Living organisms are programmed for survival. If they find themselves with no food, etc - there are mechanisms that kick in to prolong the life of the organism until it can acquire what it needs to keep living. It is the law of the universe - things go on as long as they can. It is what keeps order in the universe.
I've watched people I love die from terminal diseases - it is horrible to watch. But every one of them had a choice in how they wanted their lives to end. My grandfather knew he was dying & had time to call us all in individually and talk heart to heart with us - I will cherish that conversation forever. He was not afraid to die, he was ready to meet his maker when the time was to come - and he reconciled himself to bearing the pain until the end. He was a strong man that had a lot of pride.
My mother-in-law refused treatments that would have prolonged her life at the end - she was in a lot of pain, but it was the way she chose to go. We had wonderful conversations during the end of her life & I learned so much from watching her endure her tribulations with grace and dignity.
Doctors pledge to keep life going - they should never pledge to end it. There are ways - a doctor could give the patient a prescription for something with the caveat "This is to help you sleep/ease pain/etc - if you take too many - it will kill you". This gives the patient options for choosing how they want to deal with the end of their lives.
This is just a way for these people to get their foot in the door - to a place where we let institutions decide who can live and die. Abortion was the first step.
I look at the example Jesus Christ set for us when he was on the cross. He had many opportunities to cut his suffering short - but he endured it to the very end. I think that we are put on this earth to learn certain lessons. Sooner or later, we will all die & although it may be hard for some people to fathom - I think it is a sort of "gift" to be able to know when your time will be ending - it gives you a chance to put your affairs in order & make peace with the people you love, have hurt & to make peace with yourself.
I don't want a doctor, the government, or any other institution making this decision for me. Let's not make this a formal procedure - let's not open that door. Just give me the means to make that very personal choice by myself.
Very well said.
If one subscribes to the culture of death's logic, Hitler "died with dignity", but Jesus Christ did not.
"Dignity" is part of a person's character, you DO NOT acquire it by appearing dignified. Death almost never appears dignified, but dignified people die with dignity every day. The truest form of dignity is accepting God's Will.
My stepfather --a saint if I ever knew one-- did the same.