Death and all that.

No, I'm not anticipating that I'll die soon. It's just something a person thinks about when dealing with metastatic cancer.

The MAID threads made me think. Rather than adding to them, and inviting arguments, I decided to write something here. I ask that you respond respectfully.

As I edge closer to qualifying to apply for MAID, I realize that this is not an academic discussion for me. It is not a discussion that belongs in a university classroom. It is potentially an option for me. As you may have noticed, I have little tolerance for some thoughts, even though I do believe we are all entitled to make our own choices.

I've been part of a cancer support group in person for several years. I've also been part of a few FB groups. We have discussed MAID over coffee and online. One friend chose MAID in September last year. My aunt chose MAID in April this year. I've known others who have chosen it. Suddenly, MAID has become part of my circle so to speak. It has an impact.

I'm very glad it's an option for those who choose it. I'm glad both my friend and my aunt could take control over how they left this world. Both had good access to supports and care for the record.

Of course I'm speaking of track 1 only. Track 2 is an entirely different discussion in my mind.

This having a disease that can go sideways suddenly changes your perspective. At this point, my choice would be to go to palliative care. Who knows what I will decide later. I'm glad it is an option.

What do you think you would do?

I may add more thoughts later.

Edit: This is not a thread for debate or for political discussion. I've shared some of my thoughts of what it is like to be approaching a point where I'll qualify to apply for MAID. Kindly take any debate or political type questions to one of the MAID threads in the main forum. Thank you.

 

[Mendalla]

If you have legal papers assigning Power of Attorney and a Health Care Directive and someone assigned to that role will this help with that problem? I really don't understand this legal stuff. It seems even more difficult when government is involved.

I forget where that's at. The original MAID legislation required direct consent of the patient, not an advanced directive or PoA signoff, but I don't know off the top if that changed with the later amendments.

 

[Luce NDs]

If you have legal papers assigning Power of Attorney and a Health Care Directive and someone assigned to that role will this help with that problem? I really don't understand this legal stuff. It seems even more difficult when government is involved.

Certainly assists but remember there is always someone that will deny the desires you made when comprehensive ... it is a sign of overwhelming power that strong folk feel entitled to ... as the rest of us are ignorant in their eyes ...

So much depends on where the view comes from and how the surrounding warped it in the descent ...

 

[GordW]

I forget where that's at. The original MAID legislation required direct consent of the patient, not an advanced directive or PoA signoff, but I don't know off the top if that changed with the later amendments.

I don't think it did? ????? I know that was hoped for by some advocates who knew that they would not be able to give informed consent when the time came.

 

[paradox3]

I believe the person must be able to consent at the time of the procedure

 

[chansen]

I believe the person must be able to consent at the time of the procedure

See, I think that's a crock. I want rational me in charge, not whatever ball of incoherence I become.

 

[Luce NDs]

See, I think that's a crock. I want rational me in charge, not whatever ball of incoherence I become.

Imagine a ball of incoherence; do some folk arrive that way and never get over it ... like the effect of moon on a lover ... irrational!

 

[Northwind]

Anyone Ive known who applied had to do it themselves. It involved doctors, assessments, interviews. I had the impression it was a process

 

[Luce NDs]

Can the rational "I" depart when we become incoherent? That 'd be like departure of soul and leave us with a powerful enigma of where the item went ... an abstract soul? That'd be dark and mysterious right ... all without a thought?

 

[GordW]

See, I think that's a crock. I want rational me in charge, not whatever ball of incoherence I become.

ANd that was the issue. THe consent at the time of administration has to be given by someone with the legal capacity to give informed consent (which I think might mean rational you, not incoherent you but who knows)

 

[chansen]

Imagine a ball of incoherence; do some folk arrive that way and never get over it ... like the effect of moon on a lover ... irrational!

Luce, I'm one of your fans, but you asking us to imagine a "ball of incoherence" is a bit much. Lol

 

[BetteTheRed]

My father in law died of dementia. Lovely man, one of my fav people ever. My kids called him PapaJewell, one word, because my dad was Papa. Before he completely lost contact with us, his daughter asked him if he could describe what was happening to him. He showed her his hand open, then closed in a fist, then tightened as closed as it could go. He was describing a "shrinking into" somehow. Totally sad and devastating.

 

[Luce NDs]

Luce, I'm one of your fans, but you asking us to imagine a "ball of incoherence" is a bit much. Lol

It cannot occur when you are right in the midst of it ... the mad mob ... stampede? So much dust on the horizon ... one has to back off a bit to view anarchy because so many powers believe they have the answer ... and suppress questions form the rest of the thing we do not begin to understand ... in*humanity to mankind? There's a scene in Australia (movie) that shapes this up ... and causes a lot of desiccated beef ... arid? Complex ... like midnight S'N ... in Hebrew that's san EH! That glow over the horizon? Very abstract ... don't go overboard with it ... just worth a wee touché ... T' itch?