Don’t rob them of hope, Brittany (plans to kill herself on November 1 b/c brain tumor. But...)

MercatorNet ^ | 24 October 2014 | Denis Strangman

[Mrs. Don-o]

"...in the private online discussion groups for brain tumour patients which I have observed for years, as opposed to the open forums anyone can join, your peers overwhelmingly express prayers and sympathy for you but reject your approach. The drive to approve assisted suicide as a “solution” for patients like them does not ease their burden but aggravates it."

Statistically, suicides happen in clusters. One person goes for the the self-pitying or accusatory note, the drama-queen announcement or the sullen silence punctuated by the discharge of the gun, and then 3 or 4 copycats --- sometimes old school friends, siblings, or persons similarly situated --- do the same. Because human hope is a shared thing. One person's hope holds back the deluge of despair for many; conversely, one person's treasonable defection to death make many think, "What's the use?"

G.K. Chesterton, depressed and almost despairing, seriously considered suicide when he was in his 20's. He turned from this temptation and became one of the funniest commentators on the passing scene, and at the same times, one of the sternest rejectors of suicide that I have ever read. (In fact, I did not understand his sternness toward suicides until I read that he himself had passed through that dread crisis and had emerged on the other side, on the side of life.)

I agree with this author, and with G.K. Chesterton: Suicide --- especially, especially "rational" suicide--- is a kind of treason.

[2ndDivisionVet]

They told my mother to go home and die in comfort the first time she had breast cancer. She survived that time and again 20 years later.

[Kackikat]

I wonder how much pressure from liberal family members and Obama care supporters of the ‘end of life planning’ group have on those with aka terminal illnesses.

My friend, who is older than my mother, had a brain tumor for several years but the tumor is now shrinking and she will not be facing death any time soon....but what if she had committed suicide (not an option for her)before the good news?? She is over 85 now, and living alone, driving, taking care of herself, and sewing cute things for Christmas gifts....Positive thinking produces positive results.

Maybe this woman will get some good news soon to change her mind.

[Yaelle]

Beautiful words from Mr. Strangman.

[Mrs. Don-o]

A Ballade of Suicide
by G.K. Chesterton

The gallows in my garden, people say,
Is new and neat and adequately tall;
I tie the noose on in a knowing way
As one that knots his necktie for a ball;
But just as all the neighbours–--on the wall–--
Are drawing a long breath to shout “Hurray!”
The strangest whim has seized me. . . . After all
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

To-morrow is the time I get my pay–
My uncle’s sword is hanging in the hall–
I see a little cloud all pink and grey–
Perhaps the rector’s mother will not call–
I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall
That mushrooms could be cooked another way–
I never read the works of Juvenal–
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

The world will have another washing-day;
The decadents decay; the pedants pall;
And H.G. Wells has found that children play,
And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall,
Rationalists are growing rational–
And through thick woods one finds a stream astray
So secret that the very sky seems small–
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

ENVOI

Prince, I can hear the trumpet of Germinal,
The tumbrils toiling up the terrible way;
Even to-day your royal head may fall,
I think I will not hang myself to-day.

[proud American in Canada]

I agree with you, Mrs. Don-o, regarding G.K. Chesterton’s assessment of suicide. I hope this woman listens to the author of the letter.

[Jarhead9297]

No there unfortunately just isn’t. When officially diagnosed from this type there is no recovery. No praying...no chemo...no hoping...no shrinking...When diagnosed there is no coming bacback from this one. I hope she does reconsider but I respect her choice in this matter to not live her last days in excruciating agony and pain.

[cherry]

in the very deep dark hearts of the hopeless is "hope"....they dare not say it, but its there....

they HOPE....

I still feel my mother, over 80, with cancer, wanted to believe that she could make it..

..sadly, she, they, whoever...encouraged her to go on Hospice, which just let her lanquish, alive, but not treated...a slow death without any hope... IMO....

I wish we had given her the gift of hope....

[Nevadan]

Isn’t this typical of today’s narcissistic generation? Whatever you do or plan to do, from the most insignificant action, thought, or whim to the largest most life altering, you share on social media?

