The Right To Choose Covers Many Boundaries

[GailL1]

Mike Wood, founder of the preschool educational digital toy company called LeapFrog, died at 72 years old yesterday.  

He died by physician-assisted suicide following an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in Switzerland where this method of demise is legal.  His family was by his side.

Wood’s brother told the New York Times that Wood made the decision to end his life due to his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. Wood wanted to do so “before the disease progressed too far,” the outlet reported.

LIVE5News 04/28/2025 - LeapFrog founder Mike Wood dies by physician-assisted suicide following Alzhe... 

We should have this choice in this country for those that want it.  The right to choose covers many boundaries - 

[GailL1]

Understanding the Differences -

Compassion & Choice - Medical Aid In Dying Is Not Assisted Suicide, Suicide or Euthanasia 

[nctarheel]

---

@GailL1 wrote:

We should have this choice in this country for those that want it.  The right to choose covers many boundaries - 

---

@GailL1,

I believe that a basic right that EVERYONE should have is the right to choose what happens with their person.

From choice regarding pregnancy to choice of end of life, our bodies are ours.

They are NOT some man's or woman's in Washington, D.C.

They are NOT some far right male or female religious cultist's in your local state capital.

Nor should it be left to anyone but yourself in your home town.

[GailL1]

Glad that we agree on this - when I bring it up in other online places, it does not go over too well.  And this does not seem to be based on any political leanings,  or age  - they may support one of these choices over one’s person/body but not the other.  There is just something about making the choice to end ones own life that many just cannot justify.

In the news link that I posted in my initial post here,  at the end of it was the “Suicide Prevention Hotline” contact number - I did not think that was appropriate with this type of notification and circumstance.  

Even the states that now have a law on this matter don’t have it adequately linked so the person can make plans in advance in case at the end they are unable to manage all of their responsibilities to carry it out themselves.  We are vastly different from many countries in the EU on this matter - guess that was why this individual went to Switzerland to complete his wishes.

Thank you for your comments.  

[papawofboo]

Why does it matter if anyone agrees with you. This is the most personal of personal matter. 

If, (never ever going to happen) I decided to do this I sure wouldn't need approval by government. I for one think if anyone wants to end their life they should try to drown themselves in a bathtub first. This would give you a tad more time to think about it then if you were going to pull a trigger, jump from a bridge or take a hand full of pills.

[GailL1]

IF interested, you or anybody else, I wanted to give the names of these org and give you some of the stories of people who advocate or advocated as I do.  

Death With Diginity.org 

Compassion and Choices.org 

CNN.com- Brittany Maynard Story - My right to death with dignity at 29 

Compassion & Choices - Amazon Presents: TAKE ME OUT FEET FIRST 

[GailL1]

@papawofboo 

Yep, that is the response that I normally get - just kill yourself by some means.

The difference in suicide and assisted suicide is the reason - perhaps one has a mental illness link and the other a compassionate link.  

I think we should be able to plan our demise in advance if certain situations occur which can be the stated trigger.  I can give you story after story of people who have tried to make this type of plans only to be stopped because they had not way to enforce it when the time was right.  

Like the man in my initial post - he had to go to Switzerland to get it carried out as he had planned.  

Medicare providers not only save lives, they also have the responsibility to end pain and suffering - to me, assisted suicide is a compassionate response to pain and suffering of an individual who has planned this sort of treatment in advance.