I am 50 years old. I have lived with ALS for nearly five years. My wife and I moved to Salida in 2008 to live in the mountains and to pursue our passion for the outdoors. With ALS, I am eventually looking forward to lying in bed paralyzed, unable to talk, having a feeding tube, diapers and unable to breathe on my own. I don’t consider that living, at least not with any dignity. I believe that medical aid in dying should be an option for me as my inevitable death from ALS approaches.
End-of life-decisions are personal. These decisions are best left to dying people, their families, their faith, and their physician. I do not want the government chiming in on my health care decisions in the last days of my life.
Proposition 106 is about allowing people to make their own personal choices about health care. I am not suicidal. My mind is sound. I am an adult. I am not afraid to die; I am afraid of pain, suffering and having my dying process prolonged. Proposition 106 affords me an option to achieve a peaceful, planned death on my terms.
Pierre Lescure, Salida
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
