Many people think that when they see an ill person. I wouldn't want to live like that. In reality it sneaks up on you so slowly that by the time you are in that

Many people think that when they see an ill person. I wouldn't want to live like that. In reality it sneaks up on you so slowly that by the time you are in that situation, you do want to live like that. My dad saw his dad slowly die of dementia and told me he wanted to get a cyanide pill and always have it on him. When he got in that condition and was restricted to bed in a nursing home and we asked if he wanted DNR, he was pretty clear that he did not. One could argue whether he understood. The only patient I ever saw who was eager to die was an end stage lung patient with horrible air hunger. He said enthusiastically "doc, let's do this" (he meant give me enough morphine for the air hunger that I stop breathing). It was kind of chilling