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...

[cherry*135]

I prefer to stick to the matters in the opening post as that is what the person who started this thread intended us to discuss. That doesn't mean I have a closed mind to bigger areas than the OP's post.

[purple.cow]

I'm sure the OP will not mind having this topic aired so well, even though it has taken several little twists and turns along the way.

All good quality debate is healthy, and more often than not tends to drift a fair bit from the original opening remarks.

It's how we all learn to broaden our minds and take on other viewpoints which can often improve our own perspectives and take on life.

All I can say from a personal standpoint is that I have been able to open up to something I kept deeply buried for many years through it all, and I have the OP in a roundabout way to thank for it, but possibly moreso I have discovered caring and willing soundingboards that have helped me see things in a way I never saw before due to my own long held feelings of guilt and remorse.

I have spent the last few hours away from this message board turning things over in my mind and feel a lightness of spirit this late hour of the day I didn't feel when my eyes opened this morning.

[jean2579]

Moorna.. That is good. I recently told my DIL, a first time new Mum who said that she was being overwhelmed with other people's opinions on how to raise her child, to listen to the advice, discard it and rely on her own instincts. Perhaps you could consider just trusting yourself. You seem to have done a good job so far.

[purple.cow]

Moorna.. That is good. I recently told my DIL, a first time new Mum who said that she was being overwhelmed with other people's opinions on how to raise her child, to listen to the advice, discard it and rely on her own instincts. Perhaps you could consider just trusting yourself. You seem to have done a good job so far.

You're obviously a very kind and thoughful lady Jean, and i thank you for being one of the soundingboards I mentioned. :-x

[darksideofthemoon]

I suspect that before the youngest of us here reaches an old age that is just about impossible for them (if it happens that way) that euthanasia will be available for such situations.

It certainly won't happen yet, but it's not far off and it will be seen that people can take responsibility for their own end when they choose to.

'Choice' is the key word.  It's the same with terminal patients, if they know they can go when they need to, they will relax and stay maybe longer, feeling safe with the knowledge that euthanasia is there for them when it really gets too hard.

I know my mother, who died when she was 93 was getting to that point of waking every morning and thinking 'oh my God, I'm still here'.  She didn't have dementia, and was still living on her own with home help, but she had got sick and tired of a life that had no real value any longer.

I doubt she would have committed suicide, but I think she would have liked to be given the option.

Those that oppose the idea of euthanasia for extreme cases really haven't known suffering yet.

[polksaladallie]

I suspect that before the youngest of us here reaches an old age that is just about impossible for them (if it happens that way) that euthanasia will be available for such situations.

It certainly won't happen yet, but it's not far off and it will be seen that people can take responsibility for their own end when they choose to.

'Choice' is the key word.  It's the same with terminal patients, if they know they can go when they need to, they will relax and stay maybe longer, feeling safe with the knowledge that euthanasia is there for them when it really gets too hard.

I know my mother, who died when she was 93 was getting to that point of waking every morning and thinking 'oh my God, I'm still here'.  She didn't have dementia, and was still living on her own with home help, but she had got sick and tired of a life that had no real value any longer.

I doubt she would have committed suicide, but I think she would have liked to be given the option.

Those that oppose the idea of euthanasia for extreme cases really haven't known suffering yet.

I agree, Darki.  Apparently the people who do have something in their cupboards can relax, stop worrying about it and enjoy their lives more,  knowing that they do have the choice.

[lurker17260]

This has been a really interesting debate and I congratulate everybody on keeping it sensible and cordial even though there are many differing views.

I have been trying all along to think how to express my opinion on the subject and I think Darki may have just hit the nail on the head when she said I know my mother, who died when she was 93 was getting to that point of waking every morning and thinking 'oh my God, I'm still here'.  She didn't have dementia, and was still living on her own with home help, but she had got sick and tired of a life that had no real value any longer.

There is a lady on my Meals on Wheels run who must be well into her 80s, possibly even 90s.  The tales she tells of her life are amazing and wonderful.  I said to her last time I was there "I think you have lived what they call a very colourful life Shirl".  She just laughed and said "yes, but it's over now". 

She lives alone, with various forms of outside help.  Her big outing for the day is to the letterbox and back and she is, quite frankly, tired of living.  I have no idea what her opinions of rational suicide are and of course I would never ask, but I can't help thinking if I were in her shoes I would consider it.  She feels she has lived her life.  She hates the way her body is letting her down and that everything is so difficult for her to do, even just making a cup of tea is a major undertaking.  I don't know why she isn't in a hostel or home for the elderly, maybe they just aren't the places she wants to be.  I just wish that for Shirley there wasn't this sadness at her life now.

Anyway, I think my point is, I agree with Beverely's actions for her. 

[purple.cow]

In summation of my own outlook on this topic is best said in a well known Confusion saying ...

"When you have read the book, close the cover."

That just about says it all regarding how I see rational, or otherwise, suicide.

[not_an_eloi]

m'self, best to open another book

[cat_mioux]

It seems to me that Beverley made her choices based upon her personal circumstances, and that was her right.

Your notion of a caring 'collective society' doesn't exist in the modern western world so I believe your point is mute.

The reality for so many people these days is that they live in an isolated existence where no-one else gives a toss for the individual.

You appear to be living in a cloud cuckooland Utopia, just as so many academic minded people tend to do, but things are far different out there in the real big wide world.

I don't know why, because I advocate LIFE, you personally attack me by saying I live in a "cloud cuckooland Utopia".

I said we, as a society, should be addressing the reasons why Beverley wanted to kill herself. We, as a society, need to look at the problems our fellow human beings have such as isolation, loneliness, fear of aging, fear of nursing homes, becoming discarded as we age ..

I know about life. I've certainly lived enough drama and trauma to know both emotional and physical pain. I know the problems people face in this world.

You may have a  'people not giving a toss' perspective on the world but equally there are people who do give a damn and there are many unsung heroes who quietly go about their lives reaching out to others.

When everything is about yourself, you tend to lead a self-serving existence and act surprised when you find there is no one left in your life when you need them.