It’s My Life!

When I was eighteen, the law said I was an adult. Now, I had to be responsible for my life. This was good!

At ninety-four, healthy in mind and body, I am still responsible for my life—except when I want to die. Right now, the state thinks it knows better than I do about making that choice. It doesn’t!

For years, I have supported euthanasia, advocating for people to be able to end their own lives when they choose. Why? As a pastor, I have seen individuals suffer unnecessarily because certain laws prevent them from taking control and requesting an injection when they want. Why?

There are many ways to die by suicide. When people see no options left, many choose to do just that. Instead of dying with dignity, they end their lives in shame. This is wrong!

My brother-in-law is a clear example. He had multiple sclerosis for over fifteen years and had been suffering from chronic pain 24/7, forcing him to live in his wheelchair full time. Pain pills only slightly eased his pain. Life had been miserable for everyone, and his quality of life was nonexistent, but the law didn’t care about his pain and suffering. It said, “Tough it out! Suffer 24/7!”

One day, he said, “Bil, I can’t take it anymore! Tell me how I can die.” I gave him my copy of Final Exit, a book on how to end your own life. He read it and said, “Let’s go!” He started grinding up his huge supply of pain pills as he planned his suicide. His family came to say their goodbyes. They couldn’t stay with him for fear of being involved in his death. He took his pills, washed them down with gin, all alone, and died within twelve hours.

It would have been much nicer if a doctor had injected him with a death serum so he would die within minutes, surrounded by his family and with dignity.

Why does society force people to suffer through this, especially since suicide is so easy? I’m around individuals with all kinds of debilitating diseases, Alzheimer’s being a major one. I have to watch my friends, responsible adults, revert to their infancy—defecating, peeing, vomiting all over themselves, unaware of what’s happening yet forced to live that way. It’s dehumanizing!

My wife and I understand what defines a good quality of life and what does not. We have told our family, doctors, and clergy that we do not want to go through any illness that dehumanizes us, eventually leads to our death, requires a lot of money for healthcare, and forces us to die without dignity.

This post is intended to raise awareness in my readers that we need to have legislators change the rules so that when people no longer wish to live, for any reason, they can die with dignity, quickly and peacefully.

No law will stop me, us, or others from ending life when we want. Legislators need to realize that how we lead our lives is our responsibility, not theirs.

Religious folks claim that when our time is up is God’s decision. God’s will is nonsense rooted in the church’s strong desire to control everyone. My mother and father gave me my life on one passionate occasion; God had nothing to do with it. If religious people want to bring God into the discussion, that’s their choice. But I absolutely do not want them or the institutional church telling me when enough is enough.

It’s food for thought. What do you think?

PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness

Bil

 

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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.

 

Image by Liz Masoner from Pixabay