I am sorry that she has the brain tumor. So she can legally and apparently easily off herself if she wishes. I disagree with that choice, but notifying the world and getting herself in the news and on magazine covers so she can go out with great fanfare while encouraging other people to follow her suit is not only shallow and annoying, but evil.

[mplsconservative]

There are so many kinds of brain tumors. My father died 4 1/2 months after a diagnosis of a stage IV Glioblastoma. He was 74 and chose not to do any of the invasive treatments. I treasure every moment I had with him.

One of my mom’s friends is a 10 year survivor of a brain stem cancer. She gets along remarkably well much as your friend does.

What this young woman has chosen is very selfish. She has a lot better odds at her age in prolonging her life than my father ever had. It makes me very sad for her and her family.

[Mrs. Don-o]

First, there is no reason whatever why she would "live her last days in excruciating agony and pain." If there is one thing modern medicine CAN do, it is eliminate pain in terminal illness.

And this has long been true. A favorite and very experienced doctor --- Dr. Jose Espinosa --- told me 30 years ago, "I have never seen intractable pain, BUt I have seen intractable doctors and nurses."

Second,what she proposes to do affects not only herself, but many, many other persons in a disastrous way. Legal "assisted" suicide deeply corrupts the medical, legal, and political professions. It turns medicine, law and government away from the desiderata of what is naturally good, and in favor of mere demand.

Anyone who wants to commit suicide on their own can do so, and 30 minutes' worth of mousing around on the Internet can tell you how.

But don't insist on "authorization" or "participation" from church or state or medico or politico. Surely in the name of autonomy, a would-be suicider can take care of business without insisting on corrupting everybody around them.

A self-respecting suicider (I am not recommending this) should be responsible for himself. This "legalized" "physician-assisted" crap just puts more death-dealing power in the hands of the State, to be used against persons far more vulnerable than this proud, attractive, articulate, but terminal and terminally self-serving lady.

[MeshugeMikey]

I have nothing but contempt for the publishers of “people” magazine...

Advertising the suicide “Option” is utterly immoral imho

[Jarhead9297]

I can respect that...no argument from me on having self do it.

[MeshugeMikey]

Dr. Byock, with reference to the Brittany Maynard story stated on PBS Newshour that:

My heart goes out to Brittany Maynard. It’s a heart-wrenching story. But I want to assure … people watching that she could get excellent whole person care and be assured of dying gently in her bed surrounded by her family.

It’s ironic that we know how to give extremely good care, not only comprehensive medical care, but tender, loving care. But … as the Institute of Medicine report shows, we’re just not doing it in this country. And it really is a national disgrace.

And giving doctors now authority to write lethal prescriptions fixes really nothing, none of the deficiencies in practice or medical training. It’s really a socially dangerous thing to do.

http://tinyurl.com/l5xeceo

[Cicero]

I have nothing but contempt for the publishers of “people” magazine...

Advertising the suicide “Option” is utterly immoral imho

My first thought, too. This young woman is making the wrong choice, but at least she has the excuse that she is dying of brain cancer, and that's enough to disturb anyone. I hope she gets some good counsel, thinks it over, and is persuaded to change her mind.

But what's the excuse of the editors of People Magazine?

[lee martell]

I agree with you. Her biggest mistake was going public with this. Now, sentiment, opinion and presumption are in full spin cycle. Only her immediate lawyers and clergy, if she has one, needed to know.

The fact that she has gone so public has got me wondering if she wishes to be talked out of it. Something like the Sylvia Plath Syndrome. Sylvia Plath, an early 20th Century poet, author of The Bell Jar, was notorious for her repeated attempts to kill herself, until finally she (some say inadvertently) succeeded. Some hard core literary fans blamed her husband Ted Hughes infidelity for her death. Ted lived until 1998.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Valerie Harper was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, given 6 months to live..its been what, over a year and she is still with us, if Valerie Harper had this woman’s mentality she would have missed out on that year and many years to come

[xp38]

People is a subsidiary of TIME magazine. That is all you need to know about them.

[Tomato lover]

bump for later reading/reference

[equaviator]

The world does not need a pop icon like this and DAMN the mainstream media for making it happen!