A Dignified End - Holland

[simpleshannon]

this country has warped ideas about death. the religious zealots don't care if you are being forced to go through a slow agonizing death. and the medical field is just pissed because it cuts out their profits.

[snarkydoc]

I agree, mr Terpstra, to people would say; please dont do it, i would miss you", just say; Get over it! All those people are just being selfish. Life is not about making others happy! Your life is about YOU!

[ChingEliz]

I have a lot of respect for this brave old man.

[ApocalypsePlough]

Yes, one should have the right to make decisions about one's own life and death, but only if they are of sound mind. Of course, wanting to kill yourself puts you into the category of mentally ill, at least it does here in North America. So, a person of sound mind becomes not of sound mind when contemplating suicide. And could be forced into a mental institution. It's a conundrum wrapped in an enigma, or however the saying goes. Being suicidally sound-minded is an oxymoron, like giant shrimp.

[MyJdaly]

One should have the right to make decision about one's own life and death.

[Aztomak]

In the end it comes down to a simple answer. We are all entitled to the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the American Consitution.

[WSWarthog]

If anyone ever asks me again about how I want to die, I will answer 'suicide'. We need to legalize euthanasia for society to move forwards.

[CanadaForce]

this is fucking sad

[InYourFaceNewYorker]

I thought euthanasia was legal in Netherlands. Did he just not fall into the legal protocol for it?

[nymusnymus85]

@InYourFaceNewYorker It is legal in The Netherlands, but that doesn´t mean it is easy to have euthanasia done. A doctor will talk with its patient for a certain period and if the outcome is that this person really wants to die and that view doesn´t seem to change, than the doctor will agree and do the treatment.

[InYourFaceNewYorker]

@nymusnymus85 Well, yeah, as it should be. I was just wondering why he wasn't able to get it done.

[nymusnymus85]

@InYourFaceNewYorker Ah ok, like that, could be because from the doctor´s perspective he´s not suffering enough..

[jposh707]

0:39 I love that portrait of him. He was a very good-looking man.

[Guadalupe1130]

@dylanalbergato The value of a person's life is not determined by their quality of life. The most compassionate thing we can do as a society is to alleviate that which makes people feel they wish to die. 93-94% of those who commit suicide were found to have had judgment-impairing mental illness. We should be treating those with depression, not killing them.

[jposh707]

@Guadalupe1130 Those people are younger people. This is different. This is about dying with dignity. And it's not for you to decide who should and shouldn't do that.

[Guadalupe1130]

Wow! Does anyone realize how this sounds to a person born blind? This video is basically saying their lives are not worth living.

Life is intrinsically valuable. Suffering provides a chance for growth. Our society should act with compassion for these people, working to address the reasons people wish to die, like fear or pressure, not merely killing off people. We don't solve problems but killing the people to whom problems happen.

[dylanalbergato]

@Guadalupe1130 i disagree with you

the man enjoyed an entire lifetime of vision and beauty, and once that was lost he did not enjoy life and didn't want to spend the remainder of it just waiting to die

he wanted to go in a dignified fashion

people who are born blind never get the gift of seeing the world, therefor they do not know what they are missing. they can enjoy life in a different way, never having sight to begin with.

[WSWarthog]

@Guadalupe1130

"This video is basically saying their lives are not worth living."

That old man explained very clearly that he does not want to dictate to other people that they should die or live but that he himself doesn't want to live without being able to see. It's a personal choice for every person to make, as he did. Life may have intrinsic value but so does choice between life and death.

[bob27f]

I believe people should have the right to end their own lives. But impending blindness does not seem enough of a reason. He is not disabled, or in pain of any kind we know of. He has grandchildren to share his wisdom with and dote on. Again, I think he has the right to do this. But it seems a bit selfish, and even cold hearted, to leave his life at this point.

[WSWarthog]

@bob27f

It's his own choice, everyone has the right to do with his possessions as he pleases including his life.

[PersonOfBook]

This man looks good for 86! But I pity his vision!

[sarzamineiran]

Coward. Face your death like a man.

[09mytunes]

@sarzamineiran You also are an ignorant ASS!!!

[neianna]

Momentarily there is a petition going on to allow people to commiting suicide even when one is in a good state of life.

One should have full control in life, also about their death!

