I don't believe that how or when I die is my choice, nor do I believe that it should be. But those are my beliefs. I am not opposed to assisted suicide for those who believe differently. I do think the "assistant" should be a medical professional.

If I ever do come to a point where I think of suicide as a viable option, I would never ask someone who loves me to assist in bringing my life to an end. I would like to think that, if asked, I would be able to help someone I love, if I believed it was a decision they made with a clear mind. Never having been in that situation, however, I can't say for sure.

Both of my parents had hospice.My mom for months before she died,had a nurse coming to the house.My dad was ill,but really died from a fall,he died less than a week after the fall.We think it was a slow bleed in his head.

Anyway,with both of them,they were given liquid morphine.The morphine helped them to be able to "die with dignity" and relieved the pain they were in.

It was very hard,I don't know how the hospice people do it.But with hospice,for my mom,they sent in a "music therapist" they also had a minister,who visited my dad for a year after my mom died.

I think when it comes to the end,I'd rather be at home than in a hospital setting.I know neither of my parents had an iv hooked up.There were no machines,nothing.Just the liquid morphine.I wasn't there when my mom died.

With hospice,they have a nurse that comes in to pronounce them.You are able to spend a little time together.It just seems like if you're going,why be in a hospital.The point would be to make you as comfortable as possible.

Having been thru this with my parents,I would think if a person is going to die,there's no hope,and they want to go,set it up like hospice.Let them be at home.It would be up to the family if they could handle being there.

This is a great question. I taught a class last year at a community college on death and dying. This issue came up along with one on suicide where terminal illness is not involved. For me personally it all comes down to one basic question and that is does have person have the right, ethically, to choose to end their own life. My vote on this is yes, they do. Even more so if a person is suffering from a disease that can not be cured and is going through the despair and physical pain associated with illness. I believe that person should have the right to die.