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...

[grandmoon]

Would you like to have the right to do as Beverley did ??

[margomeoz]

I totally agree with her, you should be allowed to have a big party say farewell to all the people ou have loved in your life and then get the hell out of here.

Why would anyone want to ruin a good life with pain and suffering get while the getting is good.

[polksaladallie]

Would you like to have the right to do as Beverley did ??

We all have that right already.

[catsnknots]

Yep.. I agree with her 100%

At what point do you stay alive just because you can't die.. your life is not fulfilling and you are older and want to go to sleep forever... all your friends have passed, you wake up in pain or struggle to just get through the day... you get lonely... no visitors and you can't get out and drive anymore so are housebound... 

I am just lucky that I am happy to be alone and isolated... when I get older that won't be a problem for me... but the deterioration in my health will worry me. 

[twinkles**stars]

would rational euthanasia not be more suitable than suicide?

[bright.ton42]

OMG I knew her.  We  shared a love of dogs and we met that way, and 'while not close

friends enjoyed a casua lbut pleasant  friendship, then lost touch.  She was a highly intelligent

woman,  an activist in many ways,  had published academic books,  and had a vital 

mind.   

I remember her telling me years ago (she was a lot older than me) that when she thought 

it fit she would end her own life, and was adamant about it, and the way she told me and so calmly  it made sense. 

I am so sad reading of this as I remember the good times, and the laughs, but have no problem with what she's done and would like to think when the time comes I would have the courage

to do it too.

RIP Beverley and

little Lucy (an old dog she had who we all loved) 

[cherry*135]

How would posters feel if it was their Mother (that they loved) who decided to do this at 80+ years

I wouldn't want my mother to do this.

[twinkles**stars]

How would posters feel if it was their Mother (that they loved) who decided to do this at 80+ years

I wouldn't want my mother to do this.

as my mother passed away at 62 in a great deal of pain and looking no longer like the mother I knew, I can't say. But should she have been fortunate to have reached 80+ I would have supported her wishes.

[grandmoon]

How would posters feel if it was their Mother (that they loved) who decided to do this at 80+ years

I wouldn't want my mother to do this.

My mother dies at 91 with dementia not knowing who she was or where she was. 

If she had been able to make the decision to take her life earlier I would of supported her as I loved her that much.