Discussing
When the right to die becomes a reality in your home

This is such an interesting issue, especially for those of us who are religious. I would comment that this article talks about Alzheimer’s, blindness and a man who is still able to able to live an emotionally fulfilling life with his spouse. It does not mention those who live with agonizing pain and no hope of relief (such as those suffering from certain nervous system disorders).
I have watched a family member die after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and though it was difficult, I would never have thought about assisted suicide in that situation.
I, thankfully, have never met someone living in a kind of pain that I can’t even imagine but I can’t help but understand their wish to have it end.
There is a fine boundary when it comes to making God's decisions for Him and I don’t know where it lies. Are we playing God when we use an experiemental treatment to fight a possibly terminal illness? What about choosing to opt out of that treatment, knowing that death may come faster? There are those who would argue both of these points.
The right to die debate has social and theological implications and complications. I hope that this dialogue continues in a way that shows compassion to individual situations.

The New York Times has followed up its original story on Peggy Battin and her husband, Brooke Hopkins, with this account of Brooke's death: http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/choosing-to-die-after-a-struggle-with-life/?smid=fb-nytimes&WT;.z_sma=MG_CTD_20130822&_r=0