Dying With Dignity Canada's longevity and success is due in large part to the many volunteers who work on the local and at the regional level. We have Chapters across the country powered by people passionate about end-of-life choice. 

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting the stories and contributions of DWDC's volunteers, and what motivates them to give of their time to our organization. This is June's story.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is Rowena's story.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is Mary Ellen's story.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is Martha's story.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is Micheline's story.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is a story about someone who chose a medically assisted death, his wife's grief and the support she found around her.

Grief is a topic that is often overlooked or neglected, yet grief is an experience that impacts people in a myriad of ways. As part of our mission which aims to advocate, educate, and support, we have identified the need for public education surrounding the grief experience. Several storytellers have shared their lived experience with grief for our blog - this is Reva's story.

Advance Care Planning is an important task that many Canadians put off. In fact, fewer than one in five of us has a completed Advance Care Plan in place.

We asked Dr. Chantal Perrot to answer your frequently asked questions about Advance Care Planning. We hope this will clarify the process and motivate you to start your Advance Care Plan today. 

Download an Advance Care Planning Kit here. 

Watch our Introduction to Advance Care Planning videos.

Dying with Dignity Canada's supporters are passionate allies in the defense of human rights. Some choose to raise awareness by sharing their personal end-of-life experiences, others volunteer at the local level with one of our regional Chapters, send a letter to decision-makers, act as an Independent Witness for medical assistance in dying, or give a gift to advance our mission. 

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting the stories and contributions of DWDC's donors, and what motivates them to give so generously. 

This is Lydia's story about her mother Doreen, and why her family supports DWDC. 

In recognition of Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, we interviewed Dr. Jennifer Hancock — a critical care physician and a donation physician for Nova Scotia’s organ donation organization, Legacy of Life — about medical assistance in dying and organ donation.

The information below reflects some of the common questions that we received following the passage of Bill C-7. Throughout the FAQ, we will also incorporate information shared by The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, during a webinar he did with DWDC in April 2021.

• If you prefer to view this content in video format, the full webinar recording can be accessed here.

April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week, a time to pause and reflect on the immense contributions of volunteers across the country. 

Dying with Dignity Canada (DWDC) has relied on – and been sustained by – a group of incredible volunteers since 1980, when our work defending end-of-life rights began. “The Value of One, The Power of Many” is the theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week. Those who volunteer at DWDC take on a wide range of roles, making our organization stronger. Together, we create monumental change.  

Sharon Wolfe, a volunteer with our GTA Chapter, had some candid conversations with her closest friends about death, dying and Advance Care Planning. She shares them with us in a blog post in recognition of National Advance Care Planning Day, April 16, 2021.

Advance Care Planning is the process of considering and documenting your wishes for future health care – based on your own personal values, beliefs, and preferences – and appointing someone you trust to communicate those wishes on your behalf if you lose capacity to make decisions.

Heather Cooke is Aaron’s mother. She lives in Kingston, Ontario and has had a diverse and interesting career at Queen’s University in several faculties for 40 years. Heather’s relationship with her son was always her passion. Aaron was not only her child; he became her best friend. Her life was full of her work; her grandchildren; travel with her husband; and much joy; until Aaron was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer February 28th, 2019. In putting to paper the powerful and very personal story of Aaron’s end of life, Heather is longing to bring the fear of untimely death and the grieving process more fully into the light. 

On February 25, 2021 Dying With Dignity Canada hosted a webinar about dementia, MAID, and other end-of-life options. The panelists included: 

• Dr. Konia Trouton, MD, MPH, FCFP 
• Dr. Justine S. Dembo, MD, FRCPC 
• Puneet Luthra, DWDC's Director of Government and Stakeholder Relations 

This blog will summarize some of the key takeaways from this informative panel. 

If you prefer to view this content in video format, the full webinar recording can be accessed here.

Heather Cooke is Aaron’s mother. She lives in Kingston, Ontario and has had a diverse and interesting career at Queen’s University in several faculties for 40 years. Heather’s relationship with her son was always her passion. Aaron was not only her child; he became her best friend. Her life was full of her work; her grandchildren; travel with her husband; and much joy; until Aaron was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer February 28th, 2019. In putting to paper the powerful and very personal story of Aaron’s end of life Heather is longing to bring the fear of untimely death and the grieving process more fully into the light. 

Dying With Dignity Canada's longevity and success is due in large part to the many volunteers who work on the local and at the regional level. We have Chapters across the country powered by people passionate about end-of-life choice. 

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting the stories and contributions of DWDC's volunteers, and what motivates them to give of their time to our organization. This is Jasmin's story.

Heather Cooke is Aaron’s mother. She lives in Kingston, Ontario and has had a diverse and interesting career at Queen’s University in several faculties for 40 years. Heather’s relationship with her son was always her passion. Aaron was not only her child; he became her best friend. Her life was full of her work; her grandchildren; travel with her husband; and much joy; until Aaron was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer February 28th, 2019. In putting to paper the powerful and very personal story of Aaron’s end of life, Heather is longing to bring the fear of untimely death and the grieving process more fully into the light. 

In the fall of 2020, one of our board members, Dr Jonathan Reggler, shared an article from Powell River Living Magazine with Dying With Dignity Canada. It was a story about Mark Huddleston, a gentleman from British Columbia who chose medical assistance in dying (MAID) and his very inclusive, outdoor end-of-life ceremony. We were blown away by the story, the community involved and the many opportunities it offered to initiate more conversations about life and death, and help Canadians better understand MAID. We collaborated with several folks featured in the story to create a series of blog posts, we hope people will find inspirational and will share the story far and wide. 

Last night, Bill C-7 became the law of the land! After the late evening Senate passage of the bill, the acting Governor General and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court signed Bill C-7 into law. This morning, we applaud the triumph of compassion and choice that this change brings Canadians.

In celebration of a life well lived, we are sharing a daughter's story about her gregarious Dad leading up to one of his favourite days of the year - St. Patty's Day. Julie's Dad chose a medically assisted death which reflected his brave character. He was able to say his goodbyes and celebrate in his way with those he loved. Julie recalls the parties, the visitors and the laughter, she also shares the sadness and grief that she and her family experienced and are still navigating since losing her Dad.

Curious where things stand with Bill C-7 and the proposed changes to our MAID legislation? Below is a summary of the progress on the bill and what we might expect next.

On January 25, 2021, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, launched pre-budget consultations to hear from experts across the country about how Budget 2021 can support Canadians. As the national human-rights charity committed to improving quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping Canadians avoid unwanted suffering, Dying With Dignity Canada prepared the submission below. We support the position of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, which recommends all priorities of the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada be funded. We also encourage the government to continue engaging with provincial and territorial governments around the expansion of palliative care services.

Dying with Dignity Canada's supporters are passionate allies in the defense of human rights. Some choose to raise awareness by sharing their personal end-of-life experiences, others volunteer at the local level with one of our regional Chapters, send a letter to decision-makers, act as an Independent Witness for medical assistance in dying, or give a gift to advance our mission. 

Throughout the year, we will be highlighting the stories and contributions of DWDC's donors, and what motivates them to give so generously. 

This is Pam's story. 

An overwhelming majority of Canadians continue to support access to medical assistance in dying, according to a national survey conducted by Ipsos in February 2021, on behalf of Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC).

On January 27, 2021, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) sat down with Susan Desjardins, Board Member, and one of the founding members of the DWDC Ottawa Chapter, for a one-hour webinar on Advance Care Planning. This blog post summarizes some of the key takeaways from that presentation.

In the fall of 2020, one of our board members, Dr Jonathan Reggler, shared an article from Powell River Living Magazine with Dying With Dignity Canada. It was a story about Mark Huddleston, a gentleman from British Columbia who chose medical assistance in dying (MAID) and his very inclusive, outdoor end-of-life ceremony. We were blown away by the story, the community involved and the many opportunities it offered to initiate more conversations about life and death, and help Canadians better understand MAID. We collaborated with several folks featured in the story to create a series of blog posts, we hope people will find inspirational and will share the story far and wide. 

