Rational suicide:

[grandmoon]

Beverley Broadbent was not dying of a terminal illness, nor was she depressed or unhappy. But at 83, she wanted to die.

After living a rich and satisfying life, the Brighton East woman said the ageing process had come to feel like a disease that was robbing her of her physical and mental fitness. In February, she said she had had enough.

''I look well and I walk well so people think I'm fine. But I have so many things wrong with me,'' she said. ''The balance is gone. It's taking so much time for me to keep fit to enjoy myself that there's not enough time to enjoy myself.''

In several interviews with Fairfax Media, Ms Broadbent said she planned to take her own life so she could have a peaceful, dignified death. She said she did not want her health to deteriorate to the point where she had dementia or found herself in a nursing home with no way out.

The environmental activist chose to tell her story because she believed many elderly people wanted to die when they felt their life was complete, but lacked the means to go gently.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rational-suicide-why-beverley-broadbent-chose-to-die-20130401-2h34...

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rational-suicide-why-beverley-broadbent-chose-to-die-20130401-2h34...

[the_bob_delusion]

What if a woman came into CS and said she's planning to kill herself because she's getting on in years and she wanted to do it her way.

Honestly .. would you post back "yes I support you. Go do it".

Seriously? What would your response be?

It's none of my business or yours. Does it affect you? No.

[cherry*135]

Most of us experience lows, most of us reach a point somewhere we we say okay enough is enough. Life is a challenge and one of the most enduring human qualities we have is finding the courage to 'hang in there', to change our circumstances, to find joy in the simplest things.

That is what I thought to. An elderly person may have a week, a month where they are feeling really down (maybe due to an infection/sickness) and want to end it. The next month they may rally around healthwise and be feeling much better and happy to be alive.

How does an elderly person determine one has had enough of life? As CatM said when what age would this rational suicide for the elderly be acceptable?

There will be elderly people whose quality of life is very, very low - maybe living in a hospital part of a retirement home, bedridden maybe..I can understand them thinking they wish it would just all end. Whereas Beverly was far from that sort of day to day existence.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Most of us experience lows, most of us reach a point somewhere we we say okay enough is enough. Life is a challenge and one of the most enduring human qualities we have is finding the courage to 'hang in there', to change our circumstances, to find joy in the simplest things.

That is what I thought to. An elderly person may have a week, a month where they are feeling really down (maybe due to an infection/sickness) and want to end it. The next month they may rally around healthwise and be feeling much better and happy to be alive.

How does an elderly person determine one has had enough of life? As CatM said when what age would this rational suicide for the elderly be acceptable?

There will be elderly people whose quality of life is very, very low - maybe living in a hospital part of a retirement home, bedridden maybe..I can understand them thinking they wish it would just all end. Whereas Beverly was far from that sort of day to day existence.

I am an elderly person and I think I am quit capable of knowing my own mind and making my own decisions, thank you.

[cherry*135]

What about a person well under 50 who is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis or one of those other dreadful debilitating diseases and they wanted to end their life,and not go through all those stages of debilitation. Does the same rational suicide options apply to them? They seem to have a more valid reason to not to want to live than an elderly person who just states they feel their life is now complete and no use them being alive anymore.

[the_bob_delusion]

I don't understand why Beverley made a hoohah (media attention) about committing suicide?

She bought up a very good dilemma that we'll all have to face. She's not forcing anyone to take her view. She's made a very good argument for it. 

I hate the thought of my parents dying. But I want them to be happy and live without pain. 

[the_great_she_elephant]

If she had considered it and weighed up all of her options and still thought that this was the right time for her, then YES? It is her life, her decision. Only she knows the right time.

I would probably assume it was a wind-up and not respond at all.:^O

Seriously though, I would tell her this wasn't the place to get advice and to talk to people who knew her and were capable of advising her.

[cherry*135]

I am an elderly person and I think I am quit capable of knowing my own mind and making my own decisions, thank you.

Who said you weren't? The question I made was - how (at what point) does an elderly person decide they know longer want to live? I didn't say they weren't alllowed to make that decision. I can see how bedridden people might make that decision.

Have you asked your adult children if they would support you if you were to make

the choice of rational suicide?

You may know your own mind now, but you can't see into the future and see if you will suffer from dementia, in which case you would no longer know your own mind.

[the_bob_delusion]

What about a person well under 50 who is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis or one of those other dreadful debilitating diseases and they wanted to end their life,and not go through all those stages of debilitation. Does the same rational suicide options apply to them? They seem to have a more valid reason to not to want to live than an elderly person who just states they feel their life is now complete and no use them being alive anymore.

I believe so. 

It sometimes amazes me when we see an animal suffering and in pain. We choose to end their suffering because it's the "HUMANE" thing to do. Yet we couldn't give the same respect for our fellow beings. 

I don't know where the line should be drawn but I'll fight the "no exception whatsoever" the right to life people argue for. 

[cherry*135]

 But I want them to be happy and live without pain. 

You can live to a great age and not have any pain. Do you think every resident in a retirement home (excluding those in the hospital section) spend their days in pain?

[the_bob_delusion]

I am an elderly person and I think I am quit capable of knowing my own mind and making my own decisions, thank you.

I didn't realise you were elderly. I often think of people here on the forum are younger because old people often don't use the net much. Let alone work out how to chat on a forum.