[crag]

//As a cancer survivor, I feel so conflicted about this.

I don't. I'm one of those that survived AIDS (had cancer (KS), CMV, etc - in other words - the whole bad of horrors).

I got lucky, good timing, I held out long enough. But many didn't. And I saw what hanging on does to people. It's stunning to see a guy who 6 months ago weighed 210lbs of muscle and now he was [trying] standing before me; 110lbs who couldn't spend more then 10 mins out of the toilet.

I think, ending your own life on your own terms is possibly the bravest thing you can do. It's not easy to take your own life.

For years, I had a special stash of drugs in a place I could get to even if I lost my eye sight (I almost did). And I set a limit - if my eyes went I would go. I never understood why our society expects people to fight the good fight. You should be able to make that decision yourself.

Right now, you have to beg for help, or go into hospice and wait it out. Usually very high on morphine and barely able to get out of bed. Awful.

You are right, end of life care is terrible in the US. Just terrible. We need to start teaching people that death is nothing to fear. And sometimes, it's a better choice.

[alanwatts]

>I never understood why our society expects people to fight the good fight.

One reason I would guess is the massive fortune that is made off pharmaceutical sales.

If someone takes their life early, that is potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars saved by the family that otherwise would have went to big pharma.

[crag]

Nahh... that's probably part of it. But in many cases, it's the family insisting that you "drag it out".

I remember at NY Hospital, this guy (in the next room) was VERY sick (AIDS) - he was at end of life. Had 105+ fever they could not get down. He was laying on a bed of ice, and the nurse was pouring ice water over him - all at the insistence of his sister.

I remember thinking how could she torture her brother so much? I know she loved him. And it was a vain attempt too save his life. He wasn't conscious though most of it, but I think he would've preferred to die in peace and quiet rather then laying on a bed of ice.

He lasted till the morning. What a way to go.

That's why Living Wills and Medical Directives are so important.

[alanwatts]

Indeed, pharma sales are maybe only a small part of the reason.

The biggest reason may be the irrational terror certain societies have regarding death, which is something easily exploited by terrorists.

Even many of those who claim to know they are going to Heaven when they die are terrified to do so, indicating they don't really believe.

But where does the root of this terror come from? Perhaps it is the false belief of an artificial separation between mankind and nature

[percept]

There was an article recently agreeing with this point--that a mix of fear, selfishness, and guilt imposed by family and friends motivates many to "keep fighting," when they had previously and privately (away from loved ones) expressed their wish to die.

IIRC, the doctor in the article discussed how awful she felt at witnessing and being part of these prolonged treatments.

Can't find it now, but this seems to be a topic with a long history on NYT:

https://www.google.com/#q=site:nytimes.com+doctor+prolong+li...

Also:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/when-its-the...