Doesn't want to live past 75

I have mixed feelings about this. I look at the three elderly women in my life:

My mother, who is living a vibrant life at 93 and wants to make it to 100.

My mother-not-in-law, who died this summer at 95 1/2, still mentally sharp as a tack but severely failing in health, having spent the last several years wanting to die but not being able to let go.

My 95-year-old aunt who is still going strong in body but starting the great descent mentally.

I don't know if I'll be ready to go at 75, but I don't think I want to still be hanging on at 95.
 
IMO it all comes down to the quality of life one is experiencing. Are they living ? or just existing ? And again opinion, only [they] can make that decision.

As for me.....when my existence becomes a chore to maintain, I think I'll be ready to go. Then all I'll need is the nerve to make it happen.
 

For me, whenever it's time, it's time. Who knows what will happen in the next 10-15 years anyway. Maybe the earth will be such a mess that we will all be killing each other for food and water. Or perhaps new cures will be discovered to help those fighting terminal illnesses. I'd be willing to live a very long time if my mind and body were in decent shape. I'd be ready to go tomorrow if I were in extreme pain. So I guess it would mostly depend on the situation.
 
I agree dkay. Making up an arbitrary number seems kind of silly to me. The man who wrote this essay was in his 50's when he wrote it. I wonder if he will change his mind as the time approaches,
providing he's still in pretty decent shape at 75.
 
Sunny said:
I agree dkay. Making up an arbitrary number seems kind of silly to me. The man who wrote this essay was in his 50's when he wrote it. I wonder if he will change his mind as the time approaches,
providing he's still in pretty decent shape at 75.
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In my 50's, I felt young / youthful compared to what i feel now,[approaching 70]. The difference is almost unbelievable . So I'm thinking his attitude might well change ??

But again, if the 'joy' is gone from life.....? The number [age] is arbitrary .
 
I always like to leave before the bartender yells: "You don't have to go home but you can't stay here!"
Remember+Those+20+Extra+Years.jpg
 
Sunny said:
This article is 4 years old, so you may have seen it already. I thought it was interesting and provocative. Do you agree with it, think he's completely wrong and will change his mind, or are you somewhere in between?

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-i-hope-to-die-at-75-717267347
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I remember reading this article several years ago and applying the author's logic to my own life. I tend to agree with him. Now in my early 60s, I am aware that the coming years will likely bring challenges with my mobility, my health, and possibly (I pray not) my cognition. My entire focus now and will continue to be on quality of life, on shared experiences with family and friends, on making memories that will last for others long after I'm gone.
 
I don't know about this guy. Yes, he's an oncologist and has written a ton of books. He's only 61 and so has some 14 years before he jumps off Mt. Kilimanjaro. What he wants to do about his life is certainly up to him and his privilege. I just don't understand why he thinks the rest of us care to know about it. I really don't care. One thing, though, if you're 75 or over and you need to be treated for cancer, I would skip him, unless you ready to receive a page off his prescription pad that says jump off a bridge.

What he's said in this article is that a person's only value is what he/she can contribute to society.

But what really gets me, however, is that even when he is determined to do what he wants about his life and how and when it ends and doesn't care what his family or anyone else thinks, is that he says he's fought long and hard against Physician aided-suicide laws for the terminally ill. Maybe he just wants someone to hold hands with as they jump off a high building together.

I may be wrong, but he appears to me (from this article) to be an egotistical fathead.
 
The only reason I would rather be dead then alive is because I would never want to live longer then my loved ones. My Husband,children and Grandchildren.
Age doesn't matter as much to me as out living a loved one.
 
Don't agree simply because life is an unknown. For example how does this learned person know he will live to 75?
 
Sassy, do you put outliving your husband in the same category as outliving children/grandchildren? In both cases, would you rather be dead than alive?

Olivia, I also wondered about his opposition to physician-aided suicide. That seemed out of kilter with the rest of his philosophy.
 
Well, after reading the article I find that he doesn't plan to do away with himself at 75, but rather intends to reject screening tests and medical treatment after that age. I have to say, I somewhat agree with that. I don't see the point in mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. ad nauseum after a certain point in life.

So in that regard, I think his article is not accurately titled that he "Hopes to Die" at 75. He states, "At 75 and beyond, I will need a good reason to even visit the doctor and take any medical test or treatment, no matter how routine and painless.”

I also agree with this, from the article... "Americans seem to be obsessed with exercising, doing mental puzzles, consuming various juice and protein concoctions, sticking to strict diets, and popping vitamins and supplements, all in a valiant effort to cheat death and prolong life as long as possible."

So, though I get the "pompous ass" vibe from his writing style, I have to say that I agree with much he has written. None of us wants to die; but none want to live in infirmity, either. As others of you have stated, quality of life is paramount. I will be curious as to how his outlook changes as he approaches 75, assuming that he makes it that far.
 
I do get what you're saying, C'est Moi. And I have no problem with anyone doing what they like. What I objected to was what he has said about people's only values being what they have to contribute. I believe people have value in themselves. And also taking away choices from other people while defending his own. That's what he was doing in this article, defending himself and and choices, but advocating the opposite for other people in at least that one way.
 
