5 ms·

More info on ALS: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001708/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001708/ If I ever get something like this,

More info on ALS: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001708/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001708/ If I ever get something like this, or anything that eventually "locks-me-in", or something that destroys my mental faculties, I'm going to kill myself before the worst of it happens, around the time when I'm still able to do so. It's the only decent thing to do for yourself and the others around you. Your opinion might be different.

vkurup 14y ago
My opinion is similar, but... I've taken care of patients with ALS, and trying to figure out when you're in window of time between functional and nonfunctional is just about impossible. Not to mention that these patients and families have amazing capabilities to adapt to new realities, so as their function decreases, they adapt and thoughts of suicide seem ridiculous. Not all patients, of course. I just felt a need to respond to the 'decent' part of your comment. The only decent thing to do is what you think is right.
gms7777 14y ago
What I think I would personally do wouldn't be too different. However, I think making statements like "It's the only decent thing to do for yourself and the others around you." is awfully harsh and judging to people who are actually in the situation. It seems to imply that they are somehow selfish by not ending their lives. Its important to remember that they are in the situation and you are not and therefore they have an understanding of their choices that you do not. Anyway, its also relevant that most life insurance has a suicide clause.
- gwillen 14y ago
  My understanding is that voluntary withdrawal of artificial ventilation is not an uncommon choice for locked-in ALS sufferers, and does not count as 'suicide', but as 'death from ALS'. EDIT: I do agree with you 100% though.
BHSPitMonkey 14y ago
I doubt it's such a simple choice to make when you have a wife and two young daughters. Also, consider rephrasing to avoid categorically labeling all ALS patients as "indecent".

vkurup 14y ago

My opinion is similar, but... I've taken care of patients with ALS, and trying to figure out when you're in window of time between functional and nonfunctional is just about impossible. Not to mention that these patients and families have amazing capabilities to adapt to new realities, so as their function decreases, they adapt and thoughts of suicide seem ridiculous. Not all patients, of course. I just felt a need to respond to the 'decent' part of your comment. The only decent thing to do is what you think is right.

gms7777 14y ago

What I think I would personally do wouldn't be too different. However, I think making statements like "It's the only decent thing to do for yourself and the others around you." is awfully harsh and judging to people who are actually in the situation. It seems to imply that they are somehow selfish by not ending their lives. Its important to remember that they are in the situation and you are not and therefore they have an understanding of their choices that you do not. Anyway, its also relevant that most life insurance has a suicide clause.

gwillen 14y ago
My understanding is that voluntary withdrawal of artificial ventilation is not an uncommon choice for locked-in ALS sufferers, and does not count as 'suicide', but as 'death from ALS'. EDIT: I do agree with you 100% though.

BHSPitMonkey 14y ago

I doubt it's such a simple choice to make when you have a wife and two young daughters. Also, consider rephrasing to avoid categorically labeling all ALS patients as "indecent".