I don’t really know what to say about this video. It greatly reminds me of my own father and the time towards the end of his life when he was in hospice, and obviously that makes this difficult for me to watch. It is a period in my life that I try to avoid thinking about, and to be totally honest, as terrible as this may be to say publicly, I don’t even remember how many years have passed since then. I know I told Ginger as it was happening that if and when his time came that I just hoped that it would not be on a date that was of any particular personal or cultural significance; as I would rather remember how my Father was in life, and I did not want the anniversary of his death to be some sort of easily discernable annual milestone. However, both for good and for bad, New Year’s Eve ultimately came to serve as his day of passing; a fact that has led me to dread the winter holidays even more than I already did prior to that event. That said, as my Mother has pointed out, this specific date was somewhat indicative of my Father’s personality, consideration for others, and area of professional expertise; as had he suffered on into the new year: such an extension of his life would have carried with it both negative tax related implications and necessitated additionally burdensome government paperwork…. So perhaps in the end that is what he would have wanted; a perspective that does somewhat appeal to and humor the pragmatist side of me. However, as it relates to this video: I have to say that I do certainly understand and support Dr. Scheier’s position with regards to his decisions to forgo treatment for cancer. Even if it is a choice that led to the “premature” cessation of his life, it is a decision that I think that all Americans, or even more broadly humans in general, should be able to make for themselves. (A point of view that somewhat unusually aligns me with libertarians like Steven Paul Jefferson... rather annoyingly.) Now is this something that I myself would do? Of that I am not sure. I have always had a tendency to fight anything or anyone that tried to exert control over my life, and I have a feeling I would be equally obstinate when it came to any ailment or disease that was trying to end it. That said, I am not 86 and I have not lived what I consider to be a full and bountiful life, and so I cannot say with any certainty how I would feel if I were in his shoes. Regardless that it is not for me to judge; as I think that is a decision that everyone should make for themselves. However, what I can say with absolute certainty is that it is a personal matter that must be left entirely up to the individual in question and their family, and I strongly and vehemently object to any government or other agency intervening in such a decision making process. It is your body and your life, and while it is certainly prudent to listen to consider any outside professional advice regarding such a choice: you should always have the final say with regards to your personal treatment and/or care. I just hope that in his passing that Dr. Scheier and his family found peace in his decision, and that any sorrow or sensations of loss that they must feel are somewhat assuaged by knowing that this was ultimately what he wanted both for himself and for them.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:20:54 +0000
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