Laws that preempt personal decisions can cause unnecessary suffering

Three months ago my oncologist predicted that without further treatment of my cancer, I had three to six months to live. Whether treatment would make a difference was questionable. The treatment would likely be very uncomfortable and disruptive. Odds of a significant response were very poor. At age 87, should I take on another round of chemo or immunotherapy?

After discussions with family and doctors, I opted to forego further treatment. Since then, I have had the opportunity to celebrate my life with those whose causes I share. I have been comfortable with this choice and thanks to Iowa City Hospice, have not suffered. In fact, life these past weeks has been good, filled with supportive friends and relatives. Had I chosen treatment, those weeks could have been miserable.

Should someone else have had a say in my decision? Should some elected official deny me this choice? I am, in a way, taking my own life. Is this different from the pregnant women with crises threatening their lives or those of their fetus? How can anyone presume to know what is best in such a pregnancy? Other than the woman and her doctors, this is no one else’s business. After all, this is her life, her body, her choice. Not mine, not yours.

Ann Fellows Christenson

Coralville