MAID not only way to a dignified death

A recent article in the Leader-post appears to discount reasons why many people are concerned about medical assistance in dying, as well as changes that are being considered to the euthanasia program. In the Feb. 7 edition of the Leader-post, Pamela Wallin wrote an article in which she used the example of the death her parents, who died under difficult circumstances. I offer my condolences to her, and to anyone else who goes through the painful loss of a loved one. In most circumstances, with modern medicine, pain can be controlled, but there still are exceptions.

I agree with Pamela that it is difficult to see someone die because of a disease that causes memory loss such as Alzheimer’s. But this very difficult situation is made much easier, for both the patient and the loved ones, if there is strong support and love for the one experiencing the memory loss.

I found one statement in the article to be especially troubling. The article ended with “there is no reason a dignified life needs to meet an undignified end.” This statement seems to give the impression that those who choose to live, until they die naturally, are choosing an “undignified” death. I think that many families that have journeyed with their loved ones on the way to a natural death, even in very difficult circumstances, would not agree. Unfortunately, as euthanasia becomes more common, we will, likely, find that fewer people will have the courage to experience the joy and peace that can come, along with the suffering, of terminal illness.

Dave Hudy, Melville