now what would you prefer..

[dead_but_twitching]

i work at a old folks home, in the "death ward" where people are rated a meager 0 in priority for madical attention. which means that they get nothing... not even morphine for their pain, all i can really offer them is coffe and tom & jerry crackers... it's really depressing to see how a 100 year old woman asks daily if i could kill her just to end it all...

soo my question to you guys is.. would you want to die "young"late 60-ish

or grow old?

[GnArKiLL]

i love how you go from explaining the most depressing thing ive ever heard, to asking a fun trivia like question

[dead_but_twitching]

ypu have to have a sense of humour to pull through the days...

[Bondage Clown]

The question is not how old to die.. but 'tis whether it is nobler to die in Ye olde Folks Home, or in such a way as to Ye olde Dentist exam.

I just want to die happy. and today is not that day.

[Amelia G]

I don't think that is a trivial question.

My family is generally very very long-lived, so I'd be losing nearly half a lifetime dying at 60. So, no, I would not want to die at 60. But I would want the option to die when I'm ready to go.

What the heck part of the world do you live in that they don't give terminal patients pain killers?

[dead_but_twitching]

i live in sweden... where we rate people's need for medical care from 3 to 0.
with zero being the lowest... for example if you are 90 years old you are rated a 0 in the national health agency, because it is not expected of you to live any longer.... did i mention we have free health care?

[Mindgames]

I still tell people that with the life I lead I'm going to die young, but they tend to remind me I've missed the opportunity.

There's certainly a time where the quality of life dips below the balance point, and if you want out, then you should be allowed out. Planning it beforehand is a different issue entirely - like being asked what you want for lunch on May 15 2031. WELL? waddya mean you can't decide???


Oh, and Amelia gets a hug for her "I'm gonna live to 120" math.

[Morning Glory]

you can't even buy guns there can you? fuck that, as long as I can still go out and buy a shotgun when i'm 78, if I ever feel the need, then I'll be kicking it with Hemingway. That and this may sound terribly morbid, but I just want to outlive all the people that would care if I died. if I knew I was going to die tommorrow, it would be crazy, but I wouldn't really feel bad about it. that's life.

[Amelia G]

i live in sweden... where we rate people's need for medical care from 3 to 0.
with zero being the lowest... for example if you are 90 years old you are rated a 0 in the national health agency, because it is not expected of you to live any longer.... did i mention we have free health care?

Wow, scary stuff. And stuff which doesn't get mentioned when Americans are whining about paying for medical care, when it is really our insurance system that is messed up. I think I'd rather pay US (vs. Swedish) tax rates then and buy my own morphine when I'm at death's door.

[Xochitl]

I'm there with you Amelia, I guess that is one of the dirty secrets of socialist government. A good friend of mine is a physician from Holland & she would rather practice here despite the insurance issue. They are hugely out of control, I learned firsthand after working in a malpractice firm a few months back. It is no wonder doctors here are so stressed out when you see what they pay in insurance just to stay in business. I am guessing that is one big reason why it is so damn hard to let people euthanize themselves, I am sure more docs would be happy to assist but they might get put into major litigation with everyone under the sun. Look at Dr. Kevorkian, I hope that whenever I do go it is without pain and that I have enough of my facilities to take care of myself, if that is 60 then so be it or 90? As long as I have a quality of life then I will go on living but once I cannot do simple things like wipe my own ass then it will be time to have a big party for those I love & then OD! I know some people might think it is a cop out but I have worked in those nursing homes & those people really hate it. Poor things. I am way to independent to lose that & most of those people are too.

[Mr Karl]

depends on a lot of circumstances, I suppose I'll think about that one when it's time too

[One Eyed Cat]

I'm in it for the long haul. Long lifespans are the norm in my family as well. If I go at 60, so be it. My instincts tell me I'll hit 100 despite my vices. Wonders never cease in this world. I'm more than willing to take the pain with the bliss. I won't let them put me under even. I want to die at home with family and friends.

Jackie T

[Amelia G]

I'm in it for the long haul. Long lifespans are the norm in my family as well. If I go at 60, so be it. My instincts tell me I'll hit 100 despite my vices. Wonders never cease in this world. I'm more than willing to take the pain with the bliss. I won't let them put me under even. I want to die at home with family and friends.

Jackie T

I'm sure you know all about living wills, but I think they are a really great idea after a certain age, so there is documentation of what you do and do not wish to have done to prolong your life.

[Mr Karl]

living wills sound good but I don't think drag me behind the barn and shoot me is an option

[One Eyed Cat]

I'm sure you know all about living wills, but I think they are a really great idea after a certain age, so there is documentation of what you do and do not wish to have done to prolong your life.

I would recommend everyone have a living will drawn up. I should have that done early in '08. One can become incapacitated at anytime though. Back in Pittsburgh, I remember an attorney offering up his services pro bono post Terri Schiavo.

Jackie T

[Amelia G]

living wills sound good but I don't think drag me behind the barn and shoot me is an option

I think my dad's comes pretty close to that. The man is somewhat opposed to aspirin and vitamins, so you can imagine how heroic he'd like the medical torture to get. He is not vain at all and looks about twenty years younger than he is, though, so he must be doing something right.

[Anarkey]

as long as im Kicking,,, im Kickin it in the ass !