Interesting. I have been following the story…which is how I knew that assisted suicide was legal in Oregon and a few other states. Not sure how I feel about these laws in general. Turns out that several people never take the lethal dose that was prescribed…while others put off taking it for as long as possible.
Brittany was also hoping to wait a little longer…from what I read…if she was still able to have some quality of life…maybe an extra day or two…but that was not to be the case.
Also I think there is a big difference from someone who has less than 6 months to live, and someone that has never learned to live. Any comments yourself? 😀
I was a little surprised when I read that she had passed. Like you mentioned, I had read that she was contemplating a delay. I support the laws. To some degree (‘some’ being the key word), I support the law’s application in the event of mental illness… but I don’t think the law will ever expand to include that.
When I read the story I felt like I completely understood except that I don’t know what it feels like to have a non-operable brain tumor. I have a friend that always says how “jealous” they feel when someone they know is told they have terminal cancer but I don’t agree with that thinking. I don’t have to use too much of my imagination to relate to being in unbearable pain and not being able to do anything about it – I know what that is like. From my perspective, if the pain is that bad and the Morphine isn’t enough then I would be compelled to “put the pedal to the floor” and let it do its thing.
Sometimes I hear about people with terminal illness that want to die before the disease gets them to a point where they feel “I don’t want anyone to see me like that”. I guess I’d have to get to that point before I would know how it feels. Sometimes pain gets so bad I can’t even think or care about anyone around me – I just want out.
I got the impression from her interview that Brittany picked a point in time that seemed right and acted on it. I have to respect that.
The DR is in the house !! 😀
I’m not even sure if I support her decision or the law…but I’m smurt enuf to know that if I were in her shoes I would want the choice atleast. Death with Dignity for mental illness? What types of mental illnesses should we allow? Who decides? Too many sticky wickets in that topic eh? Even for terminally ill patients they make them jump through hoops and take cool off periods. How much of their 6 months is taken up with waiting periods and interviews and forms and blah.
Actually…when I was in the hospital in May…they thought I was gonna stroke out on them and they asked me if I wanted them to code me or let me go. My first response was not the one we ended up going with. 😀 Emotionally and physically I was exhausted for sure…but it turns out I still got a little spunk in me yet. When I was given the choice…at a time when my reality was overwhelming…hell it was killing me….I chose LIFE. Me. Whoda thought? But I am glad I did. 😀
I hope things are going well in your reality. It has been too long eh friend. 😀 What’s new in your zoo?
I am glad certain places allow this. Belgium is quite a bit ahead in that area. If I understand correctly, they are the only country that allows people as young as 12, with terminal cancer, to also choose this way to die. They also made news headlines recently for allowing a mentally ill man(he raped and murdered woman and would never be released from being locked up) to make this choice and for twin brothers in their 40s who were born deaf and were now going blind.
Ama, I think if it gets to the point where the mentally ill person is clearly struggling, the prognosis calls for continued struggling, and the outlook appears to be a lifetime in an inpatient or hospitalized setting… then some decisions need to be made about whether the person is truly living or simply living. Suicide generally isn’t illegal in the US but it can certainly get you detained. So why should someone with an uncontrollable illness have to suffer through an endless detention? That troubles me. If they don’t want to suffer with their mental illness and there is no chance of leading a normal life, other options MIGHT need to be considered.
As I wrote before, I doubt we’ll ever see any of this written into a ‘right-to-die’ law. Giving someone with a mental illness who is at risk for being declared incompetent the right to determine and plan their death… well… It’s not going to happen.
I understand your reasoning and logic…it does make sense. But… hahaha
I am quoting directly from my own psych evaluation:
“At her age, prognosis of her conditions should be guarded with the outcome if treatment, whether medications, trauma psychotherapy or both, being uncertain of success.”
