Euthanasia - End of Life Considerations

Years ago I spent time in Holland and was struck by their wonderful treatment of both the elderly struggling with life-limiting conditions and the dying. Years later I found myself wondering why not here? Fortunately, my son was blessed with not having to consider this option.

Recently the Wall Street Journal published a very inclusive article about end-of-life issues with focus on Belgium. We know this is a topic frequently researched online. We are including euthanasia here not because we endorse it, but we acknowledge you may have questions. 

Here are a few resources: 

Wikipedia: Euthanasia

State of Oregon Death with Dignity Act

Here are the Five Stages of Grief put forth by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in her book: ON DEATH and DYING.

1. Denial: Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. 
2. Anger – "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can this happen to me?"; "Who is to blame?" Not only the patient, but family members, dear friends also experience "anger".
3. Bargaining – The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. 
4. Depression – During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. 
5. Acceptance – In this last stage, the individual begins to come to terms with their mortality or that of their loved one.