To the editor:
A “Death with Dignity” bill is currently before the NH Legislature.
Ten years ago, a friend of my wife was dying of cancer. She knew for months that she wouldn’t see the end of the year. She wanted to die at home.
We watched her body waste away, her vitality and exuberance dry up and vanish, and her previous love of life surrender to reality. She sought no sympathy. We were with her shortly before she died and her husband brought a nephew into the room. He was ill-prepared with the perfect comforting words. His message was “Barbara, you can win this. Barb you will beat this disease.”
As he left, Barbara whispered, “They have no idea what I’m going through. I wish I had a switch I could flip and end it right now.”
We witnessed that long protracted march to the end, we had heard the unfeigned pleas for relief and we wished for her last request in life.
There doesn’t appear to be much daylight between advanced medical directives and Death with Dignity requests.
An advanced directive is created while the person is capable of participating in the discussion. The procedure is dictated, months or years in advance. But when implemented, the person about to incur the language in that directive is not a participant in its action.A Death with Dignity is a request made by a mentally competent and alert person. It is also signed off by a doctor.
There is a reticence of some religions to Death with Dignity. I respect that position. We are a country that believes fervently in freedom of religion. But aren’t we entitled to personal freedom from religion also?
This bill has ample safeguards that will provide a respectful, painless and consoling exit for many.
Ted Leach
Hancock