We must treat each other with dignity and respect

There are many forces that divide us in the world: politics, religion, beliefs to name just a few. What unites us is the desire to live with dignity.

But not all political systems and religious beliefs give or allow everyone the identical, same or similar opportunities - so many people on our planet fight to ensure that they and their loved ones can have a dignified life and, ultimately, self-determined living until a dignified end.

Dignity is one of the most important things to the human spirit. At least that is my firm believe, even if some religious and political views see it differently. Everyone has the right to lead a dignified life and to realize and try to unfold their potential and to find their personal joy of life and happiness. Young, old, rich, poor - anywhere in the world we all have the right to be treated with dignity. We treat others with dignity whenever we help other, stand up for a friend or recognize the qualities and talents that make each of us special. When thinking or writing this I often feel that I am still an unexperienced young boy and that I am naive.

Everyone has the right to age gracefully. This right is rooted, positioned, and connected in the heart and soul of every human being, regardless of health, wealth, race or creed / faith.

There are many things in life that are out of our hands. Those who have incurable diseases, or who endure physical or mental suffering under certain conditions, should be free to choose whether that manner and way of existence or suffering is acceptable to themselves or whether it might or should end at a certain time - and thereby having the right and possibilities to define and choose the time and manner of their death.

Assisted suicide isn't about ending lives, it's about being able and allowed to make choices and asking for and getting help in life's toughest and darkest moments.

Assisted suicide can be a balancing act because such a right or possibility might and could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives to avoid a burden on family members, caregivers, or a resource-constrained state. There is no denying neither by me or others who fight for that right - but even there are politicians and religious people who stress that this will be the 'normal case' - I think that these politicians and religious people are very presumptuous by this kind of scaring and frightening people. That is why we need early and honest information and clarification about the possibilities - so that everyone can make well-considered decision - a decision by the person who is suffering and perhaps willing to die. And once again - the “right to die” should never and must never become a “duty to die”.

In my opinion, people who live under conditions that these people no longer want to live in should have in addition to the alternatives of continuing to only existing - they should and must have also the option of going a different path, even if the path has a clear but desired end. I use and quote here again my wife, who described her feelings about her life as "miserable, degrading, undignified and unbearable" - and people who describe their life this way and say they feel this way must have the right to ask for help and must have the alternative to end suffering.

From my point of view and understanding - treating people with dignity correlate with the way we would like to be treated ourselves.

I have already spoken of physical and mental suffering above - and it is important to me that people with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and, for example, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are already avoided in our societies, are not stigmatized and misunderstood and are not disadvantaged in this right because they are generally deprived of this right and their dignity.

Mentally ill people must have the same rights and should be given the same treatment as physically ill people. It has been proven and verified that the mentally ill people suffer terrible and genuine pain just like the physically ill one - and mental pain cannot simply be 'blown away by a pain reliver' as one or the other opponent of death with dignity and MAID say and stress again and again - sometimes I have the impression that these people know it better than doctors and therapists.

Some people may wish to live until they are actually overwhelmed by a natural death; others, knowing the possible course of their illness, may choose to consider their lives as completed - before they arrive at the abyss of "existence" where suffering, even when controlled will never end and either only a natural, often painful or sorrowful death awaits them - or a doctor might have the good grace to 'help' them on the other side of the bridge.

Freedom of choice is the essential foundation of all fundamental human rights, which protect all free people from political, legal, social or medical abuse.

We are born with free will and should therefore definitely have the right to self-determination in life and at the end of life.

The most important right we have is to decide over our own life - joy and happiness, but also suffering and death.

Witnessing the ignominious deaths of people who didn't want to accept their ending and couldn't talk about it with their families, or their doctors made me to do my best and stand up for living with dignity and dying with dignity.

I think and firmly believe that every human being should have the right and freedom to choose and have their own definition of life - and whether it be suffering or dying with dignity.

I dream of a future where people feel in control of their lives until the last moment, where their will is not ignored and where everyone has guarantees of a freer life and death.

I firmly believe that people should have choices about their bodies and their lives and that how a person spends their final hours should not be left to political ideology, religious belief, a doctor's moral code, or addiction should be subject. Everyone should be allowed to choose their own death with dignity; their autonomy should be respected.