It is our own choice and to allow such a thing it will decrease alot of horrible drama's of people finding people who commited suicide, hanged, slit wrists ect. Plus it will also become less painful for the comitter

[eretmeus]

Everything the Ewerts said, everything they did, makes sense. But somehow, after watching the documentary, and thinking that his choice was reasonable, I left the documentary thinking how selfish they (Ewert and wife) seemed.

[sintesidave]

What a selfish old man

[09mytunes]

@sintesidave  You are an ignorant ass!!!

[ElijahDTF]

lol what he dosnt know is there are special vitamins that will restore your eysight, my grandpa was blind for about 3 months then got these special vitamins that restored his eyesight

[1LordHypnos1]

lol. so you are saying that by taking "special" vitamins will counteract blindness in general. I seriously doubt that is the case. im not familiar with theese "special vitamins" so i cant say they have no effect at all. but to say that they -will- restore your eysight, are an overstatement.

[ElijahDTF]

well my grandpa was legally blind... took vitamins, and had perfect vision... just because you have not heard of somthing dosnt mean it dosnt exist, try researching rather than just claiming you know everything

[veganbikergirl]

LOL? You twat!

[xparisax88]

why would any one want to commit suicide ?

ITS MESSED UP THAT IT IS LEAGAL IN HOLLAND OR WHERE EVER! and its messed up that people want to do that to themselves

[nzmarc]

Have you ever been really old and going blind? oh, and your wife has died? you can really comment til you've been there. I'm in my thirties, and If I went blind, I'd be gone by next week

[Noel08Blueheart]

Everyone will die some day. What's wrong with wanting it to be at a time and in a manner of your choosing? Personally, I would always fight to enjoy life for as long as I can. Life is temporary. Death is permanent, but some people may feel differently.

[mcnabj]

you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. Wait till you have a horrible illness that can't be cured. You will understand then idiot. Trust me one day you will understand.

[atavismnocturn]

agrreeed

[neianna]

NO it isn't messed up! Watch your loved ones suffer knowing they will die, but that it can take years of suffering before they go! This allows people to give them an honourable death. And this is a case that will not be accepted by our normal euthanasian law, because it is not a lifethreatening disease. And even so when one signs the documents it has to be checked and double checked by the same person and him or her will have to be in a very good mental condition when they sign these.

[iLuvBarRefaeli]

Wow, stupid people. Big deal your wife died your an old man sure its tough but you have to stay strong and live your days on earth, God will take you when it is your time.

[crazybread1337]

wow, those euro-wacks are fucked in the head. Thank God I live in America

[crazybread1337]

yah i did make that video, big deal. At least im not wanting to kill myself for no reason. I like how these ppl say suicide is the "dignified way" to die. ROFL, its about as undignified and pitiful as it gets, i'd rather go out like a bad ass

[shandra68]

Hey you guys, there is no reason to fight about this and use such language. Have ya'all researched this topic or dealt with the issue in any way. Or even dealt with the pain of seeing someone you love dying, in pain, etc......and there is nothing they can do? I don't agree with assisted suicide because I believe its wrong to take a life or be connected to taking a life. BUT, I understand why people would want to.

[MrDouglasfairbanks]

don't keep suffering people in this world!

let them get out if they want to!

please!

[kerouac9991]

No one has the right to comment on this man's actions. You are not in his position, you can't possibly imagine how he feels. He is not taking the "sissy" way out, he will die anyways, his death is humane and dignified, not one with suffering.

[connaught2008]

life is a gift that we shoud'nt take for granted, he should see it out till the end

[donkeyo4]

And you're a dumbass, why would someone want to live a miserable life?

[OredhotchilipeppersO]

because it's better than  being dead prick

[donkeyo4]

Ok, dumbass, how on earth is being hooked up to a billion machines, not being able to move, having to be the bitch of everyone around you due to disabilities better then being dead? That's a fucking opinion. Shut it, "prick."

[OredhotchilipeppersO]

what are you, 10?

[donkeyo4]

I'm 15, I'm not some douchebag pushing my morals onto others.

[OredhotchilipeppersO]

and i'm not some stuck up cunt that thinks he's too cool to be argued with

[donkeyo4]

Nice name-calling without any evidence to support your little opinion there, kiddo.

