With Help, Conductor and Wife Ended Lives.

[elleng]

One of Britain’s most distinguished orchestra conductors, Sir Edward Downes, had flown to Switzerland last week with his wife and joined her in drinking a lethal cocktail of barbiturates provided by an assisted-suicide clinic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/world/europe/15britain.html?hp

[TexasObserver]

1. Recommend. Important story about humans rights and choosing.

[tainted_chimp]

2. Heartbreaking.

He couldn't live without her.

It shouldn't be a crime to choose your own path.


I can't even fathom how they managed to tell their adult children of their plan to die together.


This story will haunt me.

[sazemisery]

3. A conductor who couldn't hear the notes

-snip-

Sir Edward, who was described in a statement issued earlier on Tuesday by Mr. Downes and his sister, Boudicca, 39, as “almost blind and increasingly deaf,”

-snip-

Not hearing the notes and not being able to see the notes. Not wanting to be without his love.

[enough]

4. Having lived with my father who suffered from Alzheimers for years before his recent death,

I have been thinking a lot about the need for a dignified and legal means of suicide. I would rather think of having ten good years ahead, than ten good years followed by ten years of hell for myself and my family.

[asjr]

6. And hell it is. My mother who had Alzheimers

lingered 10 years in a nursing home. She received good care but seeing someone you know or loved go through it is unimaginable.

[shadowknows69]

5. I think people should have this choice.

I also think this world will deteriorate to the point the governments of hte world will almost encourage it. See "Soylent Green" for one example. Futurama's "Suicide Booths" for a funnier one.

[johnfunk]

7. I can tell you that "Uncle Ted" was greatly loved by the musicians in Manchester and London...

... with whom he worked over the years, and the reaction to the news among my associates in the music biz in London is one of deep sadness but also understanding.

His eyesight problems have been known for years, as was his amazing memory -- in recent years, he conducted lengthy and intricate works from memory (and believe me, that is no simple task).

[tainted_chimp]

8. This reminds me of the story about the pianist Liu Chi Kung

From a quote by the author Bernie Zilbergeld:

"The Chinese pianist Liu Chi Kung was imprisoned for seven years during the Cultural Revolution, during which time he had no access to a piano. When he returned to giving concerts again after he was released, his playing was better than ever. Asked how this was possible since he had not practice for seven years, he replied: I did practice, every day. I rehearsed every piece I had ever played, note by note, in my mind."


As a youg kid, I remember hearing this story about him. I've remained amazed at the capacity of the human mind ever since.

[elleng]

9. And there's Beethoven,

who wrote while deaf.

[tainted_chimp]

10. I thought about that as well....

Tinnitus must be soooo horrifying.