Viewers share painful stories after "Aid in Dying" report
On Sunday's 60 Minutes, viewers heard Elizabeth Wallner, who has battled advanced colon cancer for four-and-a-half years, explain it's important she be able to choose to end her life. She said she feels so strongly about it because she wants to protect her 20-year-old son, Nathaniel.
"There isn't a day where I won't wish that there would be more time," Nathaniel told correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. "But there will very easily be a day where I wish there was less suffering."
After the story aired, we heard from viewers who described the pain of watching their loved ones live out the final days of a debilitating illness:
@dougulman @60Minutes Memories of my Mother in her last moments in hospice haunt me. Was very traumatic. Wish she had other choices.
— Christine Perkins (@IMF_Christine) March 14, 2016
@60Minutes I support this option after watching my spouse suffer and die from ALS .He supported this but was not available in our State .
— Linda Collings (@VeriCollings) March 14, 2016
#60minutes has me 😢thru tears. My stepfather is suffering from Parkinsons and its so hard to watch people suffer so slowly #AidInDying
— harleyb (@harleyb11) March 13, 2016
@60Minutes after seeing hospice pts die & watching their & family fear through the symptoms, #deathwithdignity nationwide is a must. #nurse
— Jamie Strozier (@jamien311) March 14, 2016
Some viewers seemed uncomfortable with Wallner's decision to end her life, for the sake of her son:
@60Minutes where is suffering with mom?Son was 15 now 20. yes she is weak in moments of difficulty but son had 5 yrs w/mom. worth it son!
— KK (@CorazonDeKarina) March 14, 2016
@60Minutes @DrLaPook we didn't pick when we came into this world and we don't get to pick when we go out. It's God's will.
— happy mama (@nnour76) March 14, 2016
@60Minutes @DrLaPook If people are still breathing No matter how ill,God has extended them life,So they should learn to be grateful for 1day
— Naarah Moreno (@NaaraMoreno1) March 14, 2016
#60minutes just ran a must-watch piece on assisted suicide. It is a really thorny issue. I still oppose it but understand the other side
— Scott Ruesterholz (@Read_N_Learn) March 14, 2016
Others were moved by the interviews Dr. LaPook conducted for the story - his first on 60 Minutes:
@DrLaPook what a moving, compassionate @60Minutes report. I really liked your tenor. Keep up the good work, doc.
— WhoGoofed (@WhoGoofed) March 14, 2016
@DrLaPook @60Minutes Brilliant story, Jon. Subject matter was riveting; your pace, tone, compassion was pitch perfect.
— Michael Hartman (@michaelhartmanx) March 14, 2016
60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager said something similar to 60 Minutes Overtime.
"He's born with a compassion," Fager said of Dr. LaPook. "This story he's doing is a story that requires a lot of it. It's an end-of-life story, frightening to a lot of people -- and important."