C'est Moi said:
Well, after reading the article I find that he doesn't plan to do away with himself at 75, but rather intends to reject screening tests and medical treatment after that age. I have to say, I somewhat agree with that. I don't see the point in mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. ad nauseum after a certain point in life.

So in that regard, I think his article is not accurately titled that he "Hopes to Die" at 75. He states, "At 75 and beyond, I will need a good reason to even visit the doctor and take any medical test or treatment, no matter how routine and painless.”

I also agree with this, from the article... "Americans seem to be obsessed with exercising, doing mental puzzles, consuming various juice and protein concoctions, sticking to strict diets, and popping vitamins and supplements, all in a valiant effort to cheat death and prolong life as long as possible."

So, though I get the "pompous ass" vibe from his writing style, I have to say that I agree with much he has written. None of us wants to die; but none want to live in infirmity, either. As others of you have stated, quality of life is paramount. I will be curious as to how his outlook changes as he approaches 75, assuming that he makes it that far.
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Her doctor wanted to order a mammogram and Pap smear for the Spousal Equivalent's 95 year old mother. We put our foot down. Totally unnecessary at that point.
 
I know this is not the point of the article, or this discussions, but since colonoscopies came up several times, I don't think they do them after a certain age, maybe 70.
 
Sunny said:
I know this is not the point of the article, or this discussions, but since colonoscopies came up several times, I don't think they do them after a certain age, maybe 70.
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Not sure about general screening, but I know that if a person is symptomatic they still do them. My father died of colon cancer that was diagnosed when he was 78. (And I'm sure he knew he had it years earlier but had made up his own mind that he wasn't "going through" the treatment.) He refused surgery and died at 79.
 
Sunny said:
Sassy, do you put outliving your husband in the same category as outliving children/grandchildren? In both cases, would you rather be dead than alive?

Olivia, I also wondered about his opposition to physician-aided suicide. That seemed out of kilter with the rest of his philosophy.
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Sunny
I wouldn't want to live one minute with out my Husband , Children or Grandchildren. In both cases I would rather be Dead than Alive.
 
In 1965 the line, "I hope I die before I get old" became immortalized in the well-known Pete Townshend (Who) song, "My Generation". Can't help but wonder how Pete feels about it now that he's reached age 73, which would surely have been "old" by his standards when he penned it at age 20. Likewise, I think Ezekiel Emanual, the author of this article, may well feel a lot more attached to life as he gets withing striking distance of 75 than he now imagines.

I don't disagree with stopping a lot of the medical tests at a certain age. Indeed I've already declined a few. However, if Emanual believes that dying of the flu or cancer is an easy, gentle walk in the park, he has another think coming.

Emanual's words remind me of that old saying about the difference between involvement and commitment. (When it comes to a ham and eggs breakfast the chicken is involved and the pig is committed.) At the moment, being safely under the age of 75 Emanual is involved. When he reaches that magic number he will then the option of becoming committed. I suspect he will back down markedly from his earlier position.

Funny how we tend to move the goalposts of what's "old" as we approach them.
 
Star, Emanuel is an oncologist. So I'm sure he knows cancer is not an easy, gentle walk in the park.
'
 
I think this guy is playing the role of the Devil's Advocate, to write this article. We all get to live our lives to the end. We don't know when that will be. We can only live our life, today! Embrace each new day, and don't worry about the years!
 
Meanderer said:
I think this guy is playing the role of the Devil's Advocate, to write this article. We all get to live our lives to the end. We don't know when that will be. We can only live our life, today! Embrace each new day, and don't worry about the years!
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Carpe Diem!
 
I tell my wife that statistically speaking she is obliged to out live me since she is female and a year younger. In 16 years I will be 100, We have slowed down, but now we savor the many memories we have stored up over the years.
 
StarSong said:
In 1965 the line, "I hope I die before I get old" became immortalized in the well-known Pete Townshend (Who) song, "My Generation". Can't help but wonder how Pete feels about it now that he's reached age 73, which would surely have been "old" by his standards when he penned it at age 20. Likewise, I think Ezekiel Emanual, the author of this article, may well feel a lot more attached to life as he gets withing striking distance of 75 than he now imagines.

I don't disagree with stopping a lot of the medical tests at a certain age. Indeed I've already declined a few. However, if Emanual believes that dying of the flu or cancer is an easy, gentle walk in the park, he has another think coming.

Emanual's words remind me of that old saying about the difference between involvement and commitment. (When it comes to a ham and eggs breakfast the chicken is involved and the pig is committed.) At the moment, being safely under the age of 75 Emanual is involved. When he reaches that magic number he will then the option of becoming committed. I suspect he will back down markedly from his earlier position.

Funny how we tend to move the goalposts of what's "old" as we approach them.
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Indeed.....I remember back when , when my mother was 42-43, there a'bouts... I was 9-10 & I thought she was ancient!.....well now some 60 years later.....she was a mere young'in.
 

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