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.
After he died, Jean and her sister both looked at one other and said, “That’s how I’m going to die.”
“Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die.”
— Nanak
In his mind, Mr. Solution had become the problem, adding to his grief and distress.
A friend’s .357 “solution” reinforced his decision to learn from right-to-die groups.
Managing dying and death is difficult enough. But if you do nothing, you’ll be a pawn in a profit-driven medical system.
How we die is in direct relationship to how we have lived.
Ordering more tests and surgeries for dying patients is easy. Getting them the end-of-life care they deserve takes much more effort.
Having hope as death nears is not always helpful – not if it’s delusionary and detracts from positive end-of-life attitudes and actions.
