If you're going to commit suicide...

[BrianR]

I have personally witnessed two suicides (of terminally ill people) and been present at the time. They took the relatively quiet and clean route of drugs that they hoarded from their prescriptions. I was touched at the suffering they withstood prior to the event to save their meds and the stoicism with which they defied the pain and presented a happy face to the ones who would survive them.

In the one case where there was family, the wife threw a party even though she could not come downstairs to be there. People came up in ones and twos to talk to her and say their goodbyes. At the end, she brought in the few people she wanted to be with her, took her pills (her "control" as she put it) and went to sleep. About an hour later her life signs ceased and her husband kissed her and brought the news to the others. All wept briefly (this was not unexpected) and then toasted her. Her doctor was informed (I believe he knew but for ethical reasons did not attend) and came to sign the death certificate. All details were handled quietly and as she wished.

When it's my time to go, I want it to be like that. Surrounded by my friends, no umseemly grieving, no mess.

I have also been a "friend" to an AIDS patient who chose to kill himself by throwing himself off an overpass into traffic below. NOT a good thing. He didn't kill anyone else but tied up traffic for hours and probably gave the unfortunate who hit him nightmares for a LONG time. Maybe Wolf even saw this guy admitted. I hate it when people do this. Death with Dignity is more than a slogan to me. I cannot fathom forcing innocent people to witness/participate in your death and the resultant cleanup. It is very selfish IMO.

Brian