Death With Dignity: Ultimately, Its About Who Controls Death

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) October 26, 2011

In the age of chronic disease, most deaths are medically managed. Doctors are already in the business of shortening life. For example, they pull the plug or they perform palliative sedation. Most patients thank them for their help. A peaceful death, by whatever means, has become an integral part of medicine. According to Death with Dignity author Robert Orfali, The repertoire of palliative choices must be extended to include death by self-sedation. Why? Because the timing of death can be controlled by the patient; not the physician. For some it provides peace of mind: its like insurance. For others it provides optimum relief from terminal pain. With appropriate safeguards, the Rx is prescribed by a physician. So patients still need their help. As Orfali puts it, Medically-assisted death, by whatever method, is palliative treatmentlet patients choose whats best for them.