Choosing to Die
Doug Erickson of the Wisconsin State Journal has crafted a moving story about a woman who decided to let herself die. For his "A Death Well Planned," Erickson spent 18 months chronicling the final journey of Joan Rademacher, a 72-year-old Madison woman with terminal breast cancer. With great compassion, Erickson describes Rademacher's decision to no longer artificially prolong her life and to accept hospice care. I like how he allows Rademacher's attitude to permeate the story, filling it with her quotes such as this one:
"I'm so scared some idiot will start sticking tubes in me. There's a time to live and a time to die. My time will be my time."
I especially like the excellent audio slideshow featuring pictures by State Journal photographer Craig Schreiner and the voices of Rademacher and the people who cared for her. My only complaint about this project is the omnipresent background music. I suggest turning it off. www.madison.com/wsj/projects/hospice/