Yes I would vote right to die. And I'm so glad Governor Brown signed the bill for us Californians. I feel a lot of relief from this law.

I have seen too many die slow, painful deaths. I think it should be an individual's choice. I don't understand the "need" to suffer. When I'm ready I want my family close and my doctor closer.

I have been thinking about this a lot. I think if you are terminal and suffering, you should have the right to do this. I really think its a personal decision.
it scares me to think of the end with not being able to breathe

i would vote yes.
especially after watching the movie about the right to die in oregon & how it works.
I don't want the last weeks to be like some I have caretaker for. I may have kept them "comfortable" but I know that's not how they wanted to be.
I want to be kept comfortable, but I want my dignity also.

ps- i don't think this is off topic---but better to put OT & be safe ;)

Lately, I have been thinking about this subject. Last time that I was in the hospital, a "house" doctor made the comment "Your next time will surely mean the ventilator"....Scared the xxxx out of me !! I still have unfinished business, to take care of...at least that's what I tell myself.

Meantime, my objective has been to stay away from hospitals since that's where most of the germs are I know of other people that have been "vented", and made an OK recovery....but I am afraid that I would linger in a vegetative state and I sure don't want that for myself or my family.

Meantime, I believe that I will refuse to be vented because my breathing condition is certainly not going to be restored to anywhere near "normal".I am usually a fighter...Haven't made those decisions yet. Yes, No, Yes, No ????

I certainly do agree/respect "Right to Die Decisions" and feel that the law should allow individuals with a terminal illness to say "Enough, is enough...no more medical interventions....,I wish to be put to sleep permanently".

Absolutely YES - as others have said, it should be an individual choice. Personally, I believe in death with dignity and in the name of compassion for those I love dearly. While some may think it is a selfish choice, I believe it is the opposite.

I don't think it is necessary to be tormented (morphine only works to a certain degree), or have my family agonize as they sit vigil and feel totally helpless - draining them mentally and physically, let alone the financial drain. In other words, I believe in quality over quantity because I love my family that much.

So glad to see so many of us for this measure. I certainly am wholeheartedly. Can't imagine it passing in Texas tho. At least we have hospice now which is a step in the right direction.

Absolutely, yes!!! No question about it. I've watched too many who were not allowed to die with dignity.

A treatment decision can be made known ahead of time by executing a living will or a Do Not Resuscitate order. Usually patients exercising the right to die will have also made explicit their wish to receive only palliative care to reduce pain and suffering.

I have a Living will so I expect to die happy.

I should have also said along with your Will is the Advanced Health Care Directive. You can actually name your choices.

Here is a Link:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/living-wills/art-20046303

For someone with a terminal illness that could be excruciating pain or where they wouldn't "be of right mind" to know what was happening, I think they should have the choice how long to go on.

I personally hope I go fast & don't do that last 2 to 4 weeks that my family has to "stand vigil" (as anniem puts it) waiting as my body slowly shuts down. (been there as caretaker, i don't want that for me & hope my loved ones don't have to go thru that with me.
of course when that happens i'm not sure if the right to die would help me at that point.

I had so many wrong visions of how "the right to die" would work that it was scary to think of.
But I watched a documentary called "how to die in Oregon" on Netflix a year or so ago & I was amazed that it was nothing like I thought it would be.
Very eye opening & nothing like I imagined. (I thought you had to go to dr & get "injected" or something and that once you decided you couldn't back out ---many false notions.
It was very interesting to watch how it actually worked. That once someone got the medication to "overdose" they could wait for years to actually use it, or may change their minds & never use it.

When I learned how it worked in Oregon. It seemed so humane with the sick person in charge & control and had their "rights" at all times.
So voting for the "right to die" I think should be each persons right everywhere.
It's one of those things that I may not chose it for myself (or I may), but I believe a person should have the choice & it be each individuals right.

j.h.
= you couldn't get hospice in Texas before now?
I had no idea that hospice & palliative care weren't an option everywhere.
How does a terminal person do it without help?
Gosh, the thought of not having the help of hospice & the ability to stay in ones own home with dignity & be kept comfortable is shocking to me.
I guess I took for granted that everyone has the choice. I thought Hospice was everywhere.
wow! I'm shocked!

Yes, one needs the revocable living trust, and Health care directive. I filled in those forms a few years back, but they should be reviewed/updated by me - there's definitely a comfort level for me. This covers everything.

Right to die? This is a hard one - too many factors for me to say exactly what I'd do. I could choose incorrectly because I was having a bad mental health day - now what? Oops doesn't cut it.

jarca,

We do have hospice in Texas. I believe since 1978 or there abouts. We have had several relatives receive hospice care over the years.

Hugs
Annette

I live in Texas and my Primary has offered hospice to me but says he does the same as palliative care so when it comes to that , we may have to have further discussion

I strongly believe in the "Right to choose". Who else lives in our bodies that would know what or why we need to be able to decide ourselves..

ty for the info.
i am glad to hear that you have hospice in texas. I hope all the states have it, I don't know how it is for the patient to be on it, but it was wonderful for me as a caregiver & I have great admiration for the program & the people that work for it.

i don't quite understand the difference in hospice & palliative care. Palliative care is where a person still has treatment to try to cure a disease isn't it?
---- for instance if a person wanted to do chemo, but still needed help at home? where hospice is just keeping a person comfortable when no treatment is wanted or available?