REFLECTIONS ON PRACTICE: “How will I die?”

Abstract

Every illness brings some level of suffering. There comes a time in one’s disease trajectory where that suffering may become too great to bear. Canada made medical assistance in dying (MAiD) legal in June 2016. Yet, many patients I encounter experience stigma when they lean towards that option, either because of religious beliefs or family members’ opinions. I often hear patients tell me the thought of a prolonged end-of-life experience, full of suffering, is one that they want to spare their loved ones from. Making decisions about end of life is so personal and overwhelming when they come all at once.