Wonderfully heartfelt letter. That said, David Bowie ended his life as carefully planned, with assistance, and his closest famly present, his beloved Iman holding his hand. It was a monday, and his choice, and an honorable and understandable one at that, as he knew exactly what he had left to face, and his family as well, had he just let death take it’s natural course, the very last stage of his life. It’s a pity this doctor didn’t know, and could share his thoughts in his adress to David, on this very real and important subject, in regards to exactly the kind of patient David was, amongst so many others, past, present and soon to be sentenced as he was, with a terminal disease with a horribly painful end without possibility to communicate. It’s an issue that people feel so terribly strongly about, the controversy overshadows the simplicity, that there always throughout all our lives, exists the option to choose to end it, on our own accord. Yet the very vast majority, would never dream of it, even in the face of great tragedy, loss, adversity, immense struggle and debilitating affliction. And admiribly and rightly so, because if there’s a chance of life, the slimmest, even a lesser one, terrobly transformed by unfortunate personal circumstances, there’s still a chance that life somehow will have it’s moments, it’s quiet rewards, ones we may not foresee but await us, and life as we are permitted to live it, remains sacred to most of us, no matter our beliefs or convictions about it’s origin, it’s meaning, the notions of a life beyond death. But faced with certain pending death, agonizing, debilitating death, caused by illness that without a shred of doubt will involve not only our suffering but the extensive suffering of others there to witness ours; that inevidably will strip us of everything we identy as ourselves and even , as in David’s case our ability to at all understand and percieve the world around us, what then? Why should we not be legally permitted to decide for ourselves, exactly when it’s time, and how we would rather end our lives peacefully, with dignity, surrounded by and together with the one we hold dearest to our hearts and with whom we shared our lives in all ways? When it’s still possible, to do it, conciously, in full knowingness and soulful connection, why is this such a terribly controversial concept to so many? It’s not about dishonoring the creator of life, or life itself, or even about fear, some cowardice in the face of ones demise, quite the contrary! I think it’s the most courageous and loving last act one can do, to comfort those who’ll be left to deal with the grief and loss, to spare then the anguish of seeing their spouse, father, best friend, slip into the realm of mental chaos and emotional darkess that for instance an aggressive brain tumor involves in the final stage. What a gift of love, also to honor ones own life, memory; to ward off the tremedous negativity of death itself most of us carry within out of fear of the unknown, to welcome death in a final warm embrace, with the lights on, at home, with your closest circle of friends in audibly gathered and sharing this manifestation in the next room? David ended his life in a happy place, very representative of the last decades of his very happy life, and was as deliberate about his last exit and passage to the great beyond as he ever was about his own creations. And privileged to be able to do so, with support from his friends, family and medical expertise. Not all, but many on his situation would very much hope for the right and possibility to make a choice like this for themselves. And I’d very much liked to have known how this mindful medical experts thoughts about it. And I think David would too.
You are spot on. In Switzerland you can choose to die as you wish. The organisation providing the means to do so is called Exit. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of their doctors crossed the ocean to help David pass away. What a dignified way of leaving this planet.
David you were loved by so many! I hope my palliative nurses know that I loved Bowie and Pulp!
What a great bloke. Thanks Jarvis X
this has just made me cry and breakdown because its so personal
Beautiful. Thank you Bowie.
jarvis, great really great..DB my god
Wonderfully heartfelt letter. That said, David Bowie ended his life as carefully planned, with assistance, and his closest famly present, his beloved Iman holding his hand.
It was a monday, and his choice, and an honorable and understandable one at that, as he knew exactly what he had left to face, and his family as well, had he just let death take it’s natural course, the very last stage of his life.
It’s a pity this doctor didn’t know, and could share his thoughts in his adress to David, on this very real and important subject, in regards to exactly the kind of patient David was, amongst so many others, past, present and soon to be sentenced as he was, with a terminal disease with a horribly painful end without possibility to communicate.
It’s an issue that people feel so terribly strongly about, the controversy overshadows the simplicity, that there always throughout all our lives, exists the option to choose to end it, on our own accord. Yet the very vast majority, would never dream of it, even in the face of great tragedy, loss, adversity, immense struggle and debilitating affliction.
And admiribly and rightly so, because if there’s a chance of life, the slimmest, even a lesser one, terrobly transformed by unfortunate personal circumstances, there’s still a chance that life somehow will have it’s moments, it’s quiet rewards, ones we may not foresee but await us, and life as we are permitted to live it, remains sacred to most of us, no matter our beliefs or convictions about it’s origin, it’s meaning, the notions of a life beyond death.
But faced with certain pending death, agonizing, debilitating death, caused by illness that without a shred of doubt will involve not only our suffering but the extensive suffering of others there to witness ours; that inevidably will strip us of everything we identy as ourselves and even , as in David’s case our ability to at all understand and percieve the world around us, what then?
Why should we not be legally permitted to decide for ourselves, exactly when it’s time, and how we would rather end our lives peacefully, with dignity, surrounded by and together with the one we hold dearest to our hearts and with whom we shared our lives in all ways?
When it’s still possible, to do it, conciously, in full knowingness and soulful connection, why is this such a terribly controversial concept to so many?
It’s not about dishonoring the creator of life, or life itself, or even about fear, some cowardice in the face of ones demise, quite the contrary! I think it’s the most courageous and loving last act one can do, to comfort those who’ll be left to deal with the grief and loss, to spare then the anguish of seeing their spouse, father, best friend, slip into the realm of mental chaos and emotional darkess that for instance an aggressive brain tumor involves in the final stage. What a gift of love, also to honor ones own life, memory; to ward off the tremedous negativity of death itself most of us carry within out of fear of the unknown, to welcome death in a final warm embrace, with the lights on, at home, with your closest circle of friends in audibly gathered and sharing this manifestation in the next room?
David ended his life in a happy place, very representative of the last decades of his very happy life, and was as deliberate about his last exit and passage to the great beyond as he ever was about his own creations.
And privileged to be able to do so, with support from his friends, family and medical expertise.
Not all, but many on his situation would very much hope for the right and possibility to make a choice like this for themselves.
And I’d very much liked to have known how this mindful medical experts thoughts about it.
And I think David would too.
You are spot on. In Switzerland you can choose to die as you wish. The organisation providing the means to do so is called Exit. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of their doctors crossed the ocean to help David pass away. What a dignified way of leaving this planet.
Incredibly moving,
Jarvis Cocker - what a legend
Thank you.
I love Jarvis!
And he gave us Moonage Daydream...keep watching until the past the end credits. Enjoy
this is so upsetting