) helps people clarify their wishes if they acquire dementia. They offer a satisfactory, though limited, list of dementia-related symptoms (discussed in Part 1). In Part 2, I have identified a few other (or slightly different) symptoms that are important to me in the event that I lose the ability to hasten my own death because of dementia or some unexpected reason, such as a stroke or other event that renders me incapable of carrying out a hastened death. Part 2 concludes an analysis of C&C's approach to dementia. (Continue reading ...)
Exploring Compassion & Choices’ approach to dementia, Part 1
Compassion & Choices is trying to do more for those with a dementia diagnosis through a new online "Dementia Values & Priorities Tool." This post is the first part of an exploration of C&C's approach to dementia advance planning. (Continue reading ...)
Huntington’s Disease and a self-controlled death
This post describes the disease that killed Woody Guthrie–Huntington's Disease–and provides the story of a man who struggled with the disease until he could bear it no longer. (Continue reading ...)
A Self-Deliverance in California
Jim Van Buskirk relates a poignant experience that led to his joining the Final Exit Network. (Continue reading ...)
A non-medical model for a self-controlled death?
In a newly-produced short film, Philip Nitschke argues for a non-medical model to replace the medical model for a self-controlled death. His argument is compelling. If we have a right to a self-controlled death, we should not have to ask permission from doctors to honor that right. As he has said, "You don't have to be a doctor to understand dying." (Continue reading ...)
The taboo surrounding discussions of a self-controlled death
A recent article in the Washington Post produced by Kaiser Health News and written by Melissa Bailey asserts that openly discussing a self-controlled death, no matter how rational the discussion, is viewed by some people as "subversive" or, at least, out of the ordinary or suspect. (Continue reading ...)