We can all only hope to live our lives by this man's example.

"Lecture of a Lifetime"

Professor's Full Speech (Part 1)
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3633956

Professor's Full Speech (Part 2)
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3633975

Professor's Full Speech (Part 3)
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3634000

Professor's Full Speech (Part 4)
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3634027

Note: I know time is vauleable but please try and set aside an hour of your time to watch these, the return on this investment of time will be well worth it.

DT-I also highly recommend viewing these as well. I viewed these awhile back which means I'm not sure the current status of the professor giving the lecture. But nonetheless-these lectures have tremendous value.

It's your Christmas gift to yourself.

Cool:

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/news/kirk.jpg

Here are the links:

Medical news:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/news/index.html

Regular Web Site:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/Randy/oldRandyPage.html

This brings up a question, if a person is expected to die, within 3-6 months with a probability of 99%, how much should be spent to keep them alive an extra 3-6 months.

IMHO, there is no right answer for this. For me I would spend the money just as long as I had a decent quality of life. Once the quality of life degrades to that of only pain and suffering that is when I would decide to depart this world for the next.

But should it be your decision? Say it takes 1 milllion to keep the professor alive an extra 3-6 months. Would it not be better spent curing 5 leukimia patients?

With my insurance/my money...NO. But in the spirit of your post I would not go to extreme financial means in that situation. Donations would be better off for those that could be saved and/or cured. I would rather live a shorter time full out than the remaining months hooked to machines in pain and misery.

If I meet my maker tonight I know in my heart I had a great life. Not perfect by any means, but I could go out thankful for the chance to experience this side of heaven.

If my medical needs became a financial burden on the family, then let me die.

Which is a good reminder to visit or re-visit your personal Will or Living Trust. My folks were so smart to figure this out early. When my mom died suddenly last year my dad got his financial house and estate in order so when he dies it will be very clear what procedures we need to follow.

The wife and I made changes about 2 years ago to our will and thankful that we have that covered.

Chris, you are smart to do this! My folks just recently got a revocable living trust and all of their stuff in order because I've been hounding them to do it for over 4 years. It took my hounding and the death of my grandpa two years ago to finally motivate my folks to do something.

Especially where "blended" families are concerned. My stepfather has 4 children, and 4 nieces/nephews that he raised after his brother passed away. Stepdad claims quite honestly that 7 of those will be the first at the funeral with a U-Haul (his words), and is taking the steps now to ensure his wishes are not compromised. Thank goodness, because none of us got along in school, before our parents ever met, and the collective groan when they got married echoed across Clark county for days.

Thought about this. Don't like thinking about this...

It should be a choice. Most people I know, don't want to be kept alive on a bunch of machines, in god knows what state, maybe in pain, just consuming dollars and enabling false hope.

I'm one of those. I'm also not one to completely trust corporate health care either. So, it's a family call. If there is some chance of quality life on the table, should recovery of some kind occur, they can elect to go for it. I trust them to know me well enough to make the call.

Can't really trust myself in that scenario either, come to think about it!

There are gonna be some people who can't / won't let go. So long as there are not too many (and I don't think that will be the case), why not let everybody choose how they want it done?