So the big problem for me is this…where do we draw the line? And are mentally ill people truly capable of making this sort of decision…or are we going to make it for them? You see how ugly this could get? Perhaps they just fixed me too well…in spite of their own predictions…but I have trouble with the law as it stands for the terminally ill. But no judgement of the recently deceased here. I never had to walk a day in her shoes. I’m just not sure I could make her choice…it is still a big decision…and no less formidable than un assisted suicide. The survival instinct would still have to be overcome…and we know the hell that is eh?
Whether we come to some agreement in this debate or not….I am praying for the entire family. Even with her diagnosis…it still had to be a terrible decision for her to make. I hope they all find Peace at the end of their road.
I absolutely agree with you regarding the family. This has to be one of the most heart-breaking decisions and situations that can be experienced. May they find their peace.
Yep, I agree Ama. Mental illness is a very knotty problem, I speak as someone diagnosed manic depressive who has been unable to work or live a ‘normal’ life for most of my adult life. Often it is a surfeit of intelligence and sensitivity that fetches people up with these kinds of diagnoses. I simply feel that I am living in the wrong world, and have many dreams and visions of what life should be which torment me most days.
So it’s the world as we know it that should die, and not all of those with ‘mental illness’ diagnoses as a result of being unable to live comfortably in the world as we know it. And ‘realists’ will queue up to tell you that’s nonsense and that it ain’t gonna happen. And all the odds go in their favour.
“Often it is a surfeit of intelligence and sensitivity that fetches people up with these kinds of diagnoses.”
I couldn’t agree with you more. 😀 Just curious how you feel about the school of thought that determines that there is no such thing as disease…but that it is a physical manifestation of “dis”ease. Personally I am starting to believe that all mental illness is a direct result of trauma…so there should be no other diagnosis other than PTSD. Also I believe there are 2 different types of humans co-existing on Earth at this time. The new species is having some difficulty adjusting…they are as you say…running on high and extremely sensitive.
I have sound arguments for my beliefs…if you would care to share or debate. haha I love a good argument, truthfully. 😀 You seem like an extremely intelligent Being.
12 comments
Interesting. I have been following the story…which is how I knew that assisted suicide was legal in Oregon and a few other states. Not sure how I feel about these laws in general. Turns out that several people never take the lethal dose that was prescribed…while others put off taking it for as long as possible.
Brittany was also hoping to wait a little longer…from what I read…if she was still able to have some quality of life…maybe an extra day or two…but that was not to be the case.
Also I think there is a big difference from someone who has less than 6 months to live, and someone that has never learned to live. Any comments yourself? 😀
I was a little surprised when I read that she had passed. Like you mentioned, I had read that she was contemplating a delay. I support the laws. To some degree (‘some’ being the key word), I support the law’s application in the event of mental illness… but I don’t think the law will ever expand to include that.
Good to see you, Ama… Long time no see.
When I read the story I felt like I completely understood except that I don’t know what it feels like to have a non-operable brain tumor. I have a friend that always says how “jealous” they feel when someone they know is told they have terminal cancer but I don’t agree with that thinking. I don’t have to use too much of my imagination to relate to being in unbearable pain and not being able to do anything about it – I know what that is like. From my perspective, if the pain is that bad and the Morphine isn’t enough then I would be compelled to “put the pedal to the floor” and let it do its thing.
Sometimes I hear about people with terminal illness that want to die before the disease gets them to a point where they feel “I don’t want anyone to see me like that”. I guess I’d have to get to that point before I would know how it feels. Sometimes pain gets so bad I can’t even think or care about anyone around me – I just want out.
I got the impression from her interview that Brittany picked a point in time that seemed right and acted on it. I have to respect that.
The DR is in the house !! 😀
I’m not even sure if I support her decision or the law…but I’m smurt enuf to know that if I were in her shoes I would want the choice atleast. Death with Dignity for mental illness? What types of mental illnesses should we allow? Who decides? Too many sticky wickets in that topic eh? Even for terminally ill patients they make them jump through hoops and take cool off periods. How much of their 6 months is taken up with waiting periods and interviews and forms and blah.
