People talk about doctors as healers and paragons. Not so so much about those who do not follow their Hippocratic Oath to do no harm- there are doctors who deny care on behalf of the insurance companies, doctors who write up policy for insurance companies, and doctors who just plain should not be doctoring. If a patient would like a choice, there ought to be a doctor somewhere who can help. Kind of like helping a woman end a pregnancy. There are some people who think that this is something important and valuable. The point is all doctors are not alike. There are docs who try everything to keep life going, those who are in the middle, and those who would wish that at their patients request they could help end suffering.

Pain and suffering are not noble or necessary conditions for a human. Think of childbirth. It is no longer necessary to bring forth a child in great pain. This is a good thing.

If I had AZ I would seriously think about ending my life. Same as certain cancers and other conditions that would make my being here more difficult and ultimately less pleasurable for all involved.

I can only hope that my husband does not ever receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

Moof asks “What are the moral, social and religious implications?

If you do think suicide would be acceptable, do you believe physicians should be allowed to “help?” Perhaps that would obviate the need for timing?”

I think that people have the moral authority to decide when to end their life. I believe the means are available to end ones life without asking anyone else to help. I don’t believe I could help someone end their life.

To confuse the issue I do believe in withholding life support if that is what the patient wishes. My father had an extremely severe stroke and the neurologist told us that his chance of any recovery was nil. My Mother was aware of his concerns and said he did not want to live under the circumstances he was in. So we agreed to have the feeding tube withdrawn. He died within 2 days so the feeding tube may not have made much difference.

The end of life decisions are often not clear cut.

My conclusion, is that although it is horrible, it is not reason enough to commit suicide. My fear is that, should suicide one day be allowed, it would eventually lead to euthanasia.

I agree that there should be more, and better, ways to offer help and assistance to caregivers. For the most part mother was quite content with whereever she was at during the course of this illness. Very early stage is when it is harder on the patient. When they are still lucid, but have these periods of confusion or memory loss and they are aware something is wrong. Progressing beyond that they aren’t aware of what is happening to them.

My fear, for my future, is that I also will get it and my kids will see it and experience it. I don’t want to kill myself I just don’t want them to see it.

I think every person has the right to their beliefs, whether it be about how they choose to conduct their life, to what they feel about death and ending their life.

Physicians try to relieve suffering. At the bedside of a dying patient, we try our best to make their passing comfortable – as much morphine as they need to appear comfortable. But to ask a physician to take a life before its time is to ask us to play God. It does not seem right.

I would never be able to assist in a suicide. It goes against a core belief, that all life is holy and should be cherished. But given the great diversity among us, there are physicians who may truly believe that they are doing a greater good when participating in euthanasia. After all, principles such as “First, do no harm” are just concepts – the interpretation of them differ greatly from person to person.

In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, I agree with the points raised, that the patient usually does not suffer nearly as much as the caretakers or loved ones. And while we may never find out, it is possible that the quality of life of these patients may not be as bad as we think – after all, we are using our measures of “quality” to judge another’s life, which has been proven inadequate in similar situations (studies on happiness of lottery winners and happiness of paraplegics). Perhaps, we, as a society, should create with more effective ways to help ease the burden of the caretakers, and increase the support for caretakers.