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Dear annonymous:
I have put a great deal of thought into what I would do if I were in your position. My views are somewhat different to what most people's are on this board as my family has followed no religion for several generations and therefore I don't necessarily relate to the Judaeo/Christian/Muslim views of death & suicide that most people on this board would hold. I have noticed that most people have posted responses to this question anonymously so I will do the same.
But you did ask for different views....
From my point of view you have to balance your obligations to your teenagers of being alive to guide them versus reducing/stopping treatment. If they are young teenagers, you might be obligated to continue on despite great discomfort. But you have to balance this obligation against your quality of life. You probably have other family members who are prepared to step in if you can no longer continue on for whatever reason.
Death is a two-way street. Those who are dying have obligations that they must try and fill, but those that are living have even greater obligations. They should be prepared to release the dying from their oblgations so that they can be free to choose whatever they must.
Sometimes the choice of death over treatment is the right one especially if the quality of life that you are winning from your treatment is a poor one. This is a choice that I have already made.
I would suggest a frank discussion with your family. They might be very releived that you've brought the topic up.
Best regards, Anonymous.
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