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I just happened upon this book and audio interview from an emailed, monthly newsletter I subscribe to on elder law. I want to recommend this book to each and everyone of my close friends who are currently dealing with their ailing parents. I want them to KNOW it is OK to talk with their parents and LEARN what their end of life desires are. I personally had to approach doctors to "decide" the end of treatment for both my parents in 2008. I, too, knew my partents' wishes, but did not have Mr. West's resources.

Hospice, thankfully, was able to be called in. I found most Institutions, i.e. nursing homes, to be sympathic but not knowledgable enough to put forth the "required" documentation for a Doctor to "prescribe" that Hospice be allowed to Take Charge.

If my father, who had been diagonosed with Alzhiemers for years, had not also had diabetis and a conjective heart, they would not have been able to follow his wishes and for him to be referred to Hospice. The term used was, "Failure to Thrieve". This needs to be expanded upon

Thank you, John West

the value of human life is our ability to live relativly pain free and happy. when our physical abilities have given out so that we will never again regain them, and cant feed ourselves or even control our bowels then what value is left? we were once active and vital people now we cant recognize loved ones or feed ourselves, wheres the value? were going to all eventually die whos life is it other than my own to decide my own fate? and the vatican by example of its own history is the last institution to impose its ideals of morality on anyone.

For everyone's information: Montana, has joined Washington and Oregon in allowing physician aid in dying. On December 6, 2008 District Court Judge Dorothy McCarter found that a compentent, terminally ill individual has the right under Montana's constitution to seek a physician's aid in dying. The case is currently being appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. To access more information on this issue I suggest www.compassionandchoices.org

The comparison to Terri Schiavo is not very good: she was not killed by her choice, but by others who had an interest in her death. And she was starved to death over a two week period. No one knows how much of that pain she felt.
Still 'Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2277)

Also, why is this man not in jail for having done this? Was he in Oregon?
This action decreases respect for life. When you are in the hospital and need care and help, you have a right to it, but you might not get it, because the value of human life, by people like this, have eroded it.

My mother had a photographic memory and was the most gifted teacher I have ever seen. She died of Alzheimer's and if you (a comment above) think that relieving pain at the end of life is the greatest problem, you are oceans away from truth and reality. My father was 6'2" - a brilliant landscape architect, an organic gardener and as strong as an ox. He was given larger and larger doses of Halcyon as he tried to care for my mother. Too late we found out that he had an inadequate doctor - Halcyon is a dangerous drug and was not properly tested. My Dad contracted Parkinson's. Mr. West has my deepest sympathy and respect. khs in New Rochelle

Extraordinary means are not necessary, but killing the very sick and elderly is evil and not to be done. It will bring disaster upon our country because it is so evil. The pain medicine available today can in many cases help greatly.

After watching my father suffer through a difficult illness and passing at 62, my mother choose to stop her treatments and go into hospice (in essence taking her life -legally) 15 years later, and having a older (78) in-law take their life (not ethically in some eyes)as a result of not wanting to go on in the declining condition they were in, I believe we have it all wrong in this country. As stated above, we put our pets "to sleep" when they are terminally ill or injured with no outlook for any real quality of life, but with human life - keep the body alive - so .. the insurance companies & doctors can benefit but not the individuals or their families. Mr. West in my opinion did not kill his parents but he assisted them in fulfilling their last & important wishes. I hope when it is my time I have the choice to go my way with dignity. BTW the laws may not always be there for the public but for the lawyers.

Thank you for having this important topic discussed on your program. We are more humane to our animals who are terminally ill, than we are to our fellow humans. Everyone should have the choice to die with dignity if they so choose. I worry about being able to make this decision for myself, given that there is no legal access to medications that will perform the job flawlessly. Having witnessed both my parents suffer for an extended amount of time, having lost any quality of life, I refuse to put my daughter through that painful experience. With religion so dominating our legal system and political agenda, I hope in the near future that all Americans can have the choice to die when life no longer is an acceptable option.

Very interesting topic.

Mr. West acted out of love and filial responsibility, to prevent his parents from suffering unnecessarily. His bravery deserves understanding and admiration. People own their own life and have an absolute right to end it if they are ill, no matter what the benighted law.

Leonard, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your sympathetic discussion with your guest. It was a relief to hear such a rationale interview about a subject so fraught with negativity. Thank you.

I appreciate the discussion on this topic. My father fought a long battle with cancer. I sometimes wonder if fighting against death somehow makes the process of dying more painful. I wonder if bringing control and acceptance to death would help it be a process of closure and peace, instead of one of dread fear.

Wow. I'm overwhelmed with the strength of John West. He did an amazingly difficult thing.

I want to voice my 100% support for John West & what he did for his parents. In 2006 I helped my father in CA who was in a similar state as West's mother & he was able to die a happy man - he smiled & told me this.
We should all have the right to die at the time we choose. Our life - our death.

A man of true courage. I share your hope that the book will open people's eyes to the ridiculous nature of how our laws can be guided by the bible and superstition. People should be able to die with dignity on their own terms. It is the reptilian conservatives still banging away with 2000 year old ape-like ideas that keep humans from being humans and trully being able to act as such. Thank you sir for not only standing up to help your father and your mother's pain but of standing up and telling the world that this is the simplest form of human diginity, to be aloud to die, and that it should be allowed by law and maybe even embraced by culture.

yes, assisted end to life should be legalized as Mr. West advocates by people who can calmly think the idea through and families spared the burden. Still much respect to Mr. West for helping fulfill his parents' wishes despite the difficulties he was placed under, his parents raised him well.

Excellent program and a very, very important topic. I admire Mr. West's parents and his courage to do "the right thing" by them and help them in their choices and right to die.

Thank you for the interview. I will be reading his book.

This guest helped to kill his parents and he's so smug about it. He's so matter of fact about it. Some people just think life is cheap.

This is true freedom of choice. If someone feels like they should die like this and avoid pain and suffering to themselves or their loved ones they should. i admire the courage it took to do this on the side of the parents and the son.
If this was acceptable in society it would be better so that the dieing person can say goodbye to everyone.

Mr. West;
Your parents are smiling down on a very god son.
I salute your courage. My parents suffered from Parkinsons & alzimerheimers had they asked, after witnessing their suffering, I would have done exactly what you did.

Doctors should not deliver or deliberate killing. It is antithetical to their creed and credo.
I know this sounds excentric but it should be done by an outside agency like the US army whose job is killing.

They do protocal great and might be able if not quite willing for the practice.