In response to the proposed amendments to MAID in Bill C-7, Kelly shared her mother Patricia’s story with the Senate. Patricia suffered for many years and died from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and COPD. Kelly chose to share her story with DWDC to shed light on the impact that a diagnosis like Alzheimer’s disease can have on a family and their loved one. 

Content warning: This article contains mention of suicide.

In the fall of 2020, DWDC was introduced to the family of Kelly Knuckle. Kelly had taken her own life because she suffered from an untreatable condition that was intolerable to her. Her family wanted to share Kelly's story to provoke change and expand the eligibility requirements for medical assistance in dying. Below is her brother Richard's letter to the Senate to help shine a light on the need for the changes in Bill C-7, followed by a poem written by Kelly before she died.

Janet has lived with Lichen Sclerosus Disease a progressive, autoimmune disease for which there is no cure since 2007. She manages with a daily dose of morphine but still experiences terrible pain, disrupted sleep and very limited ability to leave her home. Janet has a large, loving family, a great sense of humour and finds ways to stay positive despite her condition but Janet is motivated to help get Bill C-7 passed so she can access a medically assisted death. She has connected with her local MP and has shared her story with many members of the Senate in hopes that it will help them understand the compassion that Bill C-7 will bring to the many Canadians who suffer with intolerable pain every day.

**

In the fall of 2020, one of our board members, Dr. Jonathan Reggler, shared an article from Powell River Living Magazine with Dying With Dignity Canada. It was a story about Mark Huddleston, a gentleman from British Columbia who chose medical assistance in dying (MAID) and his very inclusive, outdoor end-of-life ceremony. We were blown away by the story, the community involved and the many opportunities it offered to initiate more conversations about life and death, and help Canadians better understand MAID. We collaborated with several folks featured in the story to create a series of blog posts, we hope people will find inspirational and will share the story far and wide. 

On December 9, 2020, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) heard from three clinicians about the experience of providing health and end-of-life care during COVID-19. Discussion included an overview of what has changed since the start of the pandemic, and what it has been like to provide medical assistance in dying (MAID) during this period of change and uncertainty. This blog post summarizes some of the key takeaways from that presentation.  

This article was written from the perspective of Emily E. Douglas-Lewis, the daughter of a man who chose medical assistance in dying. Emily shared her story with Dying With Dignity Canada on what would have been her father’s 74th birthday – we are grateful for Emily’s poignant and honest submission. 

Donna and Ian McArthur married in 1975. They both had fulfilling careers as high school teachers and have been strong advocates for advance care planning. Their story highlights the importance of documenting your end-of-life wishes, and reinforces the need to lift the ban on advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada.  

Update from Donna: 

Ian passed away after 3 months in hospital on January 3, 2021, with myself and our son by his side. Due to the archaic legislation, Ian experienced an horrific struggle with the cruel and ‘irremediable disease’ Alzheimer’s, and my family and I suffered from emotional, mental and physical distress. It was a terrible experience and I don’t want others to have to endure the same thing.

Whatever the term(s) may be - advanced consent, advanced request, personal directive, a video or audio with one’s wishes expressed when they have capacity - those instructions must be honoured; not in two years but immediately.

With much sadness,

Donna McArthur and Family

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity Canada's CEO, Helen Long.

Cheryl Romaire lives in Western Canada. She lives in chronic, unbearable pain as illustrated in her blog post below. Cheryl’s story is tough to read and her pain is hard to imagine, but she represents so many Canadians who have exhausted all medical treatments for their intolerable pain and who are waiting for Bill C-7 to pass in parliament so they can access medical assistance in dying. 

This blog post answers some of the questions asked before, during, and after DWDC’s webinar, “Looking Forward: The future of MAID in Canada.” If you prefer to view this content in video format, the full webinar recording can be accessed here.  

Caroline Variath is a Registered Nurse and a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, Ontario. She views death as an inevitable part of life, and is passionate about improving end-of-life care. She believes this can be done by increasing awareness about Advance Care Planning, palliative care, and medical assistance in dying (MAID). At every opportunity, she initiates conversations with nurses and other health care workers about the importance of having end-of-life discussions with patients, and the necessity of documenting end-of-life wishes. As an undergraduate nursing professor, Caroline ensures that students understand the importance of helping patients make informed end-of-life treatment decisions, that sometimes may differ from their own values and beliefs. Her PhD studies in Nursing and Bioethics focuses on the important relationship between ethics and end of life. She aims to contribute to improving end-of-life care for those who have lost their capacity to make decisions.  

On October 29, 2020, Dying With Dignity Canada presented a special webinar on grief, MAID, and preparing for a loved one’s scheduled death. Through a series of questions and answers, Kelsey and Tanis discussed what happens during a MAID death, shed light on some common concerns and provided recommendations for moving forward. This blog post is a summary of the questions and answers that weren't addressed live during the webinar.

Content warning: This article contains mention of suicide. 

Imagine being pricked with a needle every second, in different places, all over your body. Imagine it happening for an hour. Now try and imagine that happening for a week. For most people, the idea is horrifying. Now try to imagine that that's what a good day feels like.

What if, on one day, we all teamed up to ensure Canadians had access to quality end-of-life choice and care through a (hopefully) final push to ensure the passing of Bill C-7? On December 1, 2020, our community will come together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving to support Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC)’s advocacy work through Giving Tuesday. 

My dad was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer in the summer of 2018. He was 75. We understood that the chances of successful treatment were slim, but he went for it anyway. As the treatment failed and his condition worsened, we all prepared ourselves.

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity Canada's CEO, Helen Long.

On September 30, 2020, James Cowan, Helen Long, and Puneet Luthra from Dying With Dignity Canada presented a webinar on the topic of medical assistance in dying (MAID). Their discussion included an overview of the major changes proposed in Bill C-7, the current status of legislation in parliament, the long-awaited parliamentary review of MAID, and what comes next. This blog post summarizes some of the key takeaways from that presentation. 

Susan Greer is Executive Director of the Natural Burial Association, a non-profit organization in Ontario. In this blog post, Susan shares her reasons for advocating so passionately in support of green burial. 

This is part two of a two-part series. Click here to read Part I. 

The next morning when I arrived at my mom’s apartment, she appeared calm. She had a list of phone calls for me to assist her with, which I did. She became agitated with me during this process and told me to leave her alone. I did. 

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity Canada's CEO, Helen Long.

My experience as a new MAID practitioner – supporting my mom through her own assisted death

In August 2020, Dying With Dignity Canada welcomed Pam Hunter to our End In Mind webinar series. Over the course of one-hour, Pam presented a diversity of options for our bodies after death – from burial, to cremation, to more creative and unusual solutions. This blog post summarizes some of the key takeaways from “Body Options: Making decisions about your final resting place.”

“I am writing to beg you to give this legislation the highest priority when parliament resumes sitting in September.” This was written by 75-year-old Susan in a letter she sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this summer. With the news of Parliament being prorogued in August 2020, people like Susan are in limbo, awaiting the changes proposed in Bill C-7. This is Susan’s story.

Leanne’s father suffered from cognitive memory impairment and was not able to make his own decisions about healthcare. In Part 2 of 2 of her family’s story, Leanne shares her reflections on her father’s experience and ultimately his death, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected his care. If you missed it, read Part 1 now here.

Leanne’s father suffered from cognitive impairment and was not able to make his own decisions about health care. In Part 1 of 2 of her family’s story, Leanne shares her challenges trying to support her father’s care, and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected his experience in the hospital.

Roger and his wife Christine lived an idyllic life together on BC’s Protection Island. Christine suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and eventually a neuroendocrine cancer diagnosis severely affected her health. She chose to apply for medical assistance in dying (MAID) due to her worsening condition and pain, but ultimately was denied. Read on for Roger’s reflections of her experience and disappointment of not being able to access her wish of a medically assisted death. 

