Question
16: Do you endorse more active means
of
ending your life? Do you believe you have a right to die?
Voluntary
death? Merciful death?
Ending tube-feeding is a passive means of ending life.
It
is justified by your right to refuse medical treatment.
But
if your medical ethics are more liberal,
you
might find it reasonable to authorize more active means
of
bringing your life to an end once it has been determined
that
your meaningful days of living are over.
After the feeding tubes have been removed,
your
body could continue to function on its own for a week or two.
But
you might ask your proxies to authorize some other means
that
will bring your life to a painless and peaceful end
somewhat
sooner than would happen by natural means.
This
could include increasing your pain medication.
144
YOUR LAST YEAR: CREATING YOUR ADVANCE DIRECTIVE FOR MEDICAL CARE
If you are capable of authorizing an active ending of your life,
then
it would be called an assisted voluntary death.
Others
might have to provide you with the means to end your life,
but
it would still be basically your own decision,
accomplished
as the result of your free choice.
If you are no longer conscious and capable of authorizing your death,
then
it would be called a merciful death,
in
this case authorized in advance by you in your 'living will'.
Your
proxies would take the legal and moral responsibility
for
carrying out your wish to end your life by the best means.
If you want to donate your body to medical science or education
(see
Question 21 below), this plan should be coordinated with
the
time, place, & means of your death.
Merciful death might not yet be an accepted practice
when
you create your Advance Directive.
But
if it seems a reasonable way for you to end your life,
you
should request it in your 'living will'
and
hope that the laws and practices will be changed
by
the time you are ready for a merciful death.
If
merciful death is still illegal at the end of your life,
your
proxies will have to use passive means
—such
as withdrawing all life-supports and all medical treatments—
to
bring your life to a close.
After a few more decades and a few more million people
have
been put thru the standard process of dying
(which
might increasingly seem meaningless, prolonged, & expensive)
most
of the general public will see the wisdom of a quicker death.
And
they will persuade their legislators to make the needed changes
to
facilitate the rational ending of a life that is already over.
But an Advance Directive can also request a different death,
one
that keeps you attached to life-support systems,
including
artificial means of supplying food and water,
until
your body gives out despite these means of support.
You decide how you want your life to end.
Discuss
your choice with your proxies before you choose
the
final formulation for this part of your Advance Directive.
Your
proxies should be willing and able to carry out your wishes.
If
they are not, you need to change either your instructions or your
proxies.
QUESTION
16:
RIGHT TO
DIE
by JAMES
PARK
145
The
selection above is the whole Question 16 from the book:
Your
Last
Year: Creating Your Own Advance Directive for Medical Care.
If you click
this title, you will see
the complete table of contents.
If you
would like to see one person's Answer to this Question,
go to James
Park's Advance Directive for Medical Care.
Scroll down to Answer 16.