BTW, her mom just emailed me this morning. She is looking for a doctor that will assist my neice, Nicole, in this effort to put her to rest. I don't know how to feel about this. I really don't know whether or not it's right. It's just to hard of a question for me to answer.

Just be there to offer support for her, and her mom. I have never thought assisted suicide was right, but I have never suffered like it sounds like she is suffering either. Be someone they can talk to and lean on. If her Mom needs a break offer to stay with your niece for a while. It may not sound like much but to them it will mean everything in the world knowing how much you love them and want to be there for them.

Do whatever it takes to make her comfortable. Respect her wishes and honor her requests - whether you agree with them or not. Even her slightest wants - something that may seem trivial to us can be a big deal to someone in her position.

Without knowing more about her specific condition, I don't know if the desire to die is just a reaction to the severe pain or hopelessness. If it's the former then maybe you can try some alternative therapies for pain, e.g. cannabis (controversial, but known to relieve pain in some instances where drugs don't work, ask your doctor); distraction with music, movies, TV or conversation; heat & cold therapy; massage, etc. If it's the latter then I'm not sure how I would react to that either. The best I could do is just be there for her, to listen and help her verbalize her feelings. Good luck.

I would do whatever I could to make her comfortable, and support her. It sounds like she doesn't have much time left but unfortunately laws are in place which keep doctors from committing "physician assisted suicide". My grandmother died from cancer, it was hard to see it, sometimes I wished that she would pass just to see her be out of pain, but when she finally did pass, it was devestating. It's a lose lose situation. I hope the best for your family and your neice through this process. Just remember that it's almost over, and when it is, she might stop suffering, but yours will last an eternity. "I swear by Æsculapius, Hygeia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgement, the following Oath. To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art if they so desire without fee or written promise; to impart to my sons and the sons of the master who taught me and the disciples who have enrolled themselves and have agreed to the rules of the profession, but to these alone the precepts and the instruction. I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts. I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art. In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves. All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal. If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot. "

To those of you that were kind enough to respond to this question with such compassion, I want to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation. Nicole passed away this morning at 3:45am. She leaves 4 children. Their ages are 3, 4, and 6. Please keep them all in your prayers. Their father has been AWOL for over a year, so they will probably have to be raised by their grandmother, my sister, Lynn. Again thank you.