[OredhotchilipeppersO]

you really need to learn when to shut the fuck up

also just because you can press shift at the beginning of a sentence and . at the end doesn't make you the rebel you think it does.

[donkeyo4]

How is the fact I'm using proper grammar tie into this at all? It doesn't. So chill the fuck out.

[OredhotchilipeppersO]

it does because you think it makes you better than everyone else

[donkeyo4]

No, it's because i'm not a dumbass.

Fuck off, I'm done with you.

[crazybread1337]

um, because youre not DEAD....HURDURR!!!

[donkeyo4]

Fucking idiot, do your research. You ARE dead in a way. You can't function, move, eat, sleep, talk, anything. The only thing it is doing is costing YOUR family money.

[crazybread1337]

My mistake, donkeyo4, i forgot that a human life is worth X dollars. You're right he's a burden to society so we should definitely kill him.

HOW FUCKED UP ARE YOU?? SERIOUSLY?

[donkeyo4]

He's already dead.

[XBringerOfTruth]

There are many things right in front of your faces that you do not see. I am very sad for you all that don't respect life. It is the greatest gift a man can receive.

[zombieiscool]

Rest in peace.

[XBringerOfTruth]

Just because someone suffers, it does not mean they are not valuable. Look at the physically disabled! They suffer more than most people do and for the span of their lives. Most of them love life and learn to deal with the cards they have been given. Assisted suicide (apart from that term not making sense) is barbaric and a devolution. Also, who wants to hear about their elders taking such a sissy way out? Be a man! Suffer through what you have to and do it happy. This is the greatest gift.

[zombieiscool]

Idiot shut the fuck up.

"Also, who wants to hear about their elders taking such a sissy way out? Be a man!'

Stop shouting fuckin stupid as slogans. Can you ever think for yourself? "Be a man" Social bullshit upon deeper inspection, that phrase means nothing.

[daballz89]

What somebody else does with their own life is none of your business. But your Bible down or whatever institutionalized religious book is brainwashing you. It is not your place to preach. Believe what you will, that's your own business.

[HottNurse1]

Yes, life is the greatest gift. But if your life was "terminal' and you suffered beyond belief, would you not want to pass peacefully instead of suffering to the bitter end? I am not speaking about the physically disabled. They have their issues of suffering in itself. I am speaking about terminally ill. Have you ever seen someone suffer and die of cancer? I have and it is not a pretty site. My grandfather stated that he wished that euthanasia was legal.

[shandra68]

HottNurse, I agree with you. I, also, am a nurse have seen countless numbers of people with cancer and other ailments. Alzheimers is not a pretty thing to watch either. I lost my step-dad to cancer last year and altho it went fast, 1 month, it was difficult to watch.

[sicktoaster]

You're right he's valuable. You're devalueing him by devalueing his decision.

Personally if I had his disease Id try to get that machine Steven Hawkings uses instead of dying. Then he could still talk using that machine. But thats his decision not mine.

[shandra68]

Evidently you have never seen someone suffer? I am not being nasty, I am being truthful. Its a bitch to watch....especially when they are your family. Pain isn't the only way to suffer. There is nothing about "Being a Man" in suffering. Research euthanasia and assisted suicide. Read some of the case studies. I, myself, do not think we should take a life...but I can understand where they suffering person who wants to die is coming from.

[megamarsvin]

Then why can you not leave the decision up to them? What gives you or me or anyone the right to tell a suffering person "No, I will not let you die if you want to"? If you don't personally want to be involved, you don't have to be, but at least allow others the right to make their own choices.

[crazybread1337]

because its just not naturally nor morally right. I hope i dont have to actually explain to you why

[megamarsvin]

If you have a dog that's sick and in pain, what is the moral thing to do? Leave it in pain until it dies on it's own or take it to the vet and let it end it's life in quickly and in peace?

So can you explain to me why you think it's moral to treat a human being worse than a dog?

[crazybread1337]

yah, if my dog was in pain, and there was no way to improve his quality of life then, yes i would put him down, BUT its a freakin dog!!!

How can you even compare a dog to a human being's life????

[megamarsvin]

Sounds to me like you have more compassion for your dog than for a human. Yes a human being is a different animal but their feelings are the same. If you had to live in pain every single day and knew it would never end. If your life had nothing meaningful left in it other than suffering. Would you choose to let that go on for months or years? Or take that shot?

