cspan discussion on assisted suicide

[The Witch]

Just sent to the program:

Ms. Coleman,

As I understand it, your argument is that people will be given the message by this that if you are disabled, you are a burden. Should we then also outlaw magazines that send the message that if you are fat, you're not worthy? Schools that send the message that if you're not smart, you're not worthy? There are a million messages out there. And in my opinion, you and Ms. Tucker could work together to get those messages out there. You have more in common than I think you can see from your position on the inside of this debate. I urge you to find that common ground so both rights and "the message" can be preserved.

[REP]

1. Sigh.

The sender of the message (not the OP) doesn't get there is a difference between "disabled" and "terminally ill." I am disabled; at some point I will become terminally ill (barring I don't get hit by a bus first). Assisted suicide is not about being a burden; it's about life itself being a burden to the person forced to live it to the end of a terrible illness.

[Kindigger]

2. Double "sigh"

I am disabled by chronic pain. It won't get any better so I guess that also makes me terminally ill?
I do know that some days I'm in so much pain that I wish I were dead. Does that put me in the other category of "depressed"?
I've already got my own stock of medication for when I decide I've had enough. There won't be a hospital in this country that will get within 100 yards of me with a tube, needle, or anything else.

[REP]

4. Medically Speaking, No

Terminally ill is something like End Stage Renal Disease (my future, woo-hoo!), inoperable/untreatable cancer (such as bone or late stage of any cancer). ALS, etc - any disease that will end the patient's life.

Chronic pain is another thing; I have peripheral neuropathy, inflammatory arthritis, etc - all of these things cause chronic pain, and though some days I wish they'd kill me, the natural course of these disorders is not fatal.

Depression is another issue. It is not organically fatal, meaning no tumors grow or vital organs fail, but it is a disease that is often fatal. I think it is excluded as the sole criteria for allowing assisted suicide, as it can be treated.

[Kindigger]

5. Makes sense

I remember a time before I was receiving any kind of pain management. I was on anti-depressants, even though I was adamant that I was NOT depressed. The position of the doctors was I was in pain because I was depressed, rather than being depressed because I was in pain.

After ten years, I am finally on pain meds. I quit taking the anti-depressants. Now I guess I'm "bipolar" as I'm up on the days I'm not in pain, and down on the days I am. This doesn't make me "clinical", and I know I'm not, because there was never an anti-depressant that did anything for me (except the lousy side effects).

What I've learned is that people in my position should definitely stay away from mental health "professionals". :crazy:

[Deja Q]

3. Judging by my last review at work, I am not worthy.

And planetary resources are about to become financially unviable.

We all can't live forever.