Sir Terry Talks About...Death

[Allegra]

Not the Death we know and like, this is for real - sadly :

Sir Terry Pratchett sets out a dignified way to go - Telegraph

Speaking at The Oldie Literary Lunch held at Simpson's-in-the-Strand, Sir Terry drew gasps from the audience, which included Joanna Lumley and Virginia McKenna, when he described how he would like his own life to end. "Since I was told I had Alzheimer's my mind has been very concentrated on this," he said. "My way to end my life will be to sit on my lawn at my home in Wiltshire with a bottle of brandy and Thomas Tallis playing on my iPod. I can't think of a better way to make my departure. Hopefully the doctor will have been around earlier to give me the appropriate injection."

When I asked if he was serious he replied: "Yes. Deadly so. We are very good at living in this society but very bad at dying. We could learn a lot from the Victorians in this respect. Of course, if it's wet, I wouldn't be able to go on the lawn, I would have to change my plans. Then it would be the same way out but in my library."

I really, really, really, really wish some magic cure will be invented before his condition worsens. It's just so sad, so not fair...

[AE35Unit]

Doesn't look good does it Allegra! Lets hope eh. Why does all the bad stuff happen to the good guys,when the idiots do nasty stuff and get away with it!

[Daisy-Boo]

I get sad every time I think about this.

[Vladd67]

Sounds like something from the end of Soylent Green

[Ursa major]

There's a new interview with Sir pTerry in the Grauniad:

Terry Pratchett: 'I'm open to joy. But I'm also more cynical' | Books | The Guardian

[Menion]

I think you have to be realy brave to be able to understand that you will be dying soon and come to terms how you want it to happen...

[Eddible]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

Doesn't look good does it Allegra! Lets hope eh. Why does all the bad stuff happen to the good guys,when the idiots do nasty stuff and get away with it!

Whilst that's true, everyone will die eventually unfortunately

I do think it's amazingly brave that he has the courage to make his own decisions about what he wants to happen. I'd rather he passed away happy, doing what he really wants than in hospital in pain.

Really depressing!

[AnyaKimlin]

Having had a different chronic illness that has affected my life for over twenty years, I am with him on this one. There are sometimes scarier things in life than death. There have been nights when I didn't take my life because of religious beliefs at the time but I prayed to die. Right now I have three little uns so don't have the option.

It condemns people to either having to go too early, and alone or waiting and putting family members in an impossible position.

I have when I put forward my views had my children pointed out to me. And no if I had died I wouldn't have them, but I would have had over 10 years less of pain. If my genetics are like that of other family members -- I potentially have another 60 years of this and it could get worse.

He's not being brave so much as wanting to choose his time and place - it's going to happen anyway so surely it's better to have a few great moments on earth. I hope he achieves the legislation he needs.

[TheTomG]

Death is a difficult subject, particularly where it involves suffering. There are religious and ethical considerations. Overall, though, I come down on the side of choice. For animals, we say "Oh, they are suffering, it would be cruel to let them suffer any longer."

For human beings we say "Oh they are a human being, they must have every moment, every second, of pain and suffering that we can eke out for them!"

Not quite in line, those approaches, if you ask me.

Life in itself is not always inherently worth extending. It is only worth extending if there is quality of life, and if there is not, then sometimes more of it is actually worse and not better.

I had this thought on escape and survival. Escape is ALWAYS worth it, as it means getting away from something bad. Survival, however, is optional, as sometimes it is not worth it. This was something I was contemplating in regards to suicide and why people choose that route, but similar thoughts apply to choosing the time and manner of your death, euthanasia with patient consent. The escape from their suffering is definitely worth something, their survival may not be.

There are also impacts on society and on others - sustaining someone who has certain illnesses is a huge cost to family members, society, the medical profession, and more. If there is a hope of a cure, then that cost certainly can be worth it. At other times, though, you have to wonder if the cost is bringing nothing but suffering to the patient, so it's a lot of cost for no reason.

It was an interesting quote about us not being very good at dying. He may well be right.

That said, I think we have a ways to go before we are particularly good at living too

Ultimately, whatever anyone's views on the topic, my sympathies go out to anyone suffering from a chronic, incurable and terminal illness, and also to those who love and care for them.

[Carrie Bailey]

I'm inspired by Terry's frankness on death. Of course, he given death as much voice as anyone in my lifetime, IN CAPITAL LETTERS...

Terry has a point. I've spent half of my life raising a little boy whose father died in a spectacular car accident. I tell myself that if my former love knew details of his death, he would have bragged about it, but I still struggle with wanting him to have had more control over how his life ended. I never wasted time wishing him back, but I've lost hours convincing how he might have felt about how he died.

I hope Terry gets exactly the farewell he wants. There's peace in that.

[Patrick Mahon]

And the good news is ... that Terry's documentary 'Choosing to Die' won the Bafta Award for Best Documentary last Sunday! Congratulations to Terry and the production team, I'd say.

[Rosemary]

Yes, I watched it last night. I'm glad that the documentary won the Bafta, for it was very well made, with dignity and compassion.

My ex father in law suffered from the same debilitating illness and it was heart breaking to see him leave this life in the way he did.

I hope that I can be strong enough to go the way Terry has chosen when I decide the time is right.

[Allegra]

I didn't even know he made this film and just watched it on YT last night. Very sad and utterly humane. It seems to me the most reasonable and civilised thing to decide your own death in the most peaceful way when life becomes unbearable. I'm sure more and more people in the future will choose this option and more countries will amend their laws to grand this right and freedom to people.