I couldn’t decided if this was sad or inspiring : MSN
what yall think?
She has the right to decide, in my opinion, in this circumstance. The disease won’t let her live to legal age. But still, once decided, why announce such an extended date? Can you imagine what the family is going through for that time?
There’s no good way to arrange such an announcement. But I wouldn’t want to wait that long, patient, or family.
The last teenager (and I wish I could remember her name) who appeared on a bunch of news programs to announce that she’d chosen to end her fight, also picked a death date…and then changed her mind as the date progressed. (As was her right!)
I just wish that the media would leave these people alone. They have enough to worry about, without the added pressure of being media darlings for the “death with dignity” movement. If a 50 year old man wants to do it, more power to him. But I don’t think a teen needs the added stress of “disappointing” their admirers should she decide to change her mind.
Just my two cents.
Given the nature of her disease, the fact that she’s been in counseling, and this was not made in haste… well, I can’t be happy about it but it would be one of the circumstances where I could say suicide is tolerable.
Except from reading the article it doesn’t seem so much that she’s actually set a date to die as she’s going to turn off the ventilator. Who knows how long she’ll last after that? This isn’t suicide in the sense of swallowing pills or other direct means of killing herself, it is withdrawing life support. It’s a fine distinction, but a distinction nonetheless at least to some of us.
But, really, I don’t have a problem with her deciding to stop fighting the end and enjoy one last summer before turning off the machinery. She gets to do some of her bucket list and say goodbye.
I also agree that I’d prefer these sorts of folks not be made “media darlings”. Seems to me the girl should reserve the right to change her mind up until the very last minute. Nothing wrong with reconsidering such a final decision. I do not ever want someone to feel pressured or obligated to die.
Nice RO, but is there actually any evidence that she asked for privacy, and that the media then failed to respect her wishes? Most teenagers enjoy attention, and she seems to be an assertive and extrovert personality.
Maybe it’s her way of leaving a record? She gets to be on tv. She and her family don’t seem to be dodging the reporter.
It’s her life. It’s her choice. I don’t have a better option for her, sadly.
ETA: I shouldn’t just say, “her”. Her name is Jerika Bolen. She looks beatiful. I really love that eye makeup she’s wearing with the little dots. Very chic.
apparently they had a good bye prom
Jerika IS a badass. Period.
It seems to repeated, once again:
It is not up to Anyone to assent or dissent on the patient’s decision.
Just as it is NONE of your goddamn business if someone wants an abortion.
Or marry the person of their choosing.
It simply is NONE or your business what this child decides.
We are, however, allowed to have opinions. I can respect your right to make decisions about your life even if I disagree with your decisions.
No one is proposing rushing in to stop this girl, or anything else. We’re discussing our opinions, nothing more.\
If the family involved wanted complete privacy they should have avoided the media. You are correct, in the abortion analogy, that it’s no one’s business if you decide to have one (or not have one) but if you make your decision public you are going to get public comments.
Tell that “Nobody is proposing to interfere” line to Terri Schiavo.
For those who do not recognize the name, please educate yourselves. This Will be on the Final.
Dude, no one on this message board needs you to educate us about Terri Schiavo.
And obviously, Bolen wants people to discuss her situation, or she wouldn’t have given a reporter access to her family at this horrible time.
If you could please use a few more caps, italics, bolding and large fonts perhaps we could understand your position better.
Thanks.
mmm
The right of the people to freely choose fonts shall not be infringed.
Thank God for that catch-all in the ninth amendment. It covers emoticons too.
Not pedantry, though, for those who were about to point out that I didn’t actually change font.
I think its great she is choosing when to die and its a right I wish we all had