I believe that it is important to inform the public that the system can prevent unnecessary pain and anguish at the end of life. I am grateful for the partnership that existed between the doctors and medical practitioners who helped support my husband in his final decision. Education of health professionals must make clear such terms as “last phase of life,” “end of life,” “palliative care” and “medical assistance in dying.” When you start appreciating all the good in your life you become happy from the inside. When you have a positive mindset, most of your thoughts will be happy indeed 2. And medical schools in Canada need to teach end-of-life options as part of the regular curriculum. You can train your mind to think positively in all life situations to lead a happy life. Individuals should be able to preplan a choice to die while they are still in a healthy state of mind, perhaps when they’re preparing a will. Having experienced this, I feel compelled to offer some recommendations.įederal legislation must give all Canadian citizens a choice in how they wish to end their lives as a human right this would eliminate any outside influence over a patient’s choice. At the end, we all felt closure, with good memories of his passing and happy thoughts. The doctor asked him again if this was still what he wanted. We led Lester to the bedroom, helped him into bed, and I laid beside him. That morning, members of our family came for coffee, and they all said their goodbyes with hugs and kisses. Lester’s condition deteriorated faster than expected, and the date was moved forward to Nov. We enjoyed our remaining time by touring Ontario and visiting relatives. Once he’d decided, the topic was never discussed again. The professionals deemed Lester competent to make his decision, and he chose his birthday, Nov. Lester applied for MAID and followed the protocol, which included an interview with two physicians and a nurse practitioner in our home. The doctor described both ways extensively and answered all our questions. They described in detail the symptoms he could expect as his condition deteriorated, and that he had two options for end-of-life care: palliative care, or medical assistance in dying (MAID). Six months earlier, his family doctor and other specialists advised us that they could provide no further medical treatment to improve his quality of life.
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