This is the second part of Alex C.'s story — if you haven't yet, please read part one here. Over a period of years, Alex began to explore the option of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). Her father-in-law, Paul B. Couvrette, with whom she had a very close, loving relationship, was the first patient to choose a MAID procedure on PEI. She had witnessed his empowerment from this choice and peaceful death. It was something she wanted for herself and her family — her son and loving partner, as well. She reached out to Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) to learn more and began discussing her wishes to move forward with this end of life option for herself. She asked DWDC to tell her story so that other young adults might understand that this option is possible, regardless of age.

What motivates a person to consider medical assistance in dying (MAID)? At what point does an individual say, “I’ve had enough suffering. This is too hard. It’s too much. I can’t do this anymore?" Making the decision to request MAID is not something that happens overnight. A person doesn’t wake up one morning and say, “I want to exercise my legal right to death with dignity.” The process often happens very slowly and gradually over a period of time. It can take weeks, months, and even years for someone to reach this stage. It’s not a decision that is made lightly or frivolously.

It’s time to take action. As you may know, the federal government was recently granted a further extension to the Bill C-7 timeline because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we can certainly understand how the current situation has created challenges and delays in many areas of government, our priority continues to be Canadians who want to be able to access their constitutional right to a medically assisted death. These individuals continue to suffer intolerably as a result of the delay caused by the lack of movement on Bill C-7.

Ron Posno, age 80, sits on DWDC’s Disability Advisory Council (DAC) and advocates tirelessly for the right to end-of-life choice. You can read his previous DWDC blog post on living with dementia and his personal perspective on Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation here. In this piece, he reflects on the importance of having “the talk” about end-of-life care and decision-making, and empowering people to live by the phrase “my life, my choice.”

Cody, an Alberta man in his late 30s, has been living with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety, as well as addiction. Facing continued suffering, his wish is to access medical assistance in dying (MAID). However, Cody is not currently eligible and is facing ongoing pain and struggles with his conditions. In this powerful piece, he reflects on his experiences and how he’s left feeling trapped by Canada’s current assisted dying laws.

Dying with Dignity Canada (DWDC) welcomes the release of Health Canada’s first annual report on medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada.

DWDC Vancouver chapter co-chair Alex Muir met his friend Nancy while volunteering as an independent witness for those requesting medical assistance in dying (MAID). Nancy had decided to volunteer because of her personal battle with cancer in order to understand the process of accessing an assisted death. After years of recurrences of cancer, she shared her powerful story of applying and preparing for MAID on our blog in March. In this moving piece, Alex recounts what it was like being present at Nancy's MAID provision and saying goodbye to his friend, and why the choice of an assisted death is so important for peace at end of life.

Karin has a unique perspective on medical assistance in dying (MAID) — born and raised in the Netherlands, and now living in Nova Scotia, Canada — she and her family supported her father through his journey to a medically assisted death. Though he died in the Netherlands, Karin shares her story and her hopes that her experience will further understanding of the importance of end-of-life choice.

Kirsten Schmidt-Chamberlain was expecting her first child when her midwife brought up Advance Care Planning (ACP) and preparing a will. She learned that every moment is an opportunity to talk about your wishes for healthcare, especially when a big life change (like becoming a parent) is on the horizon. Read on for Kirsten’s reflections on Advance Care Planning for someone who is expecting and steps that all readers can take to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Chantelle delivered her daughter in Covenant Health Hospital, a religious healthcare facility. In this open letter she responds to an incident in 2017 when 66-year-old ALS patient Doreen Nowicki was assessed for medical assistance in dying (MAID) on an Edmonton sidewalk after Covenant Health abruptly rescinded permission to have it in the facility. Though Covenant Health now allows assessments for assisted death onsite, they continue to ban the procedure’s provision on their grounds. Chantelle, a registered nurse in Alberta, shares her views on religious beliefs, publicly funded healthcare, and access to medical services.

Emily’s mother Margaret was determined to access her end-of-life choice when she felt her suffering became too much to bear. When that time came, Emily accompanied her mother on her medical assistance in dying (MAID) journey. This blog post is her reflection on the process, the bravery of the healthcare providers that took part, and what it meant to their family to have those final moments to say goodbye.

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity's CEO, Helen Long. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work and current events. In this update: a roundup of our 2020 Annual General Meeting and some advocacy news.

Our CEO Helen Long joined Dying With Dignity Canada in March 2020 and the team has had a great time getting to know her (though most of our time together has been virtual!). Here’s a chance for you to learn a little more about Helen, her background, and what she’s bringing to her work fighting for end-of-life rights at DWDC.

On the Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) blog, Hope shared the heart-wrenching story of her father’s passing from, and her mother’s struggle with, Alzheimer’s disease. Now, inspired by John Scully’s personal story, she’s returning to share her thoughts on her own future and fears about inheriting Alzheimer’s Disease without the ability to make an advance request for medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Jody Lehr Turco watched her mother battle cancer and suffer through tremendous pain before passing away suddenly. In this powerful blog post, she reflects on what it would have meant to her mother and her family to have medical assistance in dying (MAID) as an option, and why more families should discuss end of life before confronting an illness or accident.

Jane’s husband Bill was a man with a great sense of humour and a love for poetry and all music. In this blog post, his wife of 63 years shares the story of their love and Bill’s end-of-life journey. In August 2018, this seemingly healthy man fell, lost consciousness, had a concussion, then recovered (though not fully) after several weeks. Jane tells the story of Bill’s six days on life support and her agonizing decision to take him off of it, as well as the legacy of their love and life together.

Ernest Frederiksen is an Alberta man who lives in chronic, excruciating pain from fibromyalgia. He is not eligible for MAID under Bill C-14 and has written a poem in response to the tabled assisted dying legislation. This poem responds to the part of Bill C-7 that would require those like him whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable to go through a 90-day waiting period after the first assessment. You can read his other DWDC blog posts by clicking here and here.

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity's CEO, Helen Long. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work and current events. In this update: welcoming spring, two of our recent webinars, and remembering 40 years of DWDC's work.

As a MAID assessor and member of Dying With Dignity Canada’s Clinician’s Advisory Council, Valerie Cooper is a palliative care nurse practitioner (NP) who assesses patients for medical assistance in dying (MAID). From Kingston, ON to a small Texas border town, she’s cared for patients in diverse settings. In this two-part series, Valerie provides valuable insight into the experience of a nurse practitioner who understands the integrated nature of MAID and palliative care. This is Part 2 of a two-part series; you can read Part 1 by clicking here.

As a MAID assessor and member of Dying With Dignity Canada’s Clinician’s Advisory Council, Valerie Cooper is a palliative care nurse practitioner (NP) who assesses patients for medical assistance in dying (MAID). From Kingston, ON to a small Texas border town, she’s cared for patients in diverse settings. In this two-part series, Valerie provides valuable insight into the experience of a nurse practitioner who understands the integrated nature of MAID and palliative care. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

Dying With Dignity Canada’s statement of support for CAMAP’s Statement on Provincial and Federal regulations and policies pertaining to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Hope’s mother and father were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease within five years of each other. As their primary caretaker and decision-maker, Hope has watched both her parents struggle through their illness and mourned her father’s eventual death from the disease. This powerful story is her plea for access to advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) for those with degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease.

John Scully is a former CBC/CTV/BBC journalist who has incurable depression, general anxiety disorder, and PTSD from covering over thirty-five wars. He has attempted suicide twice but now wants the as-yet prohibited option of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) for the mentally ill. He has read various opinions on the CBC and other outlets and notes the vast majority come from doctors and academics, though little or nothing from the mentally ill themselves. He wants to change that by sharing his personal perspective in this powerful piece.

Dr. Ron Posno, age 80, is a tireless advocate for the right to end-of-life choice. In this moving piece, he shares his experience living with dementia and his personal perspective on Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation.

The latest update from the desk of Dying With Dignity's CEO, Helen Long. Stay tuned for regular updates on our work and current events. In this update: an introduction from Helen, and how COVID-19 is affecting our work and access to end-of-life choice.

These are challenging times filled with a great deal of uncertainty. However, during a pandemic you still have choice at end of life. This blog and accompanying COVID-19 ACP Toolkit will help you take action now. This guide will empower you to make your wishes known to your loved ones, and help you prepare your Advance Directive for use by health care professionals.

