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posted by martyb on Tuesday September 23 2014, @05:18AM   Printer-friendly
from the but-what-dreams-may-come-when-I-have-shuffled-off-this-mortal-coil? dept.

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the US National Institutes of Health, writes at The Atlantic that there is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. "It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic." Emanuel says that he is isn't asking for more time than is likely nor foreshortening his life but is talking about the kind and amount of health care he will consent to after 75. "Once I have lived to 75, my approach to my health care will completely change. I won’t actively end my life. But I won’t try to prolong it, either." Emanuel says that Americans seem to be obsessed with exercising, doing mental puzzles, consuming various juice and protein concoctions, sticking to strict diets, and popping vitamins and supplements, all in a valiant effort to cheat death and prolong life as long as possible. "I reject this aspiration. I think this manic desperation to endlessly extend life is misguided and potentially destructive. For many reasons, 75 is a pretty good age to aim to stop."

 
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  • (Score: 3, Informative) by Blackmoore on Tuesday September 23 2014, @02:31PM

    by Blackmoore (57) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @02:31PM (#97169) Journal
    SO his personal decision to not live past an age bothers you?

    the decision to come to an end on your own terms should be far more sacred than your insult to life itself - (by attempting to live forever)

    I am watching my 80 year old father waste away in long term care. he has NO QUALITY to his life; he can not lift himself or get around without assistance. Food no longer has taste. he has no span of attention as Alzheimer and dementia set in.   perhaps you should have to stare that in the face and then tell us how active and creative EVERYONE over 80 is.

    I have no interest in dictating the end to any individual based on a set period of time. But we ought to respect an individuals choice to place an end date on their own existence.
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  • (Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Tuesday September 23 2014, @02:58PM

    by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Tuesday September 23 2014, @02:58PM (#97181) Journal

    No, what bothers me is his assertion that people past the age of 75 are useless.

    Also, I don't recall using the word "EVERYONE" in my post.

    I'm sorry about the situation with your father. I have family with Alzheimers / dementia myself, I think it's probably the cruellest disease out there. Hopefully medicine will send it the way of smallpox very soon.