Dying with dignity?
Recently, along with thousands of other Canadians, I found out the truth about the drugs used to euthanize people choosing MAiD.
The procedure itself involves using a paralytic and an anaesthetic (in that order). Recently FOIPOP’d autopsy reports on veterans showed that the majority died of water in the lungs; aka drowning.
I had heard the term “water boarding” before and not knowing much about it, I wanted more information on the procedure that was used as a means of torture.
As I read the description, I was gasping for my own breath. I felt panic thinking about this actually happening to me.
MAiD was never really on my radar until my best friend’s son, who was suffering from an inoperable brain cancer, chose to end his life using MAiD.
It brought forward a lot of emotions for me as I thought about his choice and how brave he was to choose the day and hour. I wondered if he had regrets about the day that he had chosen, could he change his mind and live another month in hopes that a miracle could happen for him?
I thought about his last full day here and how he chose to spend that day.
His brother and best friend picked him up to do their daily routine of going to the fishing wharf to see the lobster boats and randomly drive around the neighborhood.
I wondered how the conversation would go knowing that this was his last day on Earth and how his brother and best friend must have felt trying to be courageous for him, and no doubt he was trying to be just as courageous for them.
The next morning the doctor arrived and the family and closest friends were there to bid farewell, and his daughter laid beside him and held his hand.
The next day I went to see the family and through their tears they all told me how peacefully he had passed.
I helped write the eulogy and I praised him for living a full life of adventure and hard work and for his bravery. He always did things his way and he ended his life “doing it his way”.
Because of this, I decided to learn more about MAiD and did some research. What I learned did not sit well with me.
MAiD or “Dignity in Dying” was not actually what I thought it was.
I quickly learned that Canada was the Number One country in the world using MAiD and had more deaths due to it than any other country. This was disheartening to say the least.
Along with being the Number One country using MAiD we were also the leading country in organ donations, and some organs are being sold to other countries.
This was a lightbulb moment. More research led me to find that MAiD was being offered to veterans: some suffering from PTSD and others who are homeless because our government refuses to give them what they need to survive.
The elderly are now also receiving MAiD, and a lobby group in Quebec were lobbying to have the eligible age of the use of MAiD brought to 12 years olds.
My heart sank to think that because someone suffers from mental illness they could be offered MAiD instead of receiving the necessary help.
Thankfully, to date, the Quebec bill to bring eligibility for MAiD to 12 year olds has not passed.
I think back to being a teenager and the typical things that happen to us growing up!
We no doubt all had depressed days, relationship breakups, family disputes and in the heat of the moment we could have thought about suicide. Thankfully for most of us it was no more than a fleeting thought.
Today, once that agreement is made, no one can stop it from happening!
Parents have no legal rights.
A clothing retailer, Simons, made an advertisement with a young woman sitting on a rock at the beach talking about her choice to end her life because of the pain she lived with daily.
Society is now showing us how easy it is to die and how difficult it is to receive the help needed to deal with issues that are causing the hardships that so many are living with.
Are we looking to have a “perfect” society, a brave new world that sees people with mental illness, children with disabilities and the elderly as a burden to society?
Some of life’s greatest lessons have been taught to us by people living with challenges and their ability to overcome these difficulties and have very productive lives.
In 2023 Health Canada funded an activity book for 6-12 year olds developed by Canadian Virtual Hospice. This book was a guide to help children understand the loss of someone in their life that had passed using MAiD.
Because of my interest in MAiD, I gave a presentation to my local Municipal Council.
I wanted to bring to light the fact that young children were becoming the target of MAiD and although they were shocked by the information, they chose not to follow up on the information that I presented and at first removed my presentation from the archives until I complained after which it was added back.
I also spoke in front of the Minister of Health, Michelle Thompson, and several health care professionals during their tour of Nova Scotia. Present that day were MLAs Zack Churchill and Colton LeBlanc.
All of my information was taken from the Government of Canada website and I left the panel with the question; “Is this how Nova Scotia plans to handle the health care crisis”?
Of course, I received no answer from anyone on the panel.
I then joined the group Euthanasia Canada which informs me on what is happening worldwide concerning MAiD.
There are many disturbing stories, but also some wins. This is something that should concern each and everyone of us!
In closing, while my wish is that everyone touched by MAiD is left with the memory that their loved ones passed away peacefully, it is far more critical that we inform and arm ourselves with facts, the truth and the strength to address the deeper issues that lead to someone wanting to end their life.
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