Actually…when I was in the hospital in May…they thought I was gonna stroke out on them and they asked me if I wanted them to code me or let me go. My first response was not the one we ended up going with. 😀 Emotionally and physically I was exhausted for sure…but it turns out I still got a little spunk in me yet. When I was given the choice…at a time when my reality was overwhelming…hell it was killing me….I chose LIFE. Me. Whoda thought? But I am glad I did. 😀
I hope things are going well in your reality. It has been too long eh friend. 😀 What’s new in your zoo?
🙂 it’d be neat if right to die was a thing in every state. also i wish i had the money to visit all those places lmao.
I am glad certain places allow this. Belgium is quite a bit ahead in that area. If I understand correctly, they are the only country that allows people as young as 12, with terminal cancer, to also choose this way to die. They also made news headlines recently for allowing a mentally ill man(he raped and murdered woman and would never be released from being locked up) to make this choice and for twin brothers in their 40s who were born deaf and were now going blind.
Ama, I think if it gets to the point where the mentally ill person is clearly struggling, the prognosis calls for continued struggling, and the outlook appears to be a lifetime in an inpatient or hospitalized setting… then some decisions need to be made about whether the person is truly living or simply living. Suicide generally isn’t illegal in the US but it can certainly get you detained. So why should someone with an uncontrollable illness have to suffer through an endless detention? That troubles me. If they don’t want to suffer with their mental illness and there is no chance of leading a normal life, other options MIGHT need to be considered.
As I wrote before, I doubt we’ll ever see any of this written into a ‘right-to-die’ law. Giving someone with a mental illness who is at risk for being declared incompetent the right to determine and plan their death… well… It’s not going to happen.
EDIT: *truly living or simply existing
I understand your reasoning and logic…it does make sense. But… hahaha
I am quoting directly from my own psych evaluation:
“At her age, prognosis of her conditions should be guarded with the outcome if treatment, whether medications, trauma psychotherapy or both, being uncertain of success.”
So the big problem for me is this…where do we draw the line? And are mentally ill people truly capable of making this sort of decision…or are we going to make it for them? You see how ugly this could get? Perhaps they just fixed me too well…in spite of their own predictions…but I have trouble with the law as it stands for the terminally ill. But no judgement of the recently deceased here. I never had to walk a day in her shoes. I’m just not sure I could make her choice…it is still a big decision…and no less formidable than un assisted suicide. The survival instinct would still have to be overcome…and we know the hell that is eh?
Whether we come to some agreement in this debate or not….I am praying for the entire family. Even with her diagnosis…it still had to be a terrible decision for her to make. I hope they all find Peace at the end of their road.
You raise some fair points, Ama. No easy answers.
I absolutely agree with you regarding the family. This has to be one of the most heart-breaking decisions and situations that can be experienced. May they find their peace.
Yep, I agree Ama. Mental illness is a very knotty problem, I speak as someone diagnosed manic depressive who has been unable to work or live a ‘normal’ life for most of my adult life. Often it is a surfeit of intelligence and sensitivity that fetches people up with these kinds of diagnoses. I simply feel that I am living in the wrong world, and have many dreams and visions of what life should be which torment me most days.
So it’s the world as we know it that should die, and not all of those with ‘mental illness’ diagnoses as a result of being unable to live comfortably in the world as we know it. And ‘realists’ will queue up to tell you that’s nonsense and that it ain’t gonna happen. And all the odds go in their favour.
“Often it is a surfeit of intelligence and sensitivity that fetches people up with these kinds of diagnoses.”
I couldn’t agree with you more. 😀 Just curious how you feel about the school of thought that determines that there is no such thing as disease…but that it is a physical manifestation of “dis”ease. Personally I am starting to believe that all mental illness is a direct result of trauma…so there should be no other diagnosis other than PTSD. Also I believe there are 2 different types of humans co-existing on Earth at this time. The new species is having some difficulty adjusting…they are as you say…running on high and extremely sensitive.
I have sound arguments for my beliefs…if you would care to share or debate. haha I love a good argument, truthfully. 😀 You seem like an extremely intelligent Being.