My book chapter on assisted dying is now available online. I'm very proud and quite chuffed - it's a subject I'm quite passionate about.

#VAD #AssistedDying #research #writing #academia #AcademicChatter #PublicHealth

#assisteddying for #youngpeople #health #auspol

https://theconversation.com/should-terminally-ill-young-people-be-able-to-choose-voluntary-assisted-dying-the-act-is-considering-it-208837?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20July%205%202023%20-%202672526982&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20July%205%202023%20-%202672526982+CID_ff5e99add9695dd0e7ac4f815cd72449&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Should%20terminally%20ill%20young%20people%20be%20able%20to%20choose%20voluntary%20assisted%20dying%20The%20ACT%20is%20considering%20it

Assisted Dying. There's proper momentum now. It's unbelievably cruel to keep people alive when there's no hope for recovery & they're in physical &/or mental agony. Support #assisteddying https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/03/religious-leaders-out-of-step-with-flocks-on-assisted-dying-says-uk-rabbi-jonathan-romain

“There is a code of silence among those who believe in the right to die. Medics don’t say it publicly, for fear of repercussions.” But some theologians & people of faith see good law on #AssistedDying as compassionate care for those facing a painful death.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/28/assisted-dying-dignitas-terminally-ill

I've signed @PrueLeith’s open letter asking party leaders to bring forward a debate on #AssistedDying. Whatever our views, I’m sure we can agree that an informed public conversation is necessary. Parliament should lead on this.
https://action.dignityindying.org.uk/page/127582/petition/1?locale=en-GB

A ‘Good Death’?
Oddly, the word that comes to mind is Euthanasia. The word originates from the Greek "eu-thanatos", good death. It started out with an essay written in 1870 by a Samuel Williams in which he suggested that

"in all cases of hopeless and painful illness, the medical attendant was to administer chloroform to destroy consciousness and p
https://dbobstoner.com/a-good-death/
#DeathCaf #Life #AssistedDying #AssistedSuicide #Dignitas #DignityInDying #Euthanasia #Methodist

Good >>> Royal College of Surgeons of England drops opposition to #AssistedDying and adopts a neutral stance

https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/government-relations-and-consultation/position-statements-and-reports/assisted-dying/

Since Wendy Mitchell, member of York Minds & Voices (dementia peer support group I work with) was diagnosed with early onset dementia, she has...

- Written three books about living with dementia

- Paraglided, parachuted, high-wire walked, wing-walked to raise funds for dementia support and research

- Gained two honorary doctorates

And has just been given an OBE.

So proud!

https://whichmeamitoday.wordpress.com/blog/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jun/18/wendy-mitchell-author-on-living-with-alzheimers

#dementia #AssistedDying #WendyMitchell #MindsAndVoices #Alzheimers

Today I update this article to reflect a new research poll I found:

“To put it bluntly, a significant minority think that if you simply do not have enough money, then the option to die should be on the table”

@sociology
@academicchatter
#sociology
#assisteddying

https://sociologymag.com/everyday-sociology/everyday-media/film/plan-75-eugenics-euthanasia-neoliberal-logic/

This is a beautifully crafted piece of journalism: https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/a-good-death-maid #assisteddying #MedicallyAssistedDeaths

Where Do We Draw the Line in #AssistedDying?
https://thewalrus.ca/assisted-dying/
As #Canada expands access to #MAID, many people with #disabilities are sounding the alarm. Some say the law was flawed from the outset

Last week's #ChurchOfScotland General Assembly couldn't make up its mind on #euthanasia.
#AssistedDying #church #religion #Scotland
https://churchofscotland.org.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/articles/church-to-re-examine-opposition-to-assisted-dying

Exploring #AssistedSuicide Laws: Rethinking #Dignity, Agency, and Interdependence. In Canada, in 35.7% of #euthanasia cases, patients believed that they were a “burden on family, friends or caregivers”. #AssistedDying isn't a liberal or progressive policy, but simply a further commodification of human beings- judging way people are "worth" in a capitalist society
https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/05/26/exploring-assisted-suicide-laws-rethinking-dignity-agency-and-interdependence

🔴 Opinion - Assisted Dying Bill: we need to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly deaths

Wrote another personal piece regarding assisted dying, and the lack of conversations around death itself.

"We need to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to death"

#death #assistedSuicide #AssistedDying #euthanasia #UK #News

https://www.nationalworld.com/opinion/assisted-dying-bill-we-need-to-talk-about-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-deaths-4154914

I gave a presentation at Douglas College in New Westminster BC today on end of life doulas and assisted dying as part of a virtual conference.

Thanks go to the brilliant cabaret artist Reuben Kaye for a pivotal quote I included in this talk (from his recent 'Live and Intimidating' show): "Nothing hates like Christian love". The perfect encapsulation of hysterical and fallacious opposition to VAD.

A fascinating day with international contributors. Thank you to the End of Life Doula Association of Canada and Douglas College.

#EOLD #DeathDoula #VAD #AssistedDying #MAiD #conference #PublicSpeaking #community #collaboration #ReubenKaye

PSA: Try to avoid dying like my father and grandfather - with nurses feeding one end of you then wiping the other…

#AssistedDying

Palliative care maintaining a determined "pain meds are enough at end of life" stance (they often aren't) and religious organisations and their representatives insisting that a 'Special Sky Daddy and a book of magic' merit overturning an individual's choice, dignity and agency for VAD is unforgivable.

Assisted dying legislation must empower individuals, not corporate interests (religious and care-home based).

Read about some avoidable and horrible outcomes in VIC here, with caution. https://www.smh.com.au/national/institutional-objection-to-euthanasia-laws-cause-emotional-suffering-for-dying-20230329-p5cwdi.html

#GDEP #VAD #choice #dignity #respect #AssistedDying #EndOfLife #legislation #transparency

I have always taken the view that whilst we don't choose to be born we should have the choice to decide when and how to die.

At this very time I am in the same position as the author of this piece, though I look after my mother at her home as she made me promise years ago to not put her in a home or let her die in hospital. I love her dearly and never want her to die.

She has been in increasing pain for months. She is unable to do much except go to the loo and back to bed. She asks me to stop the pain, but I can't. She has dementia and forgets what she did minutes before. I don't want her to suffer.

It's not a way to live, for either of us.
#AssistedDying #EndOfLife #Care #ethics
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/06/mum-death-end-life-assisted-dying-uk

French President Emmanuel Macron said his government plans to present a draft bill concerning end-of-life care in the coming months, building on the work of a citizens council that debated the issue.

The group of 184 French citizens voted in favour of offering some form of assisted dying with a 76% majority.

Currently, active voluntary euthanasia is legal in four European countries: the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and Spain.

https://www.dw.com/en/france-to-draft-end-of-life-bill-says-emmanuel-macron/a-65214080

#France #AssistedDying #Euthanasia

A French citizens' convention supports active assistance in dying using different models.

The 184 randomly selected members of the French citizens' convention on assisted dying believe that the current legal framework must evolve. They put 81 proposals on the table, including assisted suicide and euthanasia.

The convention was to provide the linchpin for a "national debate on assisted dying" launched in September.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/04/02/french-citizens-convention-supports-active-assistance-in-dying-using-different-models_6021469_7.html

#France #AssistedDying #AssistedSuicide #Euthanasia