And even if you personally would prefer to suffer, would you force that on others?

[crazybread1337]

no, just because a dog and a human can both sense physical pain, doesnt mean they share the same feelings. A dog doesnt have a conscious or values or morals or even a logical thought process. Aside from that, who are you to say that the rest of his life is meaningless? You don't know that, so how can you so easily justify him killing himself?

[megamarsvin]

But in many, many cases people DO know. They may have cancer, they may have Alzheimer's, they may be quadriplegic. But that doesn't even matter. The point is it's their choice. You are forcing them to stay alive because of your personal views.

Are you going to be the one that says to them: "no I won't let you end your suffering, you have to stay alive and suffer because of what I think"?

How can you so easily justify the suffering your "morality" causes?

[crazybread1337]

no im saying that you dont know whats in store for their life. Yes they may know what afflicts them, but they dont know everything that will happen in the future of their life. Think about a marathon, just because you arent in first place during the race, doesnt mean you quit to stop the pain of running. What if Marie Curie had decided to commit suicide because of her radiation illnesses? What if Einstein committed suicide? What if Socrates or Hypocrites had committed suicide?

[crazybread1337]

Point is, if everyone committed suicide just to escape the pain of their life, where would we be as a society then? Suicide is contradictory to survival. Both Evolutionists and Creationists know this

[donkeyo4]

Not all of us are about to die. Of course it would be illegal to those who had their wife divorce them or stupid shit. This is just for people who ARE ALREADY ABOUT TO DIE.

[haysaadafes]

@crazybread1337 you talking to people who have no discipline in life , no matter what they achieve in life they still lack a lot and they display that by accepting assisted suicide or anything negative , so i would say don't waste your time with them , i would not kill myself , life is gift and very precious .

[atavismnocturn]

youre not needed to waste your time here than, dont you think

[haysaadafes]

@atavismnocturn actually i didnt waste my time in here , i saw the comments and i didnt discuss this subject , i just got disgusted from your negatives comments and i told him not to waste his time with people like yourself because it`s not worth it .

[XBringerOfTruth]

Anyone who argues in favor of assisted suicide must be medically and psychologically checked for illness. Anyone who does not recognize the dignity and gift of life is poorly guided and uneducated. Please seek help and counselling.

[eyholmess]

Anyone who argues in favor of needless suffering must be medically and psychologically checked for illness. Anyone who does not recognize the dignity and gift of not having to suffer poinlessly is poorly guided and uneducated. Please seek help and counseling.

[shandra68]

UNEDUCATED? I do not support assisted suicide, but I sure the hell don't degrade people who do.

[crazybread1337]

you dont even need to be educated to see how messed up suicide is, both in practice and theory.

Any person with a hint of morals knows its wrong

[Entropy56]

Before I kill myself I'd spend all my money on whores and bottles of Viagra.

[seploud]

I want to kill myself and I think is ridiculous if someone tells me not to or try to stop me, life sucks, whats the point of living if im going to die of old age or illness anyway?

[octobubble]

i agree i have bi poler and the only thing that stops me killing my self is my family i contacted dignitas and they say they would like to help me i don't no what i will do

[crazybread1337]

first of all, I'm calling BS on you because one doesnt "have bi polar, notice the 'a'", one IS bi-polar. secondly, if you actually were bi-polar you would also want to live to counteract the part of you that wanted to die

[crainey1]

Me too! my gold fish died and I just cant live with the pain!! Plus they canceled F.R.I.E.N.D.S!! TIME TO END IT ALL!

[shandra68]

I hope you don't kill yourself. What is it about life that sucks? Is it ONLY that one day you are going to grow old and die or the assumption that you will be stricken with some illness? Don't live worrying about such as that. Life is too short already. I am sure there is more sucking in your life that those 2 things.....Seek help. You don't want to commit suicide...believe me.

[fair7deal]

Quitting life was his decision, if truly was a suicide. Please respect it.

There is nothing wrong in suicide from a personal point of view.

[PCvillage]

In islam, if you commit suicide you go straight to hell

[koffiegast]

I doubt he is moslim.

