Michelle Case

A "good death" can be looked at differently by many people. In my opinion, a good death that I would want to have, would be pain free and quick. I would not want to be uncomfortable or experience any level of chronic pain. If I were to be in pain while I was dying, I would want my pain relieved so I was unconscious of it. I would not want to, at any point, be in a vegetative state relying on others to take care of me; nor would I want to loose my communication abilities. I would not want my death to be prolonged by medical treatments that will help temporarily, such as a ventilator.

When I think about death, I feel that I would want a warning it is coming upon me, such as the year I am dying. I would want to know when my body is shutting down, but I would not want to know how much time I have left, to the exact month or week. I would want the time to spend with loved ones and do "last minute" things I have always wanted to do. But, when the time comes when death is getting closer, I would want it to happen preferably in my sleep. I would not want to suffer and experience death while conscious. All in all, I would want it to be a quick and pain free thing.

...