The Colorado Legislature has denied us a right that is as basic as any spelled out in the U.S. Bill of Rights or the Constitution and that is the right for a person who is suffering and near death to choose to die with dignity. I strongly support death with dignity – especially after seeing my wife, Janis, suffer through a difficult death.
In 2006, my wife was diagnosed with the terminal disease pulmonary fibrosis, and for the next four years, she suffered. During August of 2011, my daughter Brooke and I were told that Janis had only about a week to live. While at home, my wife pleaded with a hospice nurse to help her die as quickly and as comfortable as possible. The nurse said that she was sorry, but she couldn’t legally help her even though she supported death with dignity.
That evening, my wife’s lungs continued to fill with fluid, she struggled through the night to breathe and, the next morning, she passed away. Janis had suffered a great deal during the past four years. She didn’t need more during the last few days of her life, nor did my daughter and me need to see her endure more, especially at the time of her death.
When a person is suffering and told that they only have a short time to live, that person should have the legal right to engage in assisted passing. Now that our Legislature has failed to pass the “Death with Dignity Bill,” more of us could face the prospect of having to suffer more than needs to be at the time of our death.
Maybe we need to put this on the ballot and see what the people have to say.
Whitey Powers
Durango
