Cueing the Curtain

I believe that one sign of true progress for our species will be when we - safely and of sound mind - can choose to die of our own choosing. A wise person said that we do not ask to be born (actually a lot of grumpy teenagers say that too), but that we do have a choice of when we die. I'm not talking about suicide brought on by mental illness, disturbance or depresssion. It's a fine line of definition, but I'm referring instead to a gentler end to those who are in pain/suffering and who do not have a way out. It seems to me that there have been great strides in understanding how to keep ourselves healthier longer. But, as another wise person said, we've also made the dying process one that is unnecessarily prolonged. My thoughts on this are still movable. And I understand for many that God would not approve of such a thing. No God of mine could condone the suffering of someone who has come to the end of a well-lived life, only to face days, weeks, months, maybe years of agony. I couldn't want that for anyone I love, or anyone at all for that matter. I'd rather die younger than suffer too much when old. I hope I get to choose. Feel free to weigh in.