o sung wu,
I hope and prey it never happens to me but if it does then I will have lived life to the fullest,
gave all I could, when and where I could, and never asked anything of anyone that couldn't
afford it, socially financially or emotionally.
Three wars, service in the "job" and now mentoring and supporting the Menshed movement
have all filled my cup to the brim so when the time comes and the diagnosis is confirmed
I will removed the burden from my loved ones and
"do the right thing" especially since since the law removes the medical profession from the picture.
I think old mate that you are just as much a realist as I am in this respect and as an extra
I have arranged for the "cutters" at the local medical facility to take what they need or can
use when the time comes.

G'evening to you CHRISGAF1000...

I say yeah to that ol' friend! I too would never wish to become a burden on either my family or society, and if and when the time is right, I have at hand my own measures in order to ameliorate my problem utterly, and in full!

I might mention a rather unexpected postal delivery, that arrived at our front door a couple of weeks ago Chris? A small packet, sent via Registered Post containing the 'National P. Service Medal', complete with a decent looking miniature? The extraordinary thing is, now that I've settled into this, immutable retirement, and all the 'I's and 'T's have been dotted and crossed, and with no judicial matters still outstanding. To unexpectedly receive this official looking packet, I will admit, I was absolutely confounded? It goes to show however, the A/C Personnel, does indeed have an extraordinarily long reach, eh?

I expect you've got yours by now? I'm not entirely sure where one is supposed to wear it, on the left with the normal military gongs, or on the right where most Long Service and miscl. awards are normally worn, any ideas? I guess you'll spend some time with your unit, on Monday next, the 25th?

o sung wu, "I have at hand my own measures in order to ameliorate my problem utterly, and in full!"

I know you would never leave a mess for other men, not to mention your loved ones, to clean up.

Where most end up with problems they didn't want is simply because they don't advise ambulance officers and the very first people they encounter in hospital when admitted to Emergency that they DO NOT want to be resuscitated. Just say it and write it where possible.

It is usually too late where you let the team take over and the courageous fight is on to keep you alive to the very limits of the team's ability and available technology.

Tell those relatives and friends too, early and often.

Hi there ONTHEBEACH...

I've been to enough suicides to see the emotional impact the scene has on some police members, without the awful trauma and self recriminations it has on close family members! No mate, if anyone is contemplating necking 'em selves, do so in a manner where it causes the least amount of stress on those who have to deal with the scene. Otherwise you're just a miserable arsehole who has no thought whatsoever for some poor stranger who has to deal with your discovery!

ONTHEBEACH your thoughts that those who wish to end it all and fail, ending up in the hands of ambo's and some hospital emergency room, should leave a note advising them NOT to attempt CPR et al, is an excellent idea. One 'client' of mine had a message scrawled across his chest a message (somewhat) to that effect, in case he botched his effort, which he didn't I might add. I've always counselled young people who've tried to neck 'em selves of the benefits of speaking with 'Lifeline'. And the occasional feedback I've received has always been positive - ten out of ten for Lifeline.

o sung wu,

I cannot claim any credit for what I said about remembering to tell attending people and that includes all, when resuscitation is NOT wanted.

I think it was a medical doctor perhaps from ER who said that in an article or comments on OLO (likely), however it was seen online. The article being discussed had to do with patients suffering from terminal conditions who were well advanced. The concern of some contributors was that the patient's wishes expressed in writing prior may not be seen or heeded (eh where relatives/carers say otherwise). The doctor said that verbal advice was the key and immediacy - it must be before the treatment started. Otherwise in the organised haste to treat you are unlikely to be heard, or are under the effects of drugs.

The doctor was being very practical and simple: tell them first up and before 'going along with the flow'.

As always, I wish you all of the very best and look forward to your posts. Hasbeen gives sage advice: in essence, keep on trucking. I'd add, never let the Bs grind you down. -Which includes turn off sources of irritation and bad vibes. Turn that Idiot Box off and take the opinions of people on the Net with a grain of salt. There are plenty of people, MANY men, out there and strangers too, who do care.

Hi (again) ONTHEBEACH...

I may well be wrong, but I think medical practitioners 'must' by law, try to resuscitate a patient, irrespective of that patient's contemporaneous wishes? How they acquiesce to this unorthodox request, I don't know?

Conversely, in matters of advanced terminal illness I think there are times when the treating medico's either hurry things along, or fail to take other measure (save for strong and effective pain analgesia) in order to prolong life? To be sure I wouldn't know, one way or the other, only what we've all heard?

Also my friend, thank you for your very kind perennial support. Support you've unselfishly given me, from the 'get go'. Apropos our good mate HASBEEN, the above sentiments equally apply to him as well. Both of you illustrate the meaning of true pragmatism and each of you gives a clear voice to those often repudiated standards of truthfulness and veracity, two very rare commodities in today's frenetic society. To lose either of you, from 'The Forum', would prove calamitous, and a single voice for commonsense and pragmatism would be lost?