13,737 Quotes About Death

I'm terrified of the thought of time passing (or whatever is meant by that phrase) whether I 'do' anything or not. In a way I may believe, deep down, that doing nothing acts as a brake on 'time's - it doesn't of course. It merely adds the torment of having done nothing, when the time comes when it really doesn't matter if you've done anything or not.

If you have not already done so, sign a Living Will and have it witnessed, but not by anybody who is going to gain from the Last Will and Testament dealing with your estate. A Living Will, which has nothing to do with property or money, is an advance declaration of your wish not to be connected to life-support equipment if it is judged that you are hopelessly and terminally ill.

This book is chiefly about self-deliverance, assisted suicide, and euthanasia, which the Advance Declarations do not cover. But undoubtedly the very existence of two properly signed declarations would influence health care workers if a question of hastening a death arose. Membership in a right-to-die organization, and having read this book, are at present the two most powerful demonstrations a person can make of sincere beliefs in assisted dying.

Tell your friend that in his death, a part of you dies and goes with him. Wherever he goes, you also go. He will not be alone.

Assistance in suicide has never been against the law in Switzerland, Uruguay, Norway, and Germany provided the circumstances were provably compassionate and justifiable. You would be unwise to think of going to one of those countries, because they do not like strangers taking advantage of their laws. Also, the complications of securing your medical care and insurance would be horrendous.

Life isn't fair. A fair's a place where you eat corn dogs and ride the ferris wheel.

Swiss law since 1937 permits assisted suicide by anyone for altruistic reasons, although it has become the accepted practice that first there must be a doctor’s agreement and only lethal drugs can be used, taken orally – no injections. Reporting the “terminal suicide” to the police is normal procedure – nothing secretive. The Swiss do not rule out visitors provided they meet the time-honored criteria – a dying, competent, adult, and a local doctor after examination agrees they are terminal.

There are a few people who tell me that they are so used to a solitary life that they will die alone, but even here I advise them that if they are thinking of self-deliverance the chances of the action not being botched are much better if a friend is present.

If you have to help a person die, say nothing. Let the police do their own sleuthing.