“Live and Let Go–An American Death”
Jay Niver, newsletter editor for Final Exit Network, shares the film made about his dad's hastened death to end his suffering from terminal prostate cancer. (Continue reading ...)
Making Choices About Death
A letter to the New York Times by FEN Board President Brian Ruder (Continue reading ...)
Respect for the life and death decisions of others
This week's post discusses the 2018 VSED death of Rosemary Bowen at age 94, based on the 16-minute film about her experience. (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 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 ...)
Alternate Endings
A review of the new HBO documentary "Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America," 67 minutes in length, which began airing on August 14. (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 ...)
Why FEN should support the Disability Integration Act
You may not have heard of the Disability Integration Act of 2019, but it is worth the support of the Final Exit Network (FEN) and the individual support of all people who favor a self-controlled death (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 ...)