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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Worth the weight ... Oregon author Brian Doyle visits valley ... 'Ring of Fire' a loving tribute to iconic country star Johnny Cash ... Worth the weight ... Oregon author Brian Doyle visits valley ... 'Ring of Fire' a loving tribute to iconic country star Johnny Cash ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Death Cafe event set There was another meeting of the local chapter of the Death Café last December; the next meeting will be at the Havurah at 7 p.m. on March 2. The gathering is an open discussion about how one wants to die. Attending are young and old alike. It is generally an "up," joyful gathering and should be called the Happy Endings Club. There is a feeling of relief in the room as most expressed a desire to speak openly about their death, something friends and relatives are often hesitant to do. Most people expressed a desire for a painless, positive death and that they alone would know when the right time had come. Questions arose like "Whose death is it anyway?" "When did I lose my inalienable right to choose for myself?" "How can I protect myself from the political and religious beliefs of others?" Since discussing self-death is taboo in the medical community, there is a great danger to all seniors because they are not alerted that taking one's life is almost impossible and most attempts end in a far worse tragedy. There were concerns about how ER workers and hospital staff are forced to protect themselves from lawsuits before following the orders of the patient's legal directive. This needs to be made clear in an open discussion with the public. Seniors that try to take their life and fail are legally "a harm to themselves," and may be taken to the psych unit at Rogue Regional Medical Center. However professional and compassionate this unit is, it is not what such elders need. Seniors who try self-death and fail are often deeply shamed by friends and family. The psychological trauma afterwards can be the worst aspect of all. Oregon takes good medical care of its low-income seniors, yet some said they felt used for unnecessary medical tests, and that the American way of death has few positives except for the medical/insurance business as usual. Despite all the stories and shared information, the mood at these meeting is happy. Tears are shed, but also laughter and the ironies about the inhumanity seniors face in our culture. It was generally agreed that living without the fear of death greatly enhances life. That the winter of life offers invaluable insights into relationships with all people and experiences, and a peaceful passing offers an enriched life, mind, spirit and soul. How we die may be the most important accumulation of life's experience. Now is the time for the elderly to take a stand for Silver Rights. This is the opportunity to keep our civil liberties from being taken from us before we even know it. For more information, email [email protected] . Leah Ev Ireland Ashland What a relief What a relief to read that a Democrat, Jeff Thomas, has filed for County Commissioner Doug Briedenthal's seat. Jeff has volunteered many hours in his community and has his priorities here in Jackson County where they belong. He has a history of showing up for meetings and giving his all. He will work hard for Jackson County, just as he has worked hard for Medford schools and youth sports. Thanks for running, Jeff! Ann Magill Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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