Depressing news of the day

[ishtar79]

Terry Pratchett ready to be test case for suicide law

This is too depressing to contemplate. Not the assisted suicide part-I support people's right to end their life with dignity, and on their own terms. I guess I still refuse to process the fact that this brilliant, creative, unique mind is plagued by Alzheimer's.

It's Terry fucking Prachett!

Comments

[nuvolanera.livejournal.com]

I had no idea he was sick with Alzheimer, it's quite a shock finding out about it!

[aegflota.livejournal.com]

Alzheimer's is pretty depressing whether the person suffering from it is an awesome author, or just your average nobody.

I'm glad Kay Gilderdale was acquitted, though.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

It's such a difficult issue. I do support people who help their suffering relatives to die, however I'm scared that if the law was ever changed to reflect that then too many people would get rid of "inconvenient" family members, either because the couldn't be bothered dealing with them any more or they wanted to get their hands on their money or houses or whatever. I don't even know what to think. Obviously I don't want that scenario to happen, but I also think it's a disgrace that that poor woman who assisted her sick son's suicide is now doing jail time. Sigh.

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

I got to see Terry Pratchett (a lot) at the Discworld convention last September, and I know he won't be in a hurry to exercise suicide rights (if he gets them). He is doing very well now, is creative and happy.... But he is terrified of Alzheimers (it is terrifying, I've seen a lot of brilliant people reduced by this) and I can understand his wanting to have some say in how long his life lasts.

He was pretty darned thrilled to become Sir Terry!

[ninamalfoy]

:(

Understandable, though. For a brilliant mind it must be simply awful to know that you've got Alzheimer's. *sighs*

[jollityfarm.livejournal.com]

I don't want him to die, but I'm glad he feels able to think about this and make decisions about his own condition. Too many people won't let the ill speak for themselves (so him being a famous author helps there)