A Personal Note
They were not doing anything wrong. They were dying; they knew it, and they wanted some say in how it happened. For that, they had to behave as though they were doing something shameful. (Continue reading ...)
Rusty Martin Dies, Leaving These Final Words For Iowans
I do not want to be in a hotel room thousands of miles away. I want to be at my home in Des Moines. (Continue reading ...)
I am an End-of-Life Doula: Listening, Supporting, and Advocating
My job is listening, holding space, being present – and it’s also educating and advocating. (Continue reading ...)
More of Us Will Need Assistance to Die Well
"Why couldn’t there be a service for these people where they can get MAiD-type help or have guidance on using a peaceful, lethal method?" -- Faye Girsh (Continue reading ...)
If I Should Get Dementia, What Choices Do I Have?
Until now, there has been no form of advance directive that put these questions squarely in front of the person with early dementia. Last July, I published such a form. (Continue reading ...)
Wingman: Escorting My Father to a Death with Dignity
This is the story of the journey from bulletproof dad to a man crippled by disease, the transformation of relationships, and what assisted dying looks and feels like from the inside. (Continue reading ...)
Medical Aid in Dying Allows for a Focus on Living
"Six months ... inexorably culminating in a slow death by starvation ... I cannot ... deny someone a choice that I myself would want ... under the same grim circumstances." -- Dr. Joshua Pagano (Continue reading ...)
Expanding Access to Medical Aid in Dying
What if the laws intended to give people more control over dying actually fail many of those who need them most? (Continue reading ...)
‘Peaceful Pill’ in Media
Hollywood’s “peaceful pill” is pure fiction — a myth that misleads vulnerable people seeking real end‑of‑life options. Accurate information, not fantasy, is what they deserve. (Continue reading ...)
The Philosophical, Legal, and Ethical Basis for Aid in Dying
A society's evolving cultures and codes—moral, ethical, and legal—reflect its changing needs and experiences, particularly in how it approaches death, dying, and the decision to assist in the dying process. (Continue reading ...)