I could not disagree with you more viscerally on ANY of the points you make. I too, teach physicians and in my view, self-determined end of life is the most comforting, compassionate thing a physician can offer.
Offering this option BEFORE someone is in extremis gives them time to think. It offers people a parachute in the event their suffering becomes overwhelming. Indeed, it gives them the COURAGE to live whatever days they have left, without cowering in fear of what is yet to come. And, NO cleric should weigh in on such matters until he/she themself is terminally ill and in pain. Then and only then, they may speak.
How many suffering patients/friends/family members have you watched BEG to be relieved of life so that their suffering will stop? How many? Self-determined end of suffering is NOT ‘a culture of death’? This is a culture of compassion!
“I will walk by your side until you can not continue. Then, I will carry you." We’ve all heard that trope, but it has manifestations other than the "footprints in the sand image". Relief of unremitting suffering is one of them. For some, it is the ultimate gift of compassion.
Cari, thank you. It's very helpful to hear from someone who disagrees.
You asked me, "How many suffering patients/friends/family members have you watched BEG to be relieved of life so that their suffering will stop?" I assume that you mean someone begging and ~in extremis~? Answer: none, thank God. (It's not what you asked, but I have spent many hours with a close friend who had cancer, was suffering but not in extremis, and eventually died by suicide.)
In the case of a patient in unendurable pain, bioethics &, I believe, the law allows a physician to administer the pain medication necessary to relieve the suffering, even when the physician foresees that the dose will likely kill the patient. (As I expect you know, this is Aquinas's principle of the double effect.) I agree: this is a humane and compassionate act.
My essay, though, was about the offer of MAID to someone (me) who suffers but is ~not~ in extremis. Most people who die by suicide are suffering but not in extremis; doctors try to prevent these deaths in every context other than the end of life.
Your view is that offering MAID before a person is in extremis will ~reduce~ the number of suicides. I don't think so, but you could be right. I hope someone can find a way to study it.
I want to emphasize what I said in my last paragraph. I do not want to relitigate the Canadian Supreme Court's MAID decision. I want to prevent suicides by reforming the healthcare system so that everyone at the end of life has good palliative and mental health care.
Hi Bill! I am grateful for your thought-provoking and well-presented piece around MAID and appreciate the way you explored the issues from both a personal and professional perspective.
I currently work as part of a Palliative Care team for Alberta Health Services serving the north zone of Alberta. I was the first mental health therapist to be added to the team which is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners (some of whom are MAID assessors), nurses, clinical nurse educators, social work, occupational and recreational therapy, and spiritual health consulting. We have also recently hired a second mental health therapist. I shared your article and presented on it in our teams rounds today and a lively discussion ensued. Many people expressed their gratitude for your piece, and I wanted to pass that along to you! Additionally, I hoped it might be of some encouragement or nice for you to hear that in our small rural part of the country our team is doing what we can to care for our patients (and their families) mental and spiritual health alongside efforts to care for their physical comfort and provide quality of life as they face life-limiting illness.
One final thought I felt was worth noting, our team has seen many clients who have reversed their decision to move forward with MAID and passed away peacefully on their own (both in home and hospital) when we have been able to adequately address their physical symptoms and pain, alongside providing meaningful activity and legacy work, supporting their physical functioning to be able to carry out (often in modified ways) activities that are important to them, practical and financial concerns, as well as mental and spiritual health issues. For us, these things combine to form the basis of effective palliative care, something which should be available to all.
I pray God will bless you richly in the coming days as you continue to endeavour to find hope and joy in your current circumstances as well as continue your research and professional work!
Bill, I have read a few of these and have enjoyed them. Today was especially meaningful because my uncle Jack passed away a little over 24 hours ago. 68 years old. He was playing paddle tennis, leaned back for a serve, and collapsed. He never got back up. A tragedy, to be sure, but he had a massive heart attack almost exactly three years ago. We didn't think he would make it, but he did. He got three bonus years. I hope he spent them the way he wanted to. I don't presume to really know what you're going through. However, I am grateful for the insight into how you spend this time in your life. I'm glad you defied the odds and are still around. -GuyDebored
I feel the opposite of your words about a culture of death. I have incurable cancer, A lymphoma, and I feel that God has given me a gift in medically assisted aid in dying. I live each day in joy and gratitude for my life now, but the thought that I can be helped if I am in unbearable pain at the end of my life, that gives me joy and peace of mind. I wish we had MAID in Michigan. God does not will for us to have unbearable suffering and he has given us Comfort and help so that we can go to heaven more easily
Christine, thank you for those honest words. I have much more to say about MAID, but I promise: I do not want to force you to conform to my beliefs. I feel gratitude and joy in living and I am so glad that you do too.
I could not disagree with you more viscerally on ANY of the points you make. I too, teach physicians and in my view, self-determined end of life is the most comforting, compassionate thing a physician can offer.
