The “Good” Death
A "good" death is one in which you exert maximum autonomy over your end-of-life journey. Here are some checklists for what needs to be done. (Continue reading ...)
Times to Have “The Conversation”
“The rest is up to you,” he finally said, ending the conversation for good. He didn’t have any more guidance, and certainly no more patience to talk about it. I was surprised. To me, it felt slightly irresponsible to leave all these decisions to other people. (Continue reading ...)
Psychosocial Reasons For Hastening Death
Recognizing the importance of psychosocial factors to those considering a hastened death led FEN to more explicitly recognize the importance of psychosocial factors when evaluating an applicant’s medical records. By making psychosocial factors more explicit in our criteria, we honor what truly matters to those who reach out to us. (Continue reading ...)
A Cultural Journey: From India to FEN
I was amazed how life could be prolonged with multiple surgeries, toxic chemotherapy, antibiotics, and tube feeding. Quality of life, pain, cost, and suffering? Rarely discussed. I kept saying to myself, "There must be a better way. But what?" (Continue reading ...)
The Ways Inequality Affects Black Americans at the End of Life
"It's no secret that wage gaps, discrimination and institutional racism limit Black Americans' access to health equity. However, what's discussed a lot less frequently is that these factors impact the way this group experiences death, too." (Continue reading ...)
Sharing VSED Resources In My Community
VSED might not be for everyone, but it is the only chance for some to experience an end to unbearable suffering. Done with careful preparation, medical support, and compassionate caregiving, VSED offers a natural end to life. (Continue reading ...)
Growing Towards VSED
In 2019, three community women asked to meet with me about a compelling community education concern. The spouses of these women had all struggled to use the VSED end-of-life option because our county’s only hospital, and associated hospice program, had religious affiliations and, therefore, was unable to support VSED. (Continue reading ...)
Jean Had Both Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia … And a GOOD DEATH
After he died, Jean and her sister both looked at one other and said, “That’s how I’m going to die.” (Continue reading ...)
A Bad Death: The Importance of Truth-Telling at End-of-Life
“Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die.”
— Nanak (Continue reading ...)
Colombia Continues to Advance the Right of the End-of-Life Choice
“We reached the goal for patients like me, who aren’t terminal but degenerative, to win this battle, a battle that opens the doors for the other patients who come after me." (Continue reading ...)