4 ms·

I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. I imagine there are probably approaches with complexity between "plastic bag

I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. I imagine there are probably approaches with complexity between "plastic bag" and "lie-in 3d printed electromechanical apparatus" that would be still be reliable. Particularly, I would imagine a device that seals around the neck but otherwise operates by the same principle would be a lot cheaper and more environmentally friendly to produce. You would have a regulated, switchable input, one arm of which would be the atmosphere and the other arm of which would be a pure nitrogen supply. And then a check valve for output. I hope never to have to use such a device myself . . . dying peacefully in my sleep would be the ideal, like my grandfather did, or of a sudden stroke like my other grandmother and grandfather. But if it comes to pass that I am dying of a painful and debilitating disease, I hope that by then a device like this is easily obtainable.

rootusrootus 5y ago
> I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. Yep, that unfortunate time of his life has passed and he is in a much better place. Found someone who helps keep him grounded mentally. Finally qualifies for social security so he isn't struggling just to find a roof to live under. Luckily he was an engineer for many years and so his social security payment isn't half bad. He's going to be okay now, and for that I'm grateful. I agree with your sentiments. I'm glad that I live in Oregon, so we do have assisted suicide as an option. The law makes it somewhat difficult, IMO, but in practice the rules seem to get bent. My father died with assistance a few years back when he had terminal kidney disease. Two nurses came to the house and prepared the pills for him by converting them into a liquid he could drink, they even helped him hold it. He'd have had difficulty doing that himself, so I'm grateful they were willing to help. I don't think the law allows for that much assistance, but maybe I'm wrong. In lieu of euthanasia, I'll pin my hopes on opiates, I guess. A friend of mine passed away about a week ago (cancer) and I had the opportunity to talk with him about three weeks ago -- he was on a significant dose (but not quite lethal) of fentanyl, and he said he had zero pain. They were willing to crank the dose up to whatever it takes -- this seems normal when hospice is involved. No worries about anyone getting addicted. And if the patient inadvertently dies a little early, nobody asks any questions.

rootusrootus 5y ago

> I'm sorry that happened to your brother, and I hope things are better for him now. Yep, that unfortunate time of his life has passed and he is in a much better place. Found someone who helps keep him grounded mentally. Finally qualifies for social security so he isn't struggling just to find a roof to live under. Luckily he was an engineer for many years and so his social security payment isn't half bad. He's going to be okay now, and for that I'm grateful. I agree with your sentiments. I'm glad that I live in Oregon, so we do have assisted suicide as an option. The law makes it somewhat difficult, IMO, but in practice the rules seem to get bent. My father died with assistance a few years back when he had terminal kidney disease. Two nurses came to the house and prepared the pills for him by converting them into a liquid he could drink, they even helped him hold it. He'd have had difficulty doing that himself, so I'm grateful they were willing to help. I don't think the law allows for that much assistance, but maybe I'm wrong. In lieu of euthanasia, I'll pin my hopes on opiates, I guess. A friend of mine passed away about a week ago (cancer) and I had the opportunity to talk with him about three weeks ago -- he was on a significant dose (but not quite lethal) of fentanyl, and he said he had zero pain. They were willing to crank the dose up to whatever it takes -- this seems normal when hospice is involved. No worries about anyone getting addicted. And if the patient inadvertently dies a little early, nobody asks any questions.