Here is my story with medical assistance in dying (MAID).  In August of 2017, my wife was diagnosed with a cancer in the bones of her hips. She had suffered pain in her hips for some time but thought it was arthritis. When diagnosed, she immediately said she would choose not to die of this cancer as she had heard many stories of how painful this cancer could be.   

MAID was fairly new at this time, but our two daughters and I set about to get information and set in place the required documents. We discovered that as of that time there had only been two situations where it was used in Northwestern Ontario, and both had been in Thunder Bay.  We encountered many obstacles during the course of our inquiries: people who were required to have some part in it had not been trained and were not sure of what to do, there were very few physicians available who were able or willing to administer the treatment, our family doctor was not in favour of MAID and instead tried to convince her to use palliative care, my wife wished to die in her home on the lake but no doctor would agree to travel away from their practice. 

I did not want to deny her one good day or cause her one bad one. 

Ultimately all the requirements were met and my wife, our two daughters and I ended up in the hospital in Thunder Bay where a very kind and understanding doctor carried out the procedure on October 31, 2017. On her last night, I slept in her room and very early in the morning this doctor came in to check. My wife was still sleeping but he took the time to talk to me and answer all my questions.   

During the time my wife was at home she constantly worried that she would lose the ability to access MAID due to loss of capacity. She asked many times if it was time to go to Thunder Bay.  My consistent answer was only she could decide that. I did not want to deny her one good day or cause her one bad one. 

The procedure itself was very calm and respectful. With the family present, as well as some hospital staff, the drugs were administered and she just drifted off to sleep.   

Her wishes were carried out as best we were able to arrange.