Kudos to you for your article on assisted-dying.
My late Aunt was granted the right to die with dignity at the age of 99 last October.
My sister who spent the last 2 weeks with her is a retired RN with extensive knowledge in Geriatrics as well as being a member of various teams that did accreditation’s at health facilities across the Nation. I only mention this because of her perspective on the subject of life and death.
She said that she and my Aunt had this wonderful 2 weeks sharing old memories and laughing. I called in on a number of occasions to share some good stories. She was a wonderful lady who had a great run. The actual process of letting my Aunt go was amazing. It was comfortable and quiet and she slipped away according to her wishes.
While progress has been made, interference and delay from the Medical Profession, Politicians and even the Church-state frustrate me to no end. The decision-making process should be that of the family in consultation with their doctor, but ultimately let the person decide.
Thanks for your article. There is still work to be done, that’s for sure.
-- a reader
I worked in healthcare and I don’t believe in assisted dying. A few years ago I had 5 family members dying of cancer and not one of them wanted someone to hasten their death. Many doctors feel the need to sustain life, not to end it. If a person wants to die they will find a way without the healthcare team.
-- a reader
AGREE 100% Please continue the fight !
-- a reader
Thank you for continuing to bring attention to strengthening the assisted dying law – especially for those who are falling through the cracks and unable to access assisted dying. ie those who are suffering but death is not imminent and for those who want to give consent while they’re still able.
The bracelet for those who oppose and do not consent to medical assistance in dying is a brilliant idea. If the bracelet were for those who do consent, then facilities or practitioners opposed to the bill may be tempted to cut the bracelet off. I suppose that could happen in the opposite scenario as well. I’ve heard about people tattooing on their chest – do not resuscitate.
-- a reader
I agree with you 200%. Let the people make up their own mind what they want to do with their bodies, not the politicians.
-- a reader
The bracelet certainly should decide. There is nothing crueller than leaving a terminal person just lay there with no quality of life. It is cruel for the family as well as the patient and the Health Care System. Who are the politicians to say what I should do with my life. I am sure when it is their turn the tables will be turned but no one will know about it.
-- a reader
I strongly agree with advanced directives. My mother has dementia, and during brief moments of lucidity tells me she wants to die (and has even asked me to kill her). Her greatest fear was always to become what she is now—lost and confused, with no control over her daily activities. I have no reason to think I will be spared this disease, and have informed my children that should I receive this diagnosis, I will end my life before I end up in a long-term care home, pining for a “home” I no longer own, not recognizing most of my own family. It’s sad, because I will have to do this while I still have some good life left or it will be too late, but I absolutely will not burden my children by making them watch me suffer. I suspect as more and more Baby Boomers clog up the long-term care system we will see forward motion in this issue, but you are correct in saying that our politicians need to act on this NOW.
-- a reader
A few years ago I read an article about patients who experience excruciating suffering. I absolutely agree with your thoughts on this topic and I also agree that extending (quality of) living is a miracle in the modern age, BUT prolonging death is its corresponding curse.
We need a government that is more heartfelt and caring on this personal decision.
MY VOTE: THROW THOSE EGGS DOCTOR – THROW THOSE EGGS.
p.s. maybe a ‘bracelet’ will spark the attention of the medical professionals?!?!
-- a reader in Red Deer, AB
Dear Doctor Gifford-Jones,
First, let me tell you I have been reading your column, published in the Edmonton Sunday Sun, for years. I appreciate your insight and practical approach to medicine. I started drinking Medi-C Plus supplement years ago. I think it’s amazing. Thank you for recommending it to your readers (fans).
Regarding your very practical suggestion that people who do not want extraordinary procedures to prolong their life in situations where they are not able to articulate that, a bracelet would be a very practical and unarguable solution. If the person making the decision to wear this bracelet has made this decision known to everyone, I don’t see where anybody has the right to object or create barriers that prevents that individual from having their wishes carried out.
I support Dying with Dignity, and I support you, if rotten eggs gets the attention of those who presume to know better, throw away!
-- a reader in Edmonton, AB
MAID bracelet is an excellent idea. Trouble is…it’s too simple. Politicians need messy, inconvenient, expensive, complicated studies to make any kind of decision…it’s kind of a ‘make work’ project for them. Keep up the good work!