[PCvillage]

doesnt matter if your muslim or not, theres only one god for all of us, and only one set of rules, and the rules apply to everyone

[koffiegast]

That's your religion. Not everybody will share your opinion. I appreciate and respect what you believe, but realise that not everybody is as "enlightened" as you are. In the end, everybody seeks happiness.

[PCvillage]

its not "MY" religion its how everybody should live, its a lifestyle

[koffiegast]

as long as you don't force or threat other people to do the same, you are fine believing that.

[PCvillage]

hey what religion are you?

[koffiegast]

I don't involve myself in any way with any superstition. Basically I wouldn't put myself in any of the categories of religion, but I bet other people would put me in the atheist one.

[Kimsoderlund]

I think that man is living a quite rich life, scorn from past experiences so i can't see that there's a life after blindness. Don't know so i can't judge him. If he can't die like that then he can hang himself or messier.

Hope he found pease.

[AndrooUK]

People discuss pain management, but what about pain management for a life not worth living?

People do not choose to be born, but everyone who can make an informed decision should be able to choose to die painlessly, and without the stigmatisation of themselves or their family.

This is a very moving story which brings to light the real desires of real people, not just someone who decides to kill themselves, because they were bored that day.

The right to die should be everyone's right.

[ArtisynSaffryn]

Great comment, AndrooUK! I completely agree with you. I am so tired of the controlling, manipulative ways of the anti-choice in their beliefs of using fear-of-death fear mongering, in order for them to try to force people into living a life which they may not want to live. Everyone deserves options for their right-to-die, without the petty interference of ignorant anti-choice propagationists.

[PCvillage]

how dare you encourage suicide, your ridiculous

[Artist3303]

This isnt a joke, but the whole reason why i am watching this, is because i want to commit suiside, basicaly in the next 24 hours, i have been threw alot of so much, and i have waisted my life its not nice, i am going to the pcycologist tommorro,i will bring a knife, and if he dosant help me feal better then i will slit my wrists in frount of him, i hope it works, because if i get put away theni will kill him after that, it wont be satisfactory as i die, and will be painfull,but it won last long

[netherlanicperson19]

i know how you feel

[Christanabc]

We recognize that all people want 2 avoid suffering. We have the means 2 assist w/ pain mgmnt. Life is precious... y would we "off" someone rather than viewing this as a form of learning 4 the person involved & 4 those who love them?

[SHAOLINSHADOWBOXER80]

Look, you can not just say no and deny that a certain segment of people will eventually take their lives. The intelligent thing to do is to address it realistically, in this way the person wanting to suicide can do so with dignity and not resort to some OTHER more desperate measures. This man was able to die in peace in the company of family & friends.

[Frenrey]

and it feels like , your with me or against me

[Progo35]

On the contrary, people have a right to be protected and helped by others. Euthanasia is the easy way out for society, not for the people involved.

[LatinoProducer]

Dont allow euthanasia otherwise abusing it will be just so frequent and even easy

[wiskawind]

Every human being should have the right to choose how they want to die, it should be their right.

[feng456]

yea but it can be abused so easily.

[wiskawind]

Believe me, people don't line up to off themselves! We have Doctor assisted suicide in Oregon, here in the states; not many people have used it. I am hoping Washington State, where I live, will follow Oregon's lead. We would never allow an animal to suffer, where there was no hope; we should show the same kindness to humans. Some diseases are horrible to die from; I wouldn't wish that kind of death for anyone.

[feng456]

u didnt fully understand what i said. what if someone murders someone and claim it was assisted suicide?

[wiskawind]

It is not set up that way. I can't remember all the criteria to assisted suicide, and I can't find my book right now; (blushes) but it is very difficult to pass all the criteria! Then and only then can a doctor help a person to pass over; can't be just any person, has to be a doctor assisting.

[Progo35]

I think that you need to educate yourself about the abuses of euthanasia in this country and elsewhere. I would like to know upon what info you base the idea that "not many people use it." well, of course not, because in respect to oregon's entire population, not that many people are that sick.

[wiskawind]

I have been educated in this topic; I changed my mind about euthanasia after studying it in college! It is unfair to make laws that would take a humans rights away and force them to suffer. I would not want my rights taken away; why would I want to take another's rights away!

[Leinieslightman]

your not taking anything away from anybody. people are making the choice on THERE OWN to die.