I am really uncertain about writing this because it’s such a controversial topic in most places, but my mom recently took a turn for the worse and I had to decide whether or not I would sign a DNR. I was completely overwhelmed. I started implicitly distrusting the doctors, not considering just how low the probability of her survival was, and not thinking clearly about my mom’s preferences. She expressed a desire not to be resuscitated, and she had stage IV melanoma, and hepatic encephalopathy from her lifelong alcoholism and hepatitis B and C. She had wanted to die in a scenario just like this and there was nothing to be gained from prolonging her life. It wasn’t public, but it was a LessWrong user whom I reached out to who helped me make the right decision, and she could have suffered a lot more for no damned reason other than my stupid jury-rigged brain if it weren’t for that. I really wanted to point out that sometimes it’s not stuff like whether or not we should use nicotine when we study, or even which career we should choose; sometimes it’s really harrowing stuff that completely muddles our ability to think and that can turn out horribly for you and everyone else if you don’t just ask for help. And this is a great place to ask for help.
Holy cow this comment almost made me cry. Thanks for your honesty.
I really wanted to point out that sometimes it’s not stuff like whether or not we should use nicotine when we study, or even which career we should choose; sometimes it’s really harrowing stuff that completely muddles our ability to think and that can turn out horribly for you and everyone else if you don’t just ask for help. And this is a great place to ask for help.
This is excellent. I wish I could upvote you twice.
I am really uncertain about writing this because it’s such a controversial topic in most places, but my mom recently took a turn for the worse and I had to decide whether or not I would sign a DNR. I was completely overwhelmed. I started implicitly distrusting the doctors, not considering just how low the probability of her survival was, and not thinking clearly about my mom’s preferences. She expressed a desire not to be resuscitated, and she had stage IV melanoma, and hepatic encephalopathy from her lifelong alcoholism and hepatitis B and C. She had wanted to die in a scenario just like this and there was nothing to be gained from prolonging her life. It wasn’t public, but it was a LessWrong user whom I reached out to who helped me make the right decision, and she could have suffered a lot more for no damned reason other than my stupid jury-rigged brain if it weren’t for that. I really wanted to point out that sometimes it’s not stuff like whether or not we should use nicotine when we study, or even which career we should choose; sometimes it’s really harrowing stuff that completely muddles our ability to think and that can turn out horribly for you and everyone else if you don’t just ask for help. And this is a great place to ask for help.
Thank you for sharing this and encouraging others to also share in similar situations.
Holy cow this comment almost made me cry. Thanks for your honesty.
This is excellent. I wish I could upvote you twice.