-- a reader
I am 64 and both my parents are alive. Dad is 90 and mom is 85, both have Alzheimer’s. Yes I would like to make the choice now about my future because I am very frightened that I too along with my 2 sisters and brother will develop this devastating disease that I wouldn’t wish on anybody. Both mom and dad if they knew what their later years would be like would not have chosen to live on with this disease. I would like to decide NOW about myself.
-- a reader
The laws will change as the demographics of our country change. As a population we are not replacing ourselves and we are getting older, living longer and more expensively because of the drugs and procedures available to us. At the same time the cost of healthcare will become so astronomical with an ever reducing number of working people available to pick the tab. Health care will have to be rationed and at that point, governments will have to recognize the wisdom of allowing a person to die at a time of their choosing.
-- a reader
If only u were running for any party!!!! You would win!!!
-- a reader
I couldn’t agree with you more. I am about to turn 70 and amazing in good health but I have a wife of 10 years who is only 56 and has been institutionalized for 2 years with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. I don’t believe she would want to be where she is and I certainly don’t wish this for myself or anybody else. I admire your fight on this issue and would be willing to join in any way I can to ensure that our voices are heard.
-- a reader
Excellent idea!
-- a reader
Hi doc, agree with you wholeheartedly about your thoughts on MAID. My husband and I have many times discussed the way we would like to die and also the way in which our loved ones will die. What husband or wife wants to watch the other die in pain. I also feel that people should be allowed to decide, while still of sound mind, the way they wish to die should they become mentally incapacitated. Keep up the good work, wish more doctors thought the way you do.
-- a reader
I support your stance on needing to make MAID available to those who wish to avoid long term disability. My late wife and I made it known that if we became in a vegetative state we wanted no attempts to extend our lives. She died after a short period of time following diagnosis of cancer.
-- a reader
I’ll pay for the eggs!
-- a reader in BC
I don’t have anything to add to how you have already expressed yourself on MAID except to agree with you. I have always taken this position myself.
I don’t know how the sanctimonious will handle their own personal suffering, or watch that of a loved one in pain when the time eventually comes.
Something this personal should be a choice of individual comportment, and be of no consequential affect on other people’s lives.
-- a reader
Much as I am generally opposed to suicide, I want to tell you that my parents both died after years of suffering from the effects of dementia and its associated loss of independence, friendships, family joy and more than a few indignities during their time in nursing homes. If I begin to show signs of dementia, I would want to be allowed to sign an advanced directive for MAID.
-- a reader
-- a reader
I agree completely with Dr. Gifford. He was always ahead of his time. God bless him and keep him going for a long time, we need this man.. I wish he would come to Windsor Ontario again to speak on health..I saw him at the Cabotto club and got his books and mega C. Just looking at this man and how he has helped thousands, we should all respect his knowledge. Seeing him , you can see you have met someone who walks the walk and tells it like it really is…may he have a Blessed life with many more years ahead. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
-- a reader
The religious aspect…you will scoff. I am “ one of those”. I believe it is contrary to Christ’s teachings As in abortion “ thou shall not kill”
-- a reader
A well known politician said that we have no business in the bedrooms of the nation. By doing nothing on MAID, politicians are in fact putting their noses in our coffins.
-- a reader
My wife died two years ago with medical assistance in dying. She was diagnosed with ALS two years previously. I can tell you due her suffering and mine watching her slowly die for two years was hell. It was the best option to end her life painlessly, with dignity and compassion. The reason they don’t want people dying this way is because they don’t make any more money from them with useless drugs.
-- a reader
I AM IN FAVOUR OF ASSISTED DEATH. AT A MINIMUM, NO INTERFERENCE IF THE SUFFERER WISHES THAT. KEEP UP THIS EFFORT.
-- a reader
Why don’t you supply every one a link to all the politicians so we can forward this article to them en mass and ask them why they didn’t respond and what are they now going to do about it now.
-- a reader
I am in total agreement with your comments both on the subject of MAID and the quality of political leadership.