Part 2 of Yvonne’s story details what her mother went through during her last few months of life (you can read Part 1 here). It describes her ordeal with her decision to stay in the hospital in her Northern Ontario city so she could be visited by her friends. It also describes her medical assistance in dying (MAID) experience where she was forced to move because the only hospital in her city happened to be a Catholic hospital.

This true two-part story details what Yvonne and her mother went through during her last few months of life. It describes her ordeal with her decision to stay in the hospital in her Northern Ontario city so she could be visited by her friends. It also describes her medical assistance in dying experience. She was forced to move because the only hospital in her city happened to be a Catholic hospital.

At Dying With Dignity Canada, the health and safety of our community is our priority. We recognize COVID-19’s impact on people across Canada and have made adjustments to our operations and programming to ensure we are following best practices for containment.

Frances’ mother lived a full life, moving from a small town in Quebec to Alberta after her marriage. She was dedicated to her family and loved her grandchildren dearly. After leukemia and other ongoing health issues, she decided to access MAID in 2019. In this blog, Frances shares her thoughts on the process – what she wished had gone differently, and what was powerful and freeing about her mother’s decision. 

As of Monday, March 16 at 5 pm, Dying With Dignity Canada will be operating remotely. Our Toronto office is closed until further notice. 

The Federal government recently tabled legislation to amend Canada’s law on medical assistance in dying. Read on for Dying With Dignity Canada's statement on our position on these proposed changes.

Nathan Parker’s grandmother, Jackie, was a formidable presence. As an Air Force veteran who had traveled all over the world, her strength was a cornerstone of her personality. However, at the end of her life, she couldn’t exert the control or make the decisions she wanted to about her health. In this powerful letter, her grandson Nathan shares his family's heart wrenching experience watching Jackie suffer and eventually pass after voluntarily stopping eating and drinking.

Worried about COVID-19 and its spread? Thinking about how to take action and prepare? DWDC’s National Advance Care Planning Coordinator, Connie Jorsvik, has tips on how to use this opportunity to have conversations about your health and plan ahead to give you peace of mind.

Dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak poses challenges for the global community, as well as for each of us individually. DWDC’s National Advance Care Planning Coordinator, Connie Jorsvik, helps us shift from anxiety to long-term planning and habit shifting.

At age 56, Waterloo, ON’s Irene Browning is sure of what she wants. After a journey with Major Depressive Disorder and Fibromyalgia, she made her decision and made a request for medical assistance in dying (MAID). But what happens when Irene’s request for MAID is denied, and what will proposed upcoming changes to legislation mean for people suffering from mental illness?

Monica’s mother, Laura Jones, chose to access medical assistance in dying (MAID) on January 24, 2019 at her home in Saskatoon. She was 99. This two-part story, shared by Monica, aims to help improve the experience of accessing MAID for others in the future. If you haven’t read Part 1 or Part 2, please read them now to catch up.

What is it like to make a difficult end-of-life decision? In this powerful blog post, DWDC volunteer witness Nancy shares her journey with cancer and her choice to apply for MAID.  

Monica’s mother, Laura Jones, chose to access medical assistance in dying (MAID) on January 24, 2019 at her home in Saskatoon. She was 99. This three-part story, shared by Monica, aims to help improve the experience of accessing MAID for others in the future. If you haven’t read Part 1, you can find it by clicking here.

Monica’s mother, Laura Jones, chose to access medical assistance in dying (MAID) on January 24, 2019 at her home in Saskatoon. She was 99. This story, shared by Monica, aims to help improve the experience of accessing MAID for others in the future.

Kathleen’s mother, Christa, was a formidable woman with a zest for life. However, her inability to choose at end-of-life has left her and her family in a position she hoped to never be in.

February 12, 2020, Toronto, ON – Dying with Dignity Canada (DWDC) is pleased to announce its Board of Directors has named Helen Long as Chief Executive Officer. Helen will assume her new role effective March 16.

The Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) has released new key messages on end-of-life care and medical assistance in dying (MAID). Read on for background and information on how this group of healthcare professionals is addressing discourse around changes to Canada's assisted dying law.

An overwhelming majority of Canadians want expanded access to medical assistance in dying according to a new national survey commissioned by Dying with Dignity Canada (DWDC) and conducted by Ipsos.

The federal government is accepting survey responses online on amending Bill C-14 to remove the “natural death has become reasonably foreseeable” requirement and to allow advance requests. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has produced an excellent resource to help respondents formulate their own thoughtful and informed responses.

In this special blog post, Alberta's Ernest Frederiksen shares an original poem about his pain and not being able to access medical assistance in dying (MAID). At 27 years old, he has twice been denied access to MAID, as his death is not reasonably foreseeable. Read on for his powerful reflections on suffering, grief, and being denied his end-of-life wishes.

Dying With Dignity Canada is urging the federal government to pursue a rights-based approach as it considers changes to the 2016 assisted dying law.

How do you say goodbye to a life partner of 25 years? In this post, Siobhan of Calgary, AB shares her experience supporting her husband Scott through his end-of-life journey and choice to access an assisted death. Read on for Siobhan’s powerful reflections on her family’s story, including lessons she learned and what she thinks others should know about choosing medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Nurse practitioner (NP) Erica Maynard of Nova Scotia brings her whole self to work, and that includes her role in medical assistance in dying (MAID) assessments and provisions. How does this procedure uniquely affect nurse practitioners, and what lessons have come up along the way during Erica’s journey? In this special post for the Dying With Dignity Canada blog, Erica shares her experiences working with patients to help them access their right to choice at end of life.

Dying With Dignity Canada welcomes the Quebec government’s plan to permit advance requests for assisted dying.

In this moving tribute, the sons of Nova Scotia’s Peter Blakesley describe life after their father’s melanoma diagnosis — and how the choice of an assisted death gave Peter the chance to die in a manner that, he felt, preserved his dignity and agency.

Ottawa must take immediate steps to fix human-rights violations imposed by the federal assisted dying law, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) says.

The leading national charity defending end-of-life rights in Canada, DWDC is calling on the Trudeau government to follow through with its election promise to expand the federal assisted dying law.

Dying With Dignity Canada is vigorously condemning a provincial private member’s bill that threatens to impede assisted dying access in Alberta.

In this powerfully candid entry for the DWDC blog, British Columbia’s Johanna Clark remembers her husband Neil’s final months following a lung cancer diagnosis in 2017. Neil accessed his wish of a medically assisted death in May 2018, with the heartbreaking knowledge that he could have lived for longer. Neil, worried about losing capacity and knowing that the federal assisted dying law requires final consent at the time of the procedure, chose to end his life early to ensure he could have the assisted death he wanted.

In this moving testimonial, British Columbia’s Marion Janssen recounts the end-of-life experiences of her grandparents and parents. After watching three loved ones — her mother, father, and grandmother — suffer with dementia, Marion knows she does not want the same ending for herself. That’s why, she writes, she believes advance requests for assisted dying must be allowed.

In September 2016, Nova Scotia’s Douglas Henshaw became one of the first people to receive a medically assisted death in Canada. His wife, Sylvia — a Dying With Dignity Canada volunteer and member of our First Person Witness Council — reflects on four lessons she’s learned in the past three years.

Dying With Dignity Canada is cheering a Quebec judge’s decision to strike down a restriction in Bill C-14, Canada’s federal assisted dying law.

How do you say goodbye to your partner of 66 years? Barbara of Victoria, B.C. struggled to imagine life without her husband, Joe. However, after his cancer diagnosis, Joe chose to access medical assistance in dying (MAID) to end his pain, and to ensure he maintained the quality of life he wanted for himself and for those he cared about. Ultimately, Joe’s choice to access MAID brought peace to the whole family. Now, Barbara is sharing their story with the hope of informing and empowering others.

In his final post for the DWDC blog, Dr. David Amies examines the Council of Canadian Academies’ report on the possible implications of extending assisted dying access to individuals whose right to choice is threatened by the ban on advance requests.

In this powerful post for the Dying With Dignity Canada blog, Calgary’s Paul Morck opens up about his wife Barbara’s struggle to access her wish of a medically assisted death.