Offering this option BEFORE someone is in extremis gives them time to think. It offers people a parachute in the event their suffering becomes overwhelming. Indeed, it gives them the COURAGE to live whatever days they have left, without cowering in fear of what is yet to come. And, NO cleric should weigh in on such matters until he/she themself is terminally ill and in pain. Then and only then, they may speak.
How many suffering patients/friends/family members have you watched BEG to be relieved of life so that their suffering will stop? How many? Self-determined end of suffering is NOT ‘a culture of death’? This is a culture of compassion!
“I will walk by your side until you can not continue. Then, I will carry you." We’ve all heard that trope, but it has manifestations other than the "footprints in the sand image". Relief of unremitting suffering is one of them. For some, it is the ultimate gift of compassion.
Cari, thank you. It's very helpful to hear from someone who disagrees.
You asked me, "How many suffering patients/friends/family members have you watched BEG to be relieved of life so that their suffering will stop?" I assume that you mean someone begging and ~in extremis~? Answer: none, thank God. (It's not what you asked, but I have spent many hours with a close friend who had cancer, was suffering but not in extremis, and eventually died by suicide.)
In the case of a patient in unendurable pain, bioethics &, I believe, the law allows a physician to administer the pain medication necessary to relieve the suffering, even when the physician foresees that the dose will likely kill the patient. (As I expect you know, this is Aquinas's principle of the double effect.) I agree: this is a humane and compassionate act.
My essay, though, was about the offer of MAID to someone (me) who suffers but is ~not~ in extremis. Most people who die by suicide are suffering but not in extremis; doctors try to prevent these deaths in every context other than the end of life.
Your view is that offering MAID before a person is in extremis will ~reduce~ the number of suicides. I don't think so, but you could be right. I hope someone can find a way to study it.
I want to emphasize what I said in my last paragraph. I do not want to relitigate the Canadian Supreme Court's MAID decision. I want to prevent suicides by reforming the healthcare system so that everyone at the end of life has good palliative and mental health care.
Hi Bill! I am grateful for your thought-provoking and well-presented piece around MAID and appreciate the way you explored the issues from both a personal and professional perspective.
I currently work as part of a Palliative Care team for Alberta Health Services serving the north zone of Alberta. I was the first mental health therapist to be added to the team which is comprised of physicians, nurse practitioners (some of whom are MAID assessors), nurses, clinical nurse educators, social work, occupational and recreational therapy, and spiritual health consulting. We have also recently hired a second mental health therapist. I shared your article and presented on it in our teams rounds today and a lively discussion ensued. Many people expressed their gratitude for your piece, and I wanted to pass that along to you! Additionally, I hoped it might be of some encouragement or nice for you to hear that in our small rural part of the country our team is doing what we can to care for our patients (and their families) mental and spiritual health alongside efforts to care for their physical comfort and provide quality of life as they face life-limiting illness.
One final thought I felt was worth noting, our team has seen many clients who have reversed their decision to move forward with MAID and passed away peacefully on their own (both in home and hospital) when we have been able to adequately address their physical symptoms and pain, alongside providing meaningful activity and legacy work, supporting their physical functioning to be able to carry out (often in modified ways) activities that are important to them, practical and financial concerns, as well as mental and spiritual health issues. For us, these things combine to form the basis of effective palliative care, something which should be available to all.
I pray God will bless you richly in the coming days as you continue to endeavour to find hope and joy in your current circumstances as well as continue your research and professional work!
Bill, I have read a few of these and have enjoyed them. Today was especially meaningful because my uncle Jack passed away a little over 24 hours ago. 68 years old. He was playing paddle tennis, leaned back for a serve, and collapsed. He never got back up. A tragedy, to be sure, but he had a massive heart attack almost exactly three years ago. We didn't think he would make it, but he did. He got three bonus years. I hope he spent them the way he wanted to. I don't presume to really know what you're going through. However, I am grateful for the insight into how you spend this time in your life. I'm glad you defied the odds and are still around. -GuyDebored
I am sorry for your loss! But, yes, we should view each year with gratitude, and I am glad your uncle did.
I feel the opposite of your words about a culture of death. I have incurable cancer, A lymphoma, and I feel that God has given me a gift in medically assisted aid in dying. I live each day in joy and gratitude for my life now, but the thought that I can be helped if I am in unbearable pain at the end of my life, that gives me joy and peace of mind. I wish we had MAID in Michigan. God does not will for us to have unbearable suffering and he has given us Comfort and help so that we can go to heaven more easily
Christine, thank you for those honest words. I have much more to say about MAID, but I promise: I do not want to force you to conform to my beliefs. I feel gratitude and joy in living and I am so glad that you do too.
I appreciate this uncommonly thoughtful analysis of a challenging situation. Your insights have reinforced my own beliefs.
Thank you!
Isn’t it pretty to think so?
Godspeed. I’m holding you in my heart, professor.