What is man? Psalm 8:4,5 says: “Thou has made him a little lower than the angels; thou has crowned him with glory and honor.” At this time in our history it is legitimate to ask, “Is it worse to die too soon, or to live too long?”

I submit that our medical and humanitarian efforts should primarily be on the former, rather than the latter. By ensuring a healthier society, including disciplined self-care and prevention, and facing the fact of death realistically, we can then accept and appreciate Hospice care for terminal elderly.

Presently we are more and more merely extending the death process! Vast amounts of public and private wealth are being used to create and extend human misery. This is not intended, but it is inevitable. Our present system diverts this great wealth from health maintenance, disease prevention, human enlightenment and well-being. I believe that, despite our reasonable efforts otherwise, the plight of our institutionalized elderly is a sad and pitiable one.

Therefore, since we are so often prolonging by far the worst part of a person’s life artificially, with no hope, purpose or real joy, how can we consider this to be a compassionate thing to do? There is a great imperative to change almost entirely, philosophically, and practically, our care of our terminally ill.

My suggestion is that we build upon the wonderful, beautiful and successful foundation of the Hospice system, reducing pain, not force-feeding and giving the best of tender, loving care. Hospice has taught us how to do this, enabling our dear ones to slip away peacefully in a matter of days and weeks, not months and years. Contact your legislators. Let’s do it!

P.C. Oliver

Oak Harbor