✨✨General Discussions

At 85, my mortality is not some abstract remote event. I expect that my horizon is at most two decades away and more likely less than one. I am in good health, yet I have lost many friends in recent time. Most had "good" ends, but one, Bill P., suffered. In late life he was diagnosed with a slow progressing neurological disease. Over many years his fine motor coordination diminished and disappeared, his vision failed, his hearing loss worsened. He could no longer draw, or speak clearly, and became completely dependent upon a saintly woman who loved and cared for him even when he could no longer leave his bed.

Facing entrapment in an immobile body that was barely alive, he chose physician assisted suicide. Surrounded by loving family and friends, he said goodby, drank the lethal cocktail, fell asleep, and died. I believe that all of us should have that choice. What do you think?

Here's a recent article from The Guardian on the subject.

Richmond Shreve

NaCCRA Board Member

Forum Moderator

It’s an important topic. Not likely to be legal in VA in our lifetimes. As you doubtless know, legal in DC, if you can find a doctor snd pharmacist who support the concept.

20% of Americans live in one of the 11 jurisdictions where Medical Aid in Dying is permitted (California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington). The bill passed both houses of the Delaware legislature this year and was vetoed by the governor. We in Maryland have been trying since 2015 and came close in 2019 and 2024. 2025 may be our year. 

Unfortunately, MaCCRA will never take a position on the bill since it is controversial in many Maryland CCRCs. Fortunately, at Collington, where I live, there is overwhelming support for passage of the bill and we regularly submit petitions to our legislators signed by an overwhelming majority of our residents as well as staff ranging from administrators to dining staff and housekeepers. We fill a bus to go to Compassion and Choices Lobby Day in Annapolis. We raise the issue when MaCCRA hosts our state legislators at a meeting.

It is unfortunate that the opposition raises bogus concerns about potential dangers and negative consequences, when the more than 25 years of history and as well as required annual state reports have not found such. It is even more unfortunate that many want to impose their own religious views on the entire population in what is one of the most personal choices one can make and which each of us should be able to make in accordance with our own values and beliefs. No one who is opposed need make that choice and no one who is opposed need be involved in any way in any one else's choice.

Lorrie Rogers

Could not agree more. I live in Oregon, so I should consider myself "lucky"....

The only thing for my remaining lifetime that scares me and keeps me awake at night is what Richmond described: the slow death, pain, suffering, full dependency and zero control between the time when we are OK and fully functional, and our demise. Everyone doesn't have a "saintly women".

Everyone should have the right to live their life and end their life the way the want to as long as they do not cause harm to others.

A legally approved and available Sarco (see events in Switzerland) would be a great solution for many and would address situations when one doesn't have a terminal disease, but "only" something like Alzheimer (high probability for anyone living long enough) or the aftermath of a serious stroke. Why wait to become a suffering vegetable, a burden to family and the society?

Very difficult, personal topic.