MJ remembers her mother, Linda, as a strong woman who was always taking care of others. From her childhood in Quebec City to Montreal, MJ remembers Linda as a fiercely independent woman with a caring heart. Once Linda was diagnosed with lung cancer, however, she struggled through pain and ultimately made the decision to access medical assistance in dying (MAID). In this blog, MJ shares her mother’s story, and what it was like for her and her siblings to say goodbye.

Under the federal law, a sick and suffering individual looking to have an assisted death must have their written assisted dying request signed by two independent witnesses. These witnesses must not be involved in the applicant's care and cannot stand to materially benefit from the person's death.

For many people, finding two suitable witnesses can be tremendously difficult, which is why Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) launched its independent witness program in late 2016. Since then, our trained volunteers have served as witnesses in nearly 1,500 cases nationwide.

One witness is Mississauga, Ontario’s Richard Dowsett, who first began witnessing in June 2018. In his quest to help people access their wish of an assisted death, Richard witnessed for one person each week for an entire year.

Dying With Dignity Canada’s Board of Directors announced Thursday that Shanaaz Gokool is leaving the organization, effectively immediately, after three years as its CEO.

In this moving entry for the DWDC blog, Ontario’s Geraldine F. Neily honours Dale, her husband of nearly 63 years, who accessed his wish of a medically assisted death in October 2018. His end-of-life choice, she writes, was the final chapter in “a life well lived.”

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in June?

In his penultimate post for the DWDC blog, Dr. David Amies examines the Council of Canadian Academies’ report on the possible implications of extending assisted dying access to individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is psychiatric in nature.

In his latest post for the DWDC blog, Dr. David Amies examines the Council of Canadian Academies’ report on the possible implications of extending assisted dying access to mature minors. In this piece, he asks a difficult but necessary question: is it fair to allow an 80-year-old with terminal cancer to access assisted dying but deny a 17-year-old who has the same diagnosis and demonstrates the capacity to make medical decisions as an adult?

In this powerfully written blog post, Justine from Ontario shares how her daily chronic pain has stripped her of any quality of life. Suffering with pain that feels like “literal torture,” Justine has applied for a medically assisted death, but was formally denied because she does not meet one requirement in the law: her natural death is not reasonably foreseeable.

In an effort to shine a light on the unconstitutionality of Canada’s assisted dying law, Justine shares her important story.

Ernest Frederiksen, a man living in Alberta, has fibromyalgia. The excruciating pain he suffers daily has, in his own words, turned him into a shadow of his former self. Despite his suffering, however, Ernest has been denied medical assistance in dying because he does not meet certain requirements under Canada’s assisted dying law. This is his story.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in May?

In 2017, Calgary’s Carol Abbott-Wolfson watched her husband, Gerald, and her Aunt Marion suffer horrific deaths. Neither were able to exercise their right to an assisted death because of the law’s requirement that a person be competent at the time of the procedure. If the law allowed advance requests for assisted dying, Carol writes, their heartbreaking experiences at end of life may have been prevented.

Are you interested in learning more about the state of Canadians’ end-of-life rights nearly three years after the passage of the federal assisted dying law?

In this powerful testimonial, Ontario's Tracy Kelly writes about her beloved and brave mother's choice of a medically assisted death after a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Writer and advocate Linda Crabtree, C.M., O.Ont., candidly shares how her mother's intolerable suffering with dementia led her to join Dying With Dignity Canada — and why she's making the commitment to protecting Canadians' end-of-life rights for years to come.

An appeal court decision to uphold the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) policy on effective referral for assisted dying is a victory for patients’ rights in the province, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) says.

As an active Dying With Dignity Canada volunteer, regular contributor to our blog, and chair of our First Person Witness Council, Liana Brittain has moved people across the world with her powerful storytelling and voice. She has gone above and beyond to keep her final promise to her husband, Paul, who had an assisted death in 2017 and asked her to share the story of his choice.

Liana continues to honour Paul’s request by sharing the story of their love, his terminal cancer diagnosis, and finally, his journey with assisted dying in her new book, MAiD Musings: A Widow’s Reflections. She has generously shared an excerpt from her book, which consists of short vignettes from her life with Paul and her original poetry, on our blog. Read the emotional excerpt below!

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in April?

In this moving and emotional testimonial, British Columbia’s Bill Currie shares what it was like to support his mother, Minnie, on her journey with assisted dying.

On National Advance Care Planning Day 2019, Dying With Dignity Canada’s Digital Communications Coordinator Rachel Phan asked supporters for help in getting her advance care planning conversations started. In response, nearly 200 of our supporters across the country submitted stories about how they started these difficult, but important, conversations with their family and friends.

We’ve compiled a small sample of those responses with the hope that they’ll be as helpful to you and your loved ones as they’ve been to Rachel and our team.

Dying With Dignity Canada is pleased to announce the slate of candidates for our 2019-2020 Board of Directors.

In this blog post, British Columbia’s Connie Jorsvik — a former registered nurse and current independent healthcare navigator and patient advocate — shares her thoughts on the financial and emotional costs of not preparing your advance care plan. She also provides tips on how you can take care of yourself and your family.

Advance care planning involves having difficult discussions that require individuals to navigate often complex aspects of culture and family relationships. In this special Dying With Dignity Canada blog post, supporter and volunteer Tammy Pham talks about how she’s opening up space for conversations about death and dying within her Vietnamese-Canadian family, where such topics are often considered taboo and avoided. She also provides insights and tips on how people can overcome cultural barriers to initiate and foster these important discussions.

Ottawa's Pat McLaughlin shares an original poem, in which she reflects on her wishes for care at end of life.

In celebration of National Advance Care Planning Day on April 16, Dying With Dignity Canada board member Leigh Naturkach shares her top five things to consider when planning for end of life.

April may be Advance Care Planning month, but it’s not the only time to talk about end-of-life wishes. It is simply a reminder. We plan as best we can for life, and death deserves no less. No matter how hard it might be to think about death, it is an inevitable part of life. It’s also important to remember death is not just a medical event — it is a life event. To me, advance care planning goes beyond the medical directive.

Have you started thinking about advance care planning? Do you know who you would choose to make decisions about your health on your behalf? If you haven’t started working on your plan yet, April — Advance Care Planning Month — is a great time to start. Dying With Dignity Canada is running a special advance care planning blog series throughout the month, with posts designed to guide you through different aspects of the process and introduce important things to consider.

In the first instalment of the series, Dying With Dignity Canada's Education and Engagement Officer Maureen Aslin answers commonly asked questions about how to get started on your advance care plan (ACP) and dispels some misconceptions about ACPs.

Watching a family member access medical assistance in dying (MAID) can be a complicated emotional experience, one that Nova Scotia’s Jenny Hasselman knows all too well. Hasselman supported her mother — her favourite person in the world — on a journey with assisted dying after her mother’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Now, she is sharing her story as part of her healing process with the hope that her words will normalize the procedure and shine a light on a flawed requirement in the law.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in March?

Jeanie Gagnon’s Aunt Lizzie lived a long and full life before intolerable suffering led her to make the decision to access medical assistance in dying. In unspeakable pain and robbed of the ability to do the activities she loved most, Lizzie was unwavering in her choice. In this special Dying With Dignity Canada blog post, Jeanie — who has asked that her real name not be used to protect her privacy — shares her aunt’s experience with choosing and preparing for a medically assisted death.

Eight in 10 Albertans disagree with the practice of allowing publicly funded hospitals in the province to ban assisted dying on their premises, a new poll has found.

In February, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) commissioned the research firm Ipsos to conduct a survey of 800 Albertans on whether they believe all public hospitals in the province should be required to allow medical assistance in dying (MAID) on-site. The poll follows a series of news reports by CBC Edmonton surrounding the treatment of severely ill Albertans who requested MAID in healthcare facilities where it is banned.

