Why I'm Ending My Life, Bill Andrews Ep. 2 A Life & Death Conversation with Dr. Bob Uslander

Dr. Bob's patient, Bill Andrews had ALS and was terminally ill. Before Bill decided to exercise his right to die in California, he agreed to do this interview to help others understand the importance of the law and his decision.     Transcript Dr. Bob:  Hi everybody. I'm here today on the phone with a gentleman who I'm really interested in having everybody hear from and meet. It's kind of a unique opportunity on all counts to hear from a gentleman who has lived life very fully, really did a lot of things that many people only dream about doing in his life and before he was able to really see that life through, was afflicted by a disease that has no cure and is universally debilitating and in many cases fatal. He's become a patient and a friend and I've had an opportunity to really be amazed by his story and by his outlook and approach, both himself and his family. We only have a brief opportunity to hear from and learn from Bill because, well, you'll find out why in just a bit. I'd love to introduce William Bill Andrews. Bill, say hello to our listeners.
Bill Andrews: Hello listeners.
Dr. Bob: Thanks.
Bill Andrews: This is Bill Andrews reporting in.
Dr. Bob: Thank you, Bill. Thank you so much for being here. Bill, who's with you? You have a couple of your sons with you as well. Can we introduce them?
Bill Andrews: Yes. I'm with my oldest son, Brian, and my youngest son, Chris.
Dr. Bob: All right, and thank you guys for
Bill Andrews: They can say hello, I guess.
Brian: Hello.
Dr. Bob: All righty. Sounds good. As I mentioned, Bill is a 73-year-old gentleman with ALS. Bill, how long have you had ALS?
Bill Andrews: I'm going to say probably about—I'm going to guess about two years.
Dr. Bob: Okay.
Bill Andrews: I was diagnosed about what, a year and a half ago, Brian?
Brian: One year ago.
Bill Andrews: One year ago. Then it was very obvious that there was something seriously wrong. The precursor to this is I had broken my back. I used to motocross and do a lot of surfing and stuff and I had many, many ... I brought injuries into the ALS experience. Broken back. Oh, just all kinds of stuff, so when I finally couldn't deal with the kind of the day-to-day life of my current injuries and stuff, that's when I really got [inaudible 00:02:51 ALS because I couldn't stand up. I could barely walk. I was still trying to surf, like an idiot, but it became very difficult. Just a year and a half ago I was in Peru surfing.
Dr. Bob: Wow, but you knew something was going on? You had already
Bill Andrews: I knew something was going on.
Dr. Bob: Okay.
Bill Andrews: I knew something serious was going on.
Dr. Bob: Then a year ago it was officially diagnosed and then what’s
Bill Andrews: Correct.
Dr. Bob: What are things like today?
Bill Andrews: Horrible. I'm in bed. I get fed. I wear diapers. I'm kind of confined to my bed. We have a Hurley lift, I'm going to guess that thing is called.
Dr. Bob: A Hoyer lift.
Bill Andrews: Hoyer lift, and I just get into that and I have an electric wheelchair. Last weekend I was able to get out and see my kids play some sports and stuff, but that's about it. This is where I live now. At Silvergate, room 1-1-3 in my hospital bed.
Dr. Bob: Wow, and a year and a half ago you were surfing in Peru?
Bill Andrews: When was it?
Brian: Yeah. It was a year and a half ago. Yeah. Yeah. Bill was surfing in Peru.
Bill Andrews: But I knew there was something wrong, you know? I was struggling.
Dr. Bob: Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Bill Andrews: Really mightily.
Dr. Bob: Yeah. As far as you are aware, and you've been dealing with this and obviously researching being treated. You've been in the system.
Bill Andrews: Correct.
Dr. Bob: Everybody, the best that medical care has to offer has been offered to you, I'm assuming.
Bill Andrews: Correct.
Dr. Bob: Here you are in this situation. What is your understanding of what will happen if things just are allowed to go on as they would normally?
Bill An