Admiral_Snackbar
Veni, vidi, Lionel Richie
Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with a very rare form of Alzheimers three years ago, and gave this lecture at the Royal College of Physicians earlier this year. His ability to read and articulate at length from a speech had degenerated greatly by that time, and as such his lecture was read by actor Tony Robinson.
The speech was called "Shaking Hands With Death". It's a breathtaking and amazing lecture. As someone who fully supports an individual's right to choose the time, state and manner of their demise, it's unfortunate that this issue is still so heavily contested, even in certain areas of hospice medicine where "palliative care" is simply a euphemism for medicating to the point of painless, physical death which reduces suffering. I've seen numerous relatives die long, saddening deaths from Alzheimer's, Parkinsons and cancer, realizing that I will never put my children and family through such an experience, that I allow myself the dignity of passing of my own accord at such time that my loved ones remember me at death that I am still me.
The speech was called "Shaking Hands With Death". It's a breathtaking and amazing lecture. As someone who fully supports an individual's right to choose the time, state and manner of their demise, it's unfortunate that this issue is still so heavily contested, even in certain areas of hospice medicine where "palliative care" is simply a euphemism for medicating to the point of painless, physical death which reduces suffering. I've seen numerous relatives die long, saddening deaths from Alzheimer's, Parkinsons and cancer, realizing that I will never put my children and family through such an experience, that I allow myself the dignity of passing of my own accord at such time that my loved ones remember me at death that I am still me.
