Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die

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Is it possible for someone like me, or like you, to arrange for themselves the death that they want?

As Derek Humphrey, author of Final Exit observes, we are not likely to see widespread acceptance of euthanasia as an alternative to assisted suicide any time soon. He suggests that many doctors oppose euthanasia and would refuse to preform the procedure because it is too much like killing. He also points out that many who vehemently oppose legalized euthanasia will tolerate discreet assisted suicide if the dying person is suffering greatly. Further, he observes that, more and more, people believe that patients have a right and a moral obligation to take control of their own ends if they choose to die early.

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So, to answer the question Terry Pratchett poses at the beginning of his documentary, “Is it possible for someone like me, or like you, to arrange for themselves the death that they want?” I think it really depends. If you want to live every last worthwhile minute you have, and then rely on someone else to put you out of your misery, the answer is no. Human life is far too precious and the power to end a life is far too important to be given away. I can certainly understand the desire to die on your own terms, especially when confronted with the grim prospect of a living death while suffering from Alzheimer's. But, it seems clear that dying on your own terms must involve dying by your own hand as well.

What will become of you and me
(This is the school in which we learn ...)
Besides the photo and the memory?
(... that time is the fire in which we burn.)

(This is the school in which we learn ...)
What is the self amid this blaze?
What am I now that I was then
Which I shall suffer and act again...

I can certainly understand the desire to die on your own terms, especially when confronted with the grim prospect of a living death while suffering from Alzheimer's. But, it seems clear that dying on your own terms must involve dying by your own hand as well.

He better kill himself before he becomes unable to do so. You can't trust others to take care of you when you're vulnerable.

Why is it so clear to you that the person must kill themselves? In the Netherlands there is apparantly no shortage of doctors willing to perform euthenasia. I think in some places they have specialists for it.
I think it is a horrible thing when society forces a suffering person to live on. Denying them the right to die is essentially torture.

The situation with Pratchett is somewhat similar to that of Hugo Claus, who suffered from Alzheimer's as well and wanted to be euthenized, which is what happened:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Claus#Death

You need to go back and read my post. I don't have a huge problem with voluntary euthanasia, but I do think assisted suicide is much less problematic.

HOWEVER, I do have a really big problem with euthanasia of incompetent people who cannot give consent. That's it. And they WILL NOT euthanize incompetent people in the Netherlands or any place else. That's a good thing.

You are not entirely correct on that. They have euthenised babies in the Netherlands. They would have died anyway, but babies can't give consent.
And you were the one who said "die by their own hand", which is not what euthenasia is.

...and I've already explained my position on VOLUNTARY euthanasia vs assisted suicide. GO BACK AND -->READ<-- my first post. or don't... I don't care.

I know this sounds like nitpicking, but I read your post and you ended with this: "But, it seems clear that dying on your own terms must involve dying by your own hand as well.", which did seem inconsistent with the rest of your post. I took it to mean that if you want euthenasia, you'll have to stick in the needle yourself.

Well, I do think assisted suicide is much easier to defend ethically and as Derek Humphry observes, much more palatable for most people. For those reasons I do think it should be preferred over euthanasia, but I would not oppose voluntary euthanasia. I hope that's more clear.