Suicide: Deliverance or The Dark Side of Dying?

I just had a visit with my oldest son who was up on a break from school in Georgia. He told me that a while back there had been a news report that a body had been found in the (local) Susquehanna River and it was unidentified.

My son's mother, knowing me a bit too well, was concerned that it was me. She knows the family history, knows my desire to go by my own hand and figured it might just be ol' Phil. I don't have a working phone yet, she didn't know my email so had no way of finding out if it was me, other than to call my son and ask him to try to contact me. :rolleyes:

I gave him my email address to give to his mother, and good thing too, because yesterday another body was found in the water - this time a female, so I didn't get any emails.

I also told him that I would look into that service that sends out emails to your contact list if you don't sign in for a certain amount of time. Knowing me, though, I'll get arrested and thrown in jail and everyone will be holding my wake. :cool:
 

Ina said:
HFL, Another problem with suicide is life insurance. How do we get them to accept it as our decision? We try to do something such as life insurance for our loved ones, and if we were to choose suicide we have to understand that we are forfeit all the money we invested in the insurance. I wouldn't have any idea of how to change this matter.
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Most life insurance has a clause for suicide, and usually, it is not covered for the first two years, but IS covered after that.
In the past, people that were contemplating suicide would sometimes take out a large life policy, and then kill themselves to save their family from a large debt; so the companies now put a time limit on how long before it is also covered, along with any other loss of life. So, if it is a policy that has been in effect for over the specified time, then it would be covered.
The main thing that would make a difference is whether the policy has an accidental death clause added to it. Many policies have this, and pay "double indemnity" or "triple indemnity" for accidental loss of life; so if this were the case, and insurance is an issue, the person would have to have an "accidental death" for the family to have the added death benefit.

Also, many life policies now have a special clause for terminal illness; so the proceeds can be paid while the insured is still living, once the doctor has given them medical notice that they are terminal. This would be the best solution, since the family can use the money for medical treatment, or hospice care if needed.
So, there are other options, and the life insurance should not be forfeited.
 

I think assisted suicide is a good option for someone whose quality of life has deteriorated, and they want a peaceful way out. It's a personal decision of what one wants to do with their own body, and in no way the sign of a coward. We worry too much about what 'society' accepts/thinks. It's our body, our life and our death...if I become so ill that I don't desire to live anymore, that will be my decision also. We came into this world alone, and that's the way we'll leave, no stranger should judge our actions. It would be easier if each state was like Oregon, where you can have a formal assisted suicide...easier on the family also. I wouldn't be jumping off any bridges, there are better ways to end your life without making headline news.
 
I would guess that if your policy is that old, it probably did have the standard 2 year suicide clause; but not the early payment for terminal illness, since that is a fairly recent development. It was in the 80's when I was a life insurance agent, and we didn't have anything like that for the company that I worked for at that time.

Another helpful thing is to also have a small life insurance policy, besides the main one, if you have a large policy. If there is any kind of issue about the determination of death, large policies may take up to several months before they pay out the proceeds; but if you also have a small (under $5,000) policy, it will usually be paid immediately, so the family has cash right away that would be needed for any current bills or payments.
 
Ina said:
Phil, is there really such a service? Doesn't sound like it would it would be possible.
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There is, Ina - I know because I distinctly remember thinking it might be useful for a hermit like me.

Problem now is, I can't find the link. I'm not sure if I saved it or not, so I did a quick Google search and all I could find was Proof of Life, a Japanese service (with English translation available) that checks your Facebook or Twitter activity and will send a pre-written email to your contacts if you've been inactive for more than 20 days. They first attempt to email you a few times before they send out the emails to your contact list.

It sounds somewhat like the service I had seen, except that one didn't include Facebook or Twitter - you just had to check-in at their site every month or so.

I'll keep looking for the site and post it on this board if I find it.
 
11 US states have legalized Medical Aid In Dying (MAID). Also, Switzerland, Canada and Belgium also offer MAID. Anyone can depart easily by just not eating or drinking for 2 to 3 weeks. Of course, one should really be in great physical pain or impairment to go that route. The much better route is to simply ACCEPT all pain and impairment no matter how bad and just keep living. I've almost died and was once in Vitas Hospice for 3 weeks back in October, 2018. I still believe that ACCEPTANCE of everything bad happening to us is the best way to live and end one's life. I'm age 90 now.
 
Ina said:
HFL, Another problem with suicide is life insurance. How do we get them to accept it as our decision? We try to do something such as life insurance for our loved ones, and if we were to choose suicide we have to understand that we are forfeit all the money we invested in the insurance. I wouldn't have any idea of how to change this matter.
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In my opinion, life insurance should not cover death by suicide.
 
End of life when you know it is coming. Do you go with MAID? Do you endure till God decides. Even in our final hours we have an effect on those around us. We leave a lasting impression on those around us.
Be it relatives or hospital workers. We leave something behind for those who wonder or consider their own end. I don't know or have an answer. I have seen individuals face their demise with such dignity that I remember it to this day. I have seen individuals in total denial until they passed.
I don't know. The end is certain for us all. If you are young than it is a question for another day. If you are older than you wrestle with what lurks in the back of your mind. I do. God, give rest to those departed and may their memories remind us of who we are and where we came from. May their lives find reflection in our own. May we remember them, not by granite, but by how we live our own lives. They live because we do.
 
I have cancer. Two treatments have been administered .......and failed.

After the failures my Oncologist gave me two options: 1. Have my bladder removed, have a stoma installed and live with a piss bag hanging from my abdomen for the rest of my life or 2. Receive palatiative treatment which may extend my life for an uncertain period but has potential for a reasonably normal quality of life until I croak..

The surgery is painful and complicated but offers a potential for cure, however with a very degraded quality of life. The second option only offers the chance of slowing my disease. Death will be the certain outcome.

I selected option 2 but can't help but wonder if I've really opted for a form of suicide because I do have the opportunity to continue living. This one of the things I think about in the wee hours of the morning.
 
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Having been the child of a suicide, I can look at my life, knowing that it would have been better had he stayed.

Regarding religious restrictions, I find it to be not so true. There's several instances of biblical figures killing themselves, (instead of allowing capture, Samuel or revenge Samson) thus it was acceptable.

I did watch and I wish I remembered the program, but there was one religious figure or shall we say religious preacher, who was discussing whether or not suicide was permitted. In certain instances he agreed with it.

I have (due to previous issues) looked at suicide. I know that it won't affect anyone negatively, so I have that as a fail safe plan. The only reason I wouldn't do it by shotgun or pistol, is because I don't want to leave someone to have to clean up the mess afterwards.

Also if I became incapacitated up to a point where that would be still physically possible, I would probably choose that way to leave if I was faced with many years still to live, even though it would be in a very physically limited state.
 
Ina said:
HFL, Another problem with suicide is life insurance. How do we get them to accept it as our decision? We try to do something such as life insurance for our loved ones, and if we were to choose suicide we have to understand that we are forfeit all the money we invested in the insurance. I wouldn't have any idea of how to change this matter.
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Actually there is a two-year window which that you cannot or you should not do it and receive benefits. until after that 2 years and preferably another year just to be on the safe side, but yes you can commit suicide and still have them collect your life insurance.
 
I don't care what the law is or what religion says nor have any concerns of moral constricts about suicide, if I want to do it I'm going to do it. I hope I never have to make the decision but if I'm faced with a very poor quality of life I hope I'm brave enough to end it on my terms.
 

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