I know I'm in a minority, but I've believed since I was like six years old that each of us has the natural right to choose how and when we die.
I've never written about the right to die in America before though I thought about doing so several years ago when my parents passed away.
I miss my mother and father and think of them often, but I feel lucky because both of them died without having to undergo the pain, expense, and indignities associated with protracted illnesses and hospital horrors and nightmares.
You see, I believe that each of us should have 100% control over when and how we die.
Sadly, most of us don't have that control here in America.
Even if we have living wills, audio taped directions, and loud, aggressive relatives who know what we want, the chances are if we end up in a hospital to die, the doctors and hospital lawyers are going to make the decisions about how we check out.
Well, today I want to tell you about an empowering book written by a lawyer named William H. Colby.
Entitled Unplugged: Reclaiming Our Right to Die in America, this book is the most sane and thorough presentation I've ever seen on the topic of death in America.
If you were as appalled as I was by the manipulation, political exploitation, and general insanity surrounding the Terri Schiavo case, you'll have a much better understanding of exactly what happened to her (and to others like her) by reading Unplugged.
The most frightening fact of the matter is that exactly the same thing that happened to Terri Schiavo could happen to most of us because we haven't made the proper "just in case" preparations.
You see, contrary to common belief, living wills are ignored all too often by the men and women in the white coats running the hospitals and making decisions for their patients.
Happily, the author of Unplugged provides in the appendix of his book a powerful supplement and/or alternative to living wills. Colby, you see, includes for your use a blank copy of his personal Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions, a legal document designed by a lawyer who has been involved in some of the major right to die cases of our times.
Colby represented the family of Nancy Cruzan in the first right-to-die case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. He has appeared on Larry King Live, Hardball, Frontline, Today, CBS This Morning, and many national news network programs.
David Milch, creator of Deadwood and NYPD Blue, writes,
"Unplugged's story-telling captures one's attention while its scope and clarity command thoughtful concern. As we seek to exercise control in some aspects of circumstances in which control is often hard-won or illusory, this book's ultimate message is both insightful and reassuring. It should be read by everyone at the risk for dying."I couldn't have said it better myself.
Click here to visit the publisher's website, where you can read a bit more about Unplugged and/or order a copy for your health library.
As far as I'm concerned, if you're interested in having some control when it's time for you to pass on, this is a must read.
If you have something you'd like to say on this topic, you can comment below.
Chet "I'll Check Out on My Terms" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog
