Thanks so much for reading, and for the kind words. I was actually just about to comment on your piece that one of the most resistant groups of people that I’ve come across have been the healthcare professionals. Tell random people on the street you work in assisted dying most say something nice or sometimes even give you a hug. Tell a healthcare professional and you often get cynicism or some sort of attitude that death is somehow a failure of the healthcare system that threatens their sense of identity.
There have been plenty of stories going around in Canada about how doctors have suggested and even pushed assisted dying on patients that didn’t bring it up, especially on lonely people in poverty.
It’s a pretty charged topic over here. A law was almost passed that would have allowed assisted suicide for those that have mental but not physical suffering. I’m not sure if it went through, but they were working on laws to allow “minors deemed competent” to choose death regardless of parents wishes.
So I agree that it could be the right thing at times. But it seems like it’s being encouraged a little too much over here.
Thanks for reading and commenting Tim. I didn’t realise you were Canadian- my husband is too so we’ve been aware of what’s been happening. It’s a bit too liberal for my liking- we’re super conservative with our laws but I think that helps protect everyone.
You might be interested in reading this post that discusses some of the issues you raise- in Belgium the laws are also very liberal and allow mental health without a terminal condition.
This makes me think of how poorly depression and “mental anguish” is treated: with ineffective medication. So many things could have gone different. The lady needed time to get clear of the pain, and maybe some effective therapy. Exercise instead of pills. Magic mushrooms. A beach to sit on. Each person has their own journey and it’s impossible to say, but I doubt that everything possible had been tried.
Yes - that's my concern too. There's no way I'd be confident that our mental health system is Australia is strong enough to ensure they had equitable access to appropriate treatment. Very murky territory ethically, for sure!
Thanks for creating and sharing this. Here in the UK at the moment, people are worried that assisted dying will replace health and social care for less affluent people. After 14 years of a Conservative led government, it’s become easy to imagine this happening. In many ways, the UK has become a very strange and divided place in which people have come to expect the worst of government so I understand the anxiety around this bill, particularly following this period of managed decline that the NHS has had to endure. I’m all for assisted dying when we, as a society, are ready for it with proper wraparound health and social care services. The idea that we could introduce assisted dying while nothing changes for the better for people towards the end of their lives makes me wonder if we’re ready for it here. I wish we were
Thanks for reading and commenting Wesley. I understand you concern- it’s something that doesn’t sit fully comfortably with me either as our health system is far from perfect, especially in regional areas. A couple of observations from our experience- one is that I think assisted dying had brought greater visibility to, and even forced more funding of, palliative care. The other is that regardless of how good the healthcare system is, people are still free to make choices which we might not fully agree with and make is uncomfortable. For instance, someone choosing assisted dying and rejecting palliative care. I’m not sure there’s any way around this other than ensuring the legislation has enough safeguards in place to ensure decision making capacity is maintained and prevent coercion.
This is among the impossible subjects. It's difficult for every reason easy to image yet hard to accept and for all kinds of reasons that are difficult to predict, screen, and control reliably. I have many stirring thoughts on the topic but am weary to explore them more let alone post them, but yours is a worthwhile angle.
This is such an important article and something I have argued for as long as I can remember, people should have the right to choose whether to live in immense suffering or leave peacefully. There are obviously measures that should be taken to ensure this is the best method for them but I think the morals are supremely justified.
You put it in such great terms, I hope more people see this post.
My wife is a palliative care physician, we talk about death all the time and this is a big, big issue for me. I think it's cruel to not let people have this choice.
God this was heartbreaking to read, and you're so right: it is a feature of a humane and compassionate society that we should give people with terminal illness the right to a dignified end, should they so choose.
Thank you for writing about this Lauren. A few years ago, I accompanied my aunt through Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada. It was heartbreaking and also a great honour. All of us deserve to choose to exit life gracefully with dignity. I feel fortunate to live in a country where MAID is legal.
Thanks for reading Gill. I’m glad you could be there for your aunt, but I’m sure it was still really difficult for you. I’m glad she got to have her choice.
Thanks so much for reading, and for the kind words. I was actually just about to comment on your piece that one of the most resistant groups of people that I’ve come across have been the healthcare professionals. Tell random people on the street you work in assisted dying most say something nice or sometimes even give you a hug. Tell a healthcare professional and you often get cynicism or some sort of attitude that death is somehow a failure of the healthcare system that threatens their sense of identity.