Dr. Devorah Greenberg was a lifelong social justice advocate. Ordinarily, the Simon Fraser University professor campaigned for the rights of others whose freedom or well-being was at risk. But her final campaign for social justice saw her fight for her own rights — in particular, her right to access medical assistance in dying in the long-term care facility which she had come to call home. In a moving new testimonial for Dying With Dignity Canada’s blog, Dr. Greenberg’s daughter, Megan, describes what it was like to support her mother in her quest to end her life how, when, and where she wanted.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in February?

In this blog post, Barrie Radcliffe of Barrie, Ont. candidly shares how the late-stage consent requirement in Canada's assisted dying law had tragic, heartbreaking consequences for his wife, Lynne.

All Paul Couvrette wanted was more time. He had finally met and married the love of his life, and they had retired to their dream home by the sea on Prince Edward Island. But Paul's lifelong retirement dream was cut tragically short when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer not long after their move.

Choosing to die with dignity on his own terms, Paul underwent the rigorous screening and approval process for medical assistance in dying. He was found to be eligible for the procedure, but a flaw in Canada's assisted dying law forced Paul to die earlier than he wanted.

In this blog, his widow, Liana Brittain, reflects on the late-stage consent requirement in the law and the cruel choice it forced Paul to make.

In this blog post, Dr. David Amies takes a look at the groups of Canadians who are harmed by the late-stage consent requirement in Canada's assisted dying law.

As part of a new campaign honouring Halifax’s Audrey Parker, Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) is calling on federal lawmakers to make an urgently needed fix to Canada’s assisted dying rules.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in January?

In this blog post, Edmonton's Kristen Kizlyk describes how a dementia diagnosis ultimately changed the course of her grandmother's life. Her final memories of her grandmother — her "shining light" — are full of pain and suffering.

Kristen hopes her mother, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001, will be able to avoid this same fate. But because of the ban on advance requests for assisted dying, Kristen's mother — who is at risk of losing capacity — may not be able to access her right to a peaceful medically assisted death. Our existing discriminatory rules, Kristen writes, must change to ensure the rights of people with degenerative conditions are respected.

Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) is returning to court this week to defend patients’ rights in Ontario.

The organization is an official intervenor in a case that will be heard by the Court of Appeal of Ontario on Monday and Tuesday. At stake is the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) policy of effective referral for assisted dying. Approved in 2016, the policy requires physicians who oppose assisted dying to refer patients who ask for it to a clinician or third-party agency that can handle the request.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in December?

When it comes to grief and bereavement, everyone’s path is different. Similarly, every experience with medical assistance in dying (MAID) is as individual as the person who chooses it. That’s why we have much to learn from the growing number of Canadians who have supported a loved one on a journey with assisted dying.

In this special blog post, Ontario’s Liana Brittain provides invaluable insights into her grief following her husband Paul’s assisted death. She also writes about the unique challenges facing loved ones who are left behind after a MAID death and the pain that is triggered by the holiday season.

DWDC’s Rachel Phan reflects on what it was like to help the late Don Kent blog about his journey with assisted dying.

The Canadian government must not wait any longer to restore the rights of people who have been discriminated against under the federal assisted dying law, Dying With Dignity Canada says.

For a second straight year, participating in court challenges has been a significant focus of Dying With Dignity Canada’s advocacy. To keep you up to date, we have assembled the following roundup on what’s happening in the major legal cases we’re working to influence.

Health Canada’s decision to create a federal Office of Palliative Care is a “promising step forward,” Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) says.

The announcement of a new federal bureau dedicated to improving access to end-of-life care appeared in the federal government’s new national framework on palliative care, which Health Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. The framework sets out goals for improving education about end-of-life care, creating supports for clinicians and caregivers, and expanding access for Canadians with life-limiting illnesses.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in November?

The option of a medically assisted death can be a source of hope and relief for Canadians who are suffering intolerably as the result of a severe medical condition. But certain elements of our assisted dying rules are harming the very people they're meant to protect.

Take Owen, an Okanagan Valley man who was diagnosed with a rare melanoma cell cancer in August 2016. Owen and his wife, Marj, successfully advocated for his right to medical assistance in dying (MAID) after some resistance from his medical team. 

But going through the rigorous legal and medical process of being assessed and, later, approved for an assisted death didn't bring Owen and his family total peace of mind. In fact, he faced an additional burden once he was found to be eligible: the law's requirement that he have the capacity to consent at the time of his MAID procedure. Owen, whose tumour was spreading quickly to his brain, was at high risk of losing capacity.

He spent his final days of life anxious and afraid that he would lose his right to an assisted death, his wife writes.

Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) is celebrating the return of its charitable status, setting the stage for the organization to become an even stronger defender of Canadians’ end-of-life rights.

DWDC recently learned that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) had approved its application to become a human-rights charity. As a result, DWDC can now issue tax receipts for donations made in support of its activities. The decision is retroactive to January 1, 2018.

Public healthcare facilities that ban assisted-dying services on their premises and force sick and frail patients to go elsewhere to access their right to choice are failing to provide patient-centred care, writes Dr. David Amies.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in October?

Audrey Parker, the Halifax woman who spent the last weeks of her life raising awareness about the challenges facing Canadians who have been assessed and approved for assisted dying, “changed the national conversation” around end-of-life choice, Dying With Dignity Canada says.

Dr. David Amies, an active volunteer in Dying With Dignity Canada’s independent witness program, describes what it’s like to serve in this role and to help break down barriers facing Canadians who want an assisted death.

Calgary lawyer Aman Sran has seen up close the barriers facing people who want to exercise their right to a peaceful death.

In Case You Missed It is a round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss summer's top news stories?

British Columbia’s Jane Hamilton lived a quiet and fiercely independent life. A lifelong housekeeper, part-time health care aide, and hospice volunteer, Jane charmed her loved ones with her signature Mad magazine sense of humour, her green thumb, and her love of art, crossword puzzles, dogs, and books.

After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017, Jane was given a devastating prognosis. She decided against treatment and opted instead to pursue medical assistance in dying (MAID). Once she was approved for MAID, Jane began to live her life with confidence, freedom, and renewed vigour despite her illness. For 11 months, she lived life completely on her terms, comforted by the knowledge that she was in control and could access MAID at any time.

In this special blog post, Jane’s daughter, Wendy, shares what their last year together was like, from Jane’s diagnosis to her medically assisted death.

For more than a year, Janis Clennett’s sister Sheila suffered from a variety of medical issues. Her many visits to the doctor and extended stays at the hospital had led to zero answers. Doctors simply couldn’t figure out why she kept falling or why she was having trouble breathing.

When the ALS diagnosis finally came a year and a half later, Sheila felt relief. Finally, she had answers. Finally, she had enough information to start planning for the end.

Health Canada has revealed its final regulations for a national system for monitoring medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Readers of the Dying With Dignity Canada blog will be familiar with Don Kent, the Ottawa-area man who candidly documented his quest for an assisted death in a seven-part series called Don’s Journey. Don gave us all an honest look into the end of his life, from his terminal cancer diagnosis to his frequent trips to the emergency room, and finally, to his medically assisted death on April 20.

In this very special blog post, Don's mother, Sandra, shares what it was like for her to support her son through every step of his journey.

When Linda Levy of Toronto was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2011, her health — and quality of life — deteriorated rapidly. Living with excruciating chronic pain and unable to do the things she loved, Linda began to explore her legal options and never once stopped advocating for herself. She became a member of Dying With Dignity Canada, she sent hundreds of letters to decision-makers in support of both the organization and assisted dying, and she refused to take "no" for an answer when her requests for an assisted death were denied by her doctor. In 2018, after months of trying, Linda was finally granted the right to have a medically assisted death. 

This is her story, as told by her beloved husband Lorne.

In Case You Missed It is a monthly round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in June?

In this special blog post, Ontario’s Diane Handcock shares an original poem, in which she reflects on a life well lived and describes a readiness for what's next.

Dying With Dignity Canada is set to receive the largest donation in the organization’s 38-year history, signalling the dawning of a new era for the movement to defend Canadians’ end-of-life rights.

The gift comes in the form of a bequest from the late David Jackson, a retired Vancouver entrepreneur and ardent supporter of Canadians’ right to a peaceful death. DWDC CEO Shanaaz Gokool called the legacy donation, which is valued at approximately $7 million, “nothing short of transformational.”

