Now, years before you may become affected with Alzheimer’s disease, you should sign a pledge to die if and when it should affect you. This pledge should be made with the acceptance of your family, your family doctor and lawyer. The procedure should take place in a hospice home, deferring to your pledge, “I wish to die quickly and painlessly, by lethal drug, given in an IV, by an appropriate person (allowable by state law).

This is to prevent mental and physical suffering by your family during the one to 10 years of the Alzheimer’s dying process.

Philip Thompson

Portland