DNR

Mortality. Mine. Yours. How often do we really consider that we’re going to die? Recently, three people I love have been diagnosed with potentially life-threatening illnesses so it’s a subject that’s been on my mind somewhat.

There’s a great radio campaign on at the moment encouraging people to say what they want – funeral / legacies / music and so on before they die. The idea is that you don’t leave the people who love you floundering over what you would want, so you tell them now.

I made a will many years ago—and recently topped this up with a living will—to ensure as best I can that no ‘faith’ or religion tries to hijack ‘my’ proceedings. Most of us will want to know that we will receive a ‘send-off’ which is commensurate with our beliefs or, as in my case, lack of them.

The important thing is to recognise that death—mine, yours—really can happen at any moment. This is not being morbid nor is it depressing. It’s simply about really caring for those we leave behind, who will have enough to do sorting out our affairs and, one trusts, grieving for us.

The last thing we need to inflict on those we love is to make them decide what we might have wanted—if only we’d said. We need to learn to speak up about the things that really matter to those who really matter to us.

BBC - Ethics - Euthanasia: DNR - Do Not Resuscitate

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Death/Preparation/DG_10029429