Winnipeg’s Jean Ayre believed passionately in a more loving and caring world, and throughout her 86 years of life, she did everything in her power to make that belief a reality. It’s no surprise, then, that on her final day — the day she said “yes” to a medically assisted death — Jean was surrounded by unconditional love and care in the form of her husband, their family, and 15 of their closest friends.

In this special blog post, Jean's husband, Don, shares the powerful story of their love, while recounting their final months together and the peace Jean felt when she made her final choice.

Dying With Dignity Canada board member Leigh Naturkach describes how a visit to her 92-year-old Opa led her to reflect on her relationships and her wishes for care at end of life.

The top court in Ontario has agreed to hear an appeal into a legal challenge against a regulation that protects patient access to assisted dying in the province. 

In January, the Superior Court of Justice decided that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) policy on effective referral for assisted dying is constitutional and protects patients who request medical assistance in dying from being abandoned by clinicians who oppose it. The policy requires Ontario doctors who oppose assisted dying to refer patients who request it to a non-opposing provider or agency in a timely manner.

In August 2017, British Columbia’s Adam Ross fulfilled his choice to die with dignity — the last option left to free him from a prolonged, untreatable pain condition. He died alone, without anyone’s assistance, taking care to minimize the burden on the people he loved. His story reveals how much work still needs to be done to ensure that Canadians have fair alternatives in the face of unbearable suffering.

This is Adam's deeply moving and articulate departing letter to his loved ones.

In August 2017, B.C.’s Adam Ross fulfilled his choice to die with dignity — the last option left to free him from a prolonged, untreatable pain condition. He died alone, without anyone’s assistance, taking care to minimize the burden on the people he loved. His story reveals how much work still needs to be done to ensure that Canadians have fair alternatives in the face of unbearable suffering.

Canadian poet Richard Harrison’s mother chose a medically-assisted death on July 5, 2017. His essay on his experience with her that day, “It is to that Bedside that I go,” was published on CBC’s Ideas and the Dying With Dignity Canada blog. In this piece, Richard begins the search for the meaning of that experience in a connection between it and a familiar story from the past.

In this post for the Dying With Dignity Canada blog, Jana Buhlmann, who supported her husband on his assisted dying journey last year, writes a thoughtful reflection on hospices that refuse to offer medical assistance in dying (MAID). She also contemplates how she and others might use their voices to effect change.

In Case You Missed It is a monthly round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in March and April?

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don planned to pursue medical assistance in dying. He invited Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

Don accessed medical assistance in dying on April 20, 2018. He died in the arms of his wife, Barb, with his mother and sisters close by. In step with his plan, Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” played in the background during Don’s final moments.

This is the seventh and final entry of Don's Journey. 

In his latest post for Dying With Dignity Canada’s blog, Dr. David Amies responds to an offensive, incendiary column written by National Post columnist Barbara Kay, in which she insults supporters of assisted dying and the thoughtful, compassionate clinicians who provide it. He also reiterates an important point that is at the heart of our work: palliative care and assisted dying are two essential options for Canadians at end of life, and the availability of one option doesn’t eliminate the need for the other. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide which interventions are best for them when the time comes.

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part six of Don's Journey.

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part five of Don's Journey.

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part four of Don's Journey.

The option of an assisted death can be a source of hope and relief for Canadians who are suffering intolerably as the result of a severe medical condition. But what happens to the loved ones of the people who make that choice? 

When it comes to grief and bereavement, everyone's path is different. However, we can learn a lot from the growing number of Canadians who have supported a family member or friend on a journey with assisted dying. Nova Scotia's Sylvia Henshaw has kindly agreed to share her reflections on the impact that her husband's choice has had on her life. It's a story, she says, that is still being written.

In this special blog post, Calgary's Bob Canuel shares three original poems that dive into his personal experiences of getting older.

In Case You Missed It is a monthly round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in February?

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part three of Don's Journey.

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part two of Don's Journey.

Lynn Steele has provided intimate care to many clients at end of life. In this blog post, she writes about how the suffering she has seen has inspired her to become a vocal supporter of end-of-life choice, and how the obstacles one client faced when trying to access assisted dying led her to become a passionate defender of a person's right to die.

When Rachel Williams' sister, Natalie, was diagnosed with late-stage cancer at the age of 55, she knew she wanted two things: She wanted to stay at home, surrounded by the love and support of her family, and she did not want to needlessly prolong her suffering. Despite resistance from doctors and some family members, Rachel — who has asked that her and her sister's real names not be used to protect their family's privacy — never wavered in her commitment to making sure Natalie was able to access her choice of a medically assisted death.

In January, Ottawa's Don Kent was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Suddenly faced with his own mortality at 56 years old, Don plans to pursue medical assistance in dying. In this very special blog series, he invites Dying With Dignity Canada supporters to follow along with him on his journey with cancer and his quest for a peaceful death.

This is part one of Don's Journey.

In this essay, Richard Harrison — the 2017 Governor General's Literary Award winner for poetry — vividly recalls his mother's choice after her cancer became terminal, of a medically assisted death, with him and his brother beside her.

In Case You Missed It is a monthly round-up of news articles and commentaries featuring Dying With Dignity Canada speakers and stories. Did you miss these stories in January?

Dying With Dignity Canada (DWDC) will be allowed to make arguments in the case of two Quebecers who have gone to court to challenge aspects of Canada’s federal assisted dying law, a judge has ruled.

However, Justice Christine Baudoin, of the Superior Court of Quebec, has refused to allow DWDC, along with five other groups that have been granted intervener status in the case, to introduce expert witnesses or other new evidence in the case.

Dying With Dignity Canada is celebrating an Ontario court decision to uphold provincial regulation that requires doctors who oppose assisted dying to connect patients who request it with a non-objecting provider or agency.

The ruling comes in response to a court challenge against the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) policy on effective referral for assisted dying. The applicants, led by the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada, claimed that the effective referral policy infringes upon the Charter rights of doctors who oppose medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Priscilla Cole had one last lesson to teach before she died.

A lifelong educator, she had devoted her career to instilling others with knowledge and the confidence to put it to good use. Among her pupils were the youngsters she taught at a private girls’ school in Toronto, the students she counselled at Seneca College, and the two sons she raised as a widowed mother, who are now doctors with grown children of their own.

Kathleen Farago wanted nothing more than to finally "go home." She had suffered for decades with incurable medical conditions before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer on her 65th birthday. Kathy received the news with relief, cheekily calling the diagnosis her "get out of jail free" card. In this stunningly written blog post, her husband Paul Chefurka remembers their love story and his beloved Kathy's final weeks and moments before the peaceful death she had chosen with enormous strength and resolve.

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a constitutionally protected right in Canada. However, institutional barriers to accessing that right remain rife in the healthcare system. Obstructionist policies have created harmful delays and confusion for Canadians who are already suffering intolerably on account of their medical conditions.

Dr. Doug Henshaw lived a life full of colour and adventure. He was a brilliant surgeon and a pioneer in life — and in death. His decision to access medical assistance in dying in September 2016 made him one of the first Nova Scotians to choose this newly available option. In this special blog post, Doug's wife, Sylvia, writes about his incredible life and choice.

Not long after Canada passed its assisted dying law in June 2016, British Columbia's Mary John submitted her request and was approved. But her joy over being able to die on her own terms quickly turned to additional pain and frustration when hospice staff repeatedly obstructed her access, needlessly prolonging her life and her suffering.

After weeks of this active interference, Mary finally got her wish: She became one of the first British Columbians to access assisted dying — if not, the first. Throughout her weeks-long ordeal, she and her family never once stopped advocating for her right to a peaceful death. 

In this powerful blog post, Mary’s daughter, Colette, and her boyfriend, Dean, share how Mary's fight for choice and compassion was able to pave the way for patients and families in her community and province.

In early November, Jana Buhlmann wrote a powerful entry for the DWDC blog about her husband, Chris, who had a medically assisted death in September 2017. In her follow-up post, Jana reflects on the resistance Chris faced from people in his life who opposed his end-of-life choice — and the lessons she learned about herself along the journey.