There have been plenty of stories going around in Canada about how doctors have suggested and even pushed assisted dying on patients that didn’t bring it up, especially on lonely people in poverty.
It’s a pretty charged topic over here. A law was almost passed that would have allowed assisted suicide for those that have mental but not physical suffering. I’m not sure if it went through, but they were working on laws to allow “minors deemed competent” to choose death regardless of parents wishes.
So I agree that it could be the right thing at times. But it seems like it’s being encouraged a little too much over here.
Thanks for reading and commenting Tim. I didn’t realise you were Canadian- my husband is too so we’ve been aware of what’s been happening. It’s a bit too liberal for my liking- we’re super conservative with our laws but I think that helps protect everyone.
You might be interested in reading this post that discusses some of the issues you raise- in Belgium the laws are also very liberal and allow mental health without a terminal condition.
https://open.substack.com/pub/subtlesparks/p/dont-kill-me-now?r=47xh6y&utm_medium=ios
This makes me think of how poorly depression and “mental anguish” is treated: with ineffective medication. So many things could have gone different. The lady needed time to get clear of the pain, and maybe some effective therapy. Exercise instead of pills. Magic mushrooms. A beach to sit on. Each person has their own journey and it’s impossible to say, but I doubt that everything possible had been tried.
Yes - that's my concern too. There's no way I'd be confident that our mental health system is Australia is strong enough to ensure they had equitable access to appropriate treatment. Very murky territory ethically, for sure!
Thanks for creating and sharing this. Here in the UK at the moment, people are worried that assisted dying will replace health and social care for less affluent people. After 14 years of a Conservative led government, it’s become easy to imagine this happening. In many ways, the UK has become a very strange and divided place in which people have come to expect the worst of government so I understand the anxiety around this bill, particularly following this period of managed decline that the NHS has had to endure. I’m all for assisted dying when we, as a society, are ready for it with proper wraparound health and social care services. The idea that we could introduce assisted dying while nothing changes for the better for people towards the end of their lives makes me wonder if we’re ready for it here. I wish we were
Thanks for reading and commenting Wesley. I understand you concern- it’s something that doesn’t sit fully comfortably with me either as our health system is far from perfect, especially in regional areas. A couple of observations from our experience- one is that I think assisted dying had brought greater visibility to, and even forced more funding of, palliative care. The other is that regardless of how good the healthcare system is, people are still free to make choices which we might not fully agree with and make is uncomfortable. For instance, someone choosing assisted dying and rejecting palliative care. I’m not sure there’s any way around this other than ensuring the legislation has enough safeguards in place to ensure decision making capacity is maintained and prevent coercion.
This is among the impossible subjects. It's difficult for every reason easy to image yet hard to accept and for all kinds of reasons that are difficult to predict, screen, and control reliably. I have many stirring thoughts on the topic but am weary to explore them more let alone post them, but yours is a worthwhile angle.
Thanks for reading, and for sharing your perspective, I appreciate it.
This is such an important article and something I have argued for as long as I can remember, people should have the right to choose whether to live in immense suffering or leave peacefully. There are obviously measures that should be taken to ensure this is the best method for them but I think the morals are supremely justified.
You put it in such great terms, I hope more people see this post.
Thanks for reading Ellie!
My wife is a palliative care physician, we talk about death all the time and this is a big, big issue for me. I think it's cruel to not let people have this choice.
God this was heartbreaking to read, and you're so right: it is a feature of a humane and compassionate society that we should give people with terminal illness the right to a dignified end, should they so choose.
Thanks for reading, and for sharing. Yep, heartbreak and sorrow all through this one.
Thank you for writing about this Lauren. A few years ago, I accompanied my aunt through Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada. It was heartbreaking and also a great honour. All of us deserve to choose to exit life gracefully with dignity. I feel fortunate to live in a country where MAID is legal.
Thanks for reading Gill. I’m glad you could be there for your aunt, but I’m sure it was still really difficult for you. I’m glad she got to have her choice.
A beautiful piece Lauren. I love it.
I've had a lot of discussions about assisted dying in recent weeks and it is surprising how often this comes up:
"Why do they need to put the onus on the doctors and pharmacists to supply it to them?”
I'll send them to you from now on!
Thanks so much for reading. Am glad your mum got to have choice and autonomy during what I’m sure was a really difficult time for all.