With regard to the latter it is my belief that we have been unable to separate the church from the state and it is the former that is causing the problem that we face.
-- a reader
Maybe the system (the related health provider companies & drug supply companies) that benefit from prolonging peoples misery have something to do with the lack of interest of politicians who see no benefit to getting involved.
-- a reader
Seems your legislators have taken lessons from the US Congress… I thought Canada had more common sense… :-((
-- a reader in Rhode Island
Thank you for your time and effort in this matter. We need better political parties so the will do what we elected them to do the will of the people. Look what is happening in Hong Kong. Same thing of some sort. We must make these politicians understand that we pay their pay check.
-- a reader
I am currently the sole care giver for my wife with Alzheimer’s. We have known each other for over 60 years and have been married for over 30.If I could find a way of ending her suffering I would do it in a New York minute.
-- a reader
Trusting a loved one to make this decision can be ominous. Most of us go through our lives thinking of everyone but ourselves. This is too big of a decision to leave in the hands of a loved one who at a critical moment cannot bear to lose a family member. A bracelet that requires only the request of the bearer should be sufficient and doesn’t need a political debate.
-- a reader
Could not agree with you more. Hard to imagine such suffering being allowed in a so-called modern society. But sadly, I am not surprised that our political leaders and wanna-be’s have ignored your pleas.
-- a reader
Pass the rotten eggs and I’ll be right beside you. Cheers
-- a reader
Hello Dr. Jones,
Your writing is sincere. I wonder what you think of us who find a way of respecting your opinion but who are of the opinion that human life is a special condition deserving of protection at all stages of its development from conception until its most natural end. Humans are so very gifted in their knowledge and learning capacities that no one would ever want to end such a gift because we can. I know you have the capacity to assist each human to live comfortably to their natural end without assisting their demise. That assistance is a display of respect of human life. You could be instrumental in leading the way to such respect. We all learn from accompanying people in their end times. We learn how to face end times with dignity. In Laudati Si, Pope Francis points out a reality that if we do not respect all human life, it will not be a reality for us to have the respect necessary to save the other members of creation. I believe this is our challenge. Life is sacred. Help us to respect it, please.
Blessings to you.
-- a reader
I agree with your view of our politicians and your views on the topic generally. Please keep up the good work.
-- a reader
I agree that medical aid in dying, MAID, should not be limited to an imminent death. The aim is to end unnecessary suffering if requested by an individual while of sound mind. We live in a society that euthanizes it’s pets so they do not suffer, but human beings do not have the same right.
-- a reader
As a longer than 20-year member of Dying With Dignity Canada, I have written several letters during that time to my MLAs, MPs (one of which was Stephen Harper for too many of those years) and others. Also I would like to thank you for writing your direct article.
-- a reader
Thank you for giving me a voice and an opportunity to use this voice to bring about change. I am speaking of your stand about the weak medical aid in dying act (MAID) My husband was diagnosed with early onset dementia -he was not allowed to decide on the time and method his life would end.
Instead we had to watch him slowly lose all basic functions and die a slow slow death. His children called it death by a 1000. Cuts each week/ month another function would shut down. He died at 60.
We suffered as a family trying to care for him and work full time we still had a mortgage and kids in high school. When we had to put him in care the facilities just couldn’t accommodate a young fit man so they drugged him into complacency and the care almost bankrupted us. Early on he begged us to end it we couldn’t why? Why couldn’t he choose to die with dignity?
-- a reader
Thank you for being our Common Sense Watchman. I know a lot of your readers feel the same way. We support 100% your common sense approach.
-- a reader
I agree 100% plus with everything you have written on this issue, Dr. Gifford-Jones. Thank you so much for your efforts on behalf of all thinking, compassionate Canadians.
-- a reader
My wife and I totally agree with your column. Thank you for your MAID efforts, let’s keep up the fight!
-- a reader
Thank you for this. I have been facing opposition in my opinion to allow assisted death for years, and it’s good to know someone of your stature and reach is being proactive about it. I will definitely write Trudeau and pass on your email to all my senior friends, all of which share your thoughts because they’ve been or are actively looking after parents/relatives who are enduring a horrible few last years.
-- a reader
