Terry Pratchett begins formal process to end his life

Blastr ^ | June 13, 2011 | Carol Pinchefsky

[Abin Sur]

Three and a half years ago, Terry Pratchett, the beloved author of the Discworld series, announced that he has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Now he's made an even more startling announcement.

Pratchett, who has campaigned in his native United Kingdom for the right of assisted suicide, has begun the formal process of assisted suicide in Switzerland, one of the few countries in the world to legalize euthanasia. Specifically, this would take place at Dignitas, a clinic that provides qualified doctors and nurses to assist with the patients' suicides.

Dignitas has sent Pratchett the paperwork he needs to sign to begin the assisted suicide process—but he has yet to sign it.

[pnh102]

The vast majority of sci-fi authors, brilliant as some may be, do NOT believe in God.

According to Wikipedia, he is listed as an agnostic and humanist. He participated in a protest against the Pope's visit to the UK, claiming that the Church was "responsible" for all sorts of human rights violations.

[SJSAMPLE]

Even Larry Niven loves his work.

I loved “Good Omens” and I swear this guy owns the largest space in the sci-fi aisle at my local bookstore.

[Abin Sur]

Let us not forget the Good Doctor (Asimov).

I've always liked Asimov, one of the Big Three Golden Age science fiction writers (Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein).

Heinlein's still the best, though...IMHO, of course :-)

[Grut]

I think that those of us who know his work know that any decision Pratchett makes will be wise.

[chimera]

I see your point. I was watching Discovery of some such channel and they showed Stephan Hawking as he is today and someone in his condition I can see would have a hard time implementing an end-of-life act on their own. But even he could drive his wheelchair off of a cliff if he wanted to. About the only one (fictional character) I could think of who could not implement his own demise was the one wounded solider in the story about Johnny Got His Gun (supposedly based on a true story). That is one condition I can see not wanting to live through, although that character did.

[wagglebee]

Suicide isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person.

Wow, did you think that up on your own?

This is EXACTLY what every leftist politician says about abortion.

How do the following statements work for you?:

"Murder isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

"Rape isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

"Armed robbery isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

[utherdoul]

I love all of his books. When he dies however it comes it will be a great loss.

[Abin Sur]

How do the following statements work for you?:

"Murder isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

"Rape isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

"Armed robbery isn't a choice I can imagine making, but I'm not willing to impose that on another person."

Invalid analogy. All of those involve the initiation of force against another person. Suicide does not.

[chesley]

Didn’t Asimov (I think) write a story once about a society on an overcrowded Earth where old folks, once they reached a certain age, celebrated their birthdays, then went to a place from which they never returned, and everybody thought it was jolly good?

[hedgetrimmer]

Assisted suicide is designed to destroy medical ethics for physicians— first do no harm.

[hoagy62]

Thank you, I stand corrected.

[chesley]

Sucide is morally wrong and a sin against God. But so are lot’s of things that are legal.

My objection concerns dragging someone else into the process.

An even more serious objection is, when does it stop becoming your choice and become an obligation you owe society?

the nose under the tent is not the whole camel, and the slippery slope only slides to the left.

[GAB-1955]

Vonnegut, “Welcome to the Monkey House.”

[Vendome]

Maybe he’ll forget about it and bring joy to his family in his last days.

[mlizzy]

Assisted suicide is for weak people who can't bear suffering for themselves (a viewing of The Passion of the Christ might be helpful for them) and do not wish to be a burden on their families, when in fact, it is an opportunity at redemption for both the victims and their families. Suffering is a gift. Terry is denying this last-ditch effort from Christ. In doing so, Mr. Pratchett is playing with fire (possibly for eternity).

[knittnmom]

One of my relatives, thank God, survived a suicide attempt. Before going to visit him, we called the Suicide Hot Line for advice. They advised be supportive, but direct. For example, remind him of the impact on his mother, wife, sister and brothers, etc., if he succeeded. End every visit with a promise that he will not attempt again before your next visit. I remember one visit, as I was getting ready to go, I started off saying, I want you to promise me... and he said, "I know, that I won't do anything stupid." I said: "Right. And I will define stupid. Stupid is having anything to do with overdosing on drugs, or inflicting wounds on yourself." He also got excellent counseling, and has been alive now for 29 more years. He's been a blessing to us, to his family, and his second wife and her children. (His first wife left him while he was in the hospital - best thing that could have happened, IMHO.)

[no-s]

Just go up 20 to 30 floors, find an opening, and step out smartly.

Jeez, have a heart on the people who have to deal with the subsequent mess, really...

[chesley]

Thanks. It was years ago.

[verga]

I think that those of us who know his work know that any decision Pratchett makes will be wise.

I disagree, I know/love his work, but that does not mean that he will make good personal choices. Picasso, and Frank Lloyd Wright were both brilliant, but made some bad personal decisions

[verga]

Invalid analogy. All of those involve the initiation of force against another person. Suicide does not.

For those of us that beleive in God you are mistaken. God is the author of life and He will end mine when He sees fit, not when I do.