In late June, Mark Alexander died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his close family and friends. The British Columbia man was an avid outdoorsman, globe-trotter, and beer-league hockey player who loved all kinds of physical activity, but loved his family above all else. Despite his zest for life, Mark was always realistic about his prostate cancer diagnosis. After every treatment failed, he made the decision to access medical assistance in dying, and he did so with unwavering conviction. At his Celebration of Life reception, his daughter, Kate, presented a speech about his end-of-life choice. She has graciously allowed us to share her beautiful words on our blog.

Maggie Bristow can no longer bear to breathe because every breath sets her body afire with pain. The Ottawa woman has fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis, along with a host of other medical conditions, and wants nothing more than to be able to access medical assistance in dying. Physically unable to write her own story, Maggie spoke with Dying With Dignity Canada volunteer Liana Brittain, who helped Maggie put her excruciating pain into words.

Kathy watched Kim, her wife of 25 years, die a "soul-destroying" and traumatic death in 2014 — just two years before Canada passed its assisted dying law.

A few years later, Kathy watched as her second wife, Lynne, was diagnosed with a terminal disease, but this time, assisted dying was newly legal and available in Canada. The contrast between Kim's death and Lynne's was stark, Kathy writes.

When Jana Buhlmann's husband, Chris, celebrated his 41st birthday, it was a bittersweet occasion because they both knew it would be his last. The very next day, Chris was scheduled to have his medically assisted death. He struggled with the decision, but he knew his grim prognosis and the imminent intolerable suffering on the road ahead. Assisted dying offered him another, more compassionate path instead, Jana writes.

In August, Debra Westbrook and her family spoke out in their local newspaper and on our blog about the obstruction their father faced in his months-long struggle to access assisted dying at their local hospital. Less than two months later, that same hospital made a major change to prevent the same thing from happening again. In this special update, Debra writes about how she and her family were able to inspire change in their community — and makes a call for others to do the same.

A few months after Denise's husband, Ed, was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, he began to feel "trapped" in his body. Ed, who had lost the ability to move or do the things he loved, was so relieved to discover that he qualified for a medically assisted death. In this blog post, Denise tells the story of her husband's devastating disease and the days and weeks leading up to the peaceful death he so desired.

Many recent documentaries and magazine articles have delved into what it’s like to support a family member who's accessed their right to assisted dying.

But fewer have explored what it’s like for the handful of doctors and nurse practitioners in Canada who are involved in providing medical assistance in dying (MAID). Their insights provide another side to the story, and they are essential to our understanding of how the right to assisted dying is changing the way Canadians experience the dying process.

The passage of Canada's medical assistance in dying law has transformed the way some Canadians experience the dying process. In her latest blog post, Liana Brittain reflects on this change and reminisces about how she and her husband, Paul, planned for his assisted death. 

When Brian was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Parkinson's, he and his wife, Judy, read everything they could about his disease and his prognosis. They wanted to be ready and to know what to expect. Sadly, nothing could have prepared them for a reality that was far worse than they had ever anticipated. In this blog post, Judy, who asked that her real name not be used to protect her privacy, writes honestly about her husband's horrifying last years and why she wishes his right to end-of-life choice had been respected.

It was a horrifying emotional and physical roller coaster that never seemed to end. Austin, an Ontario-based man whose last name has been withheld for privacy reasons, first made the request to die with medical assistance in late 2016, at the age of 89. Time and time again, his access was cruelly denied and obstructed by medical professionals. His daughter, Debra, writes about her father's months-long struggle to access his final wish.

For Liana Brittain, the days, weeks, and months after her husband, Paul, accessed his right to a peaceful death have been both painful and surreal. Unsure of where to go for support, she turned to Dying With Dignity Canada and ended up finding new purpose and life after loss.

It is with both relief and sorrow that we announce the passing of AB, the Ontario woman whose court action has helped to clarify Canada’s assisted dying law.

AB died last week, with medical assistance, after living for more than 30 years with an excruciating form of osteoarthritis. She was 77 years old.

A Dying With Dignity Canada supporter explains in her own words why she chose medical assistance in dying and offers advice to all Canadians planning for end of life.

As Noreen Campbell’s symptoms worsened and her anxiety grew, she began thinking about setting a date for her medically assisted death.

Since Canada's assisted dying law passed one year ago, there has been only one confirmed case of a medically assisted death on the tiny province of Prince Edward Island. It was Paul Couvrette's.

Before embarking on his "new adventure," Paul asked his beloved wife, Liana, to share the story of their love and how he chose to die completely on his own terms.

Liana is keeping her promise.

Dying With Dignity Canada made oral arguments Thursday during the third and final day of hearings into the court challenge against the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) policy on effective referral for assisted dying.

Dying With Dignity Canada was back in court on Wednesday, June 14 for the second day of hearings in the court challenge to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) effective referral policy.

Dying With Dignity Canada is headed back to court this week as interveners in the court challenge to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s (CPSO) effective referral policy.

Renate Morris was told time and time again that she would not qualify for an assisted death. But instead of accepting that her fate was out of her hands, she empowered herself and fought for what she knew was her Charter right. In this special blog post, her son Thomas and daughter-in-law Elaine write about her incredible journey towards the peaceful and dignified death she wanted.

One year ago, on an early Sunday morning, David J. Adams’ mother made a desperate decision in the hopes of ending her unbearable suffering. It shouldn’t have had to come to that, and that’s why Canadians need Dying With Dignity Canada, he writes.

Recently, Nina Lee — one of Dying With Dignity Canada's monthly donors — offered to share her powerful perspective with us. As an employee at a long-term care facility who works primarily with individuals living with Alzheimer's, Nina (not her real name) has been confronted by the tragedy of Alzheimer's disease time and time again. Now, she's using her heartbreaking experiences to speak out in support of advance requests.

British Columbia's Noreen Campbell recognized the value and the power of sharing her story.

Before she had the peaceful death she so desired on January 12, the long-time nurse made it a priority in her final months of life to share her perspectives on planning for end of life, requesting assisted dying and the country’s new medical aid in dying legislation. In the weeks before she died, she did interviews with the Victoria Times Colonist, The Globe and Mail and with CBC Radio host Dr. Brian Goldman. She was candid and honest until the very end, offering an intimate and rare glimpse into her journey.

Assisted dying, physician-assisted death, medical assistance in dying. These are some of the terms our spokespeople use when they give a presentation or interview about Canadians’ right to die with the help of a doctor.

Dr. Donald Sutherland with daughter Barbara at the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto.

A man of high principles

During my father’s career he was known for his determination to raise the profession of chiropractic in Canada to the highest standard. He was an exceptional orator and journalist. He was the first president of the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

He believed in collaborative efforts with the medical profession. This, his final decision about his own death, has become part of his legacy. One way for me to honour him is to share the story with others who may be helped by knowing that it is always their choice to accept or reject a pacemaker, to replace a battery, or to deactivate a device. It is a life-sustaining treatment. It is a treatment with great potential to improve and lengthen life. It also may extend life beyond where the patient wants to go.

What does it mean to have a rich life? Nagui Morcos considered that he had a rich life: a life full of music, fine food and wine, chocolate and cheese, theatre, fashion, dance, motorcycles, travel, laughter, a good education and a rewarding career (including the company of a giant cow named Beulah), volunteerism, patriotism, the love and support of friends and family, and a passionate love affair with his wife, Jan Crowley.

Most people would readily agree that these wonderful things are all markers of a "rich life," but what is most remarkable about Nagui, and a true indication of his endlessly positive spirit, is that he considered his life to be rich, despite living for 18 years with Huntington’s Disease, a devastating, terminal, neurodegenerative disease that had taken the life of his father, Fouad. 

"I do feel strongly that if possible I want to be in charge of the end of my life," says Linda Jarrett, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998.

From diagnosis until the present time, Linda has been what is termed secondary progressive, without relapses or remissions. "I have been on a steady decline in terms of my mobility," she says. She can no longer walk, even with the aid of a walker, and relies on a travel scooter to remain mobile.