By: Steven Ahrenholz

Steven Ahrenholz — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 01:10:12 +0000

I found your news segment on having the conversation about one’s end of life wishes interesting – but not new. Our society pretty much has made it a practice of sanitizing the entire discussion about end of life issues. My family had to confront these issues in 1990 working with hospice prior to my 34 year old brother’s death from a brain tumor. My mother was able to die at home with the help of hospice despite the objections of her oncologist. The medical profession unfortunately sometimes reflects it’s own conflict with end of life issues. Knowing the wishes of family members and loved ones before one actually is faced with speaking for someone when they cannot speak for themselves is important. Both of my parents had living wills and had clearly identified that there were to be no “heroics” or artificial prolonging of life. It may seem uncomfortable at the time to have this conversation but it wll mean a lot to family members when the decisions need to be made. The conversation is an important part of preparing for the day when you may have to love someone enough to let them go.

Comments on: The Defining Issue of Our Generation

By: Steven Ahrenholz