dying on thursday

assisted-suicide“Most of us wonder, every once in a while, when we might die. Noreen Campbell knew it would be Thursday and it was.”

Thus begins a report in today’s Times Colonist on a Saanich woman’s carefully considered decision to seek and receive her doctor’s assistance in ending her life. Assisted suicide, under strict rules, became legal on June 17, 2016, when the Federal Parliament of Canada passed Bill C-14, establishing the legislation to regulate the practice of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).

I imagine that this story will raise questions and concerns in you — especially so since we’ve just begun our examination of ‘a year to live.’ I hadn’t planned to touch on the topic of How to Die till later, but here it is, right under our nose, in what could well be your neighbour’s home.

As I reflect on my reaction to all this, I invite you to do likewise.

May Noreen Campbell’s family and friends be at ease.

see COMMENTS from people who accompanied Noreen on her journey.

 

2018-09-17T18:06:01-07:00January 13th, 2017|2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Ellen Agger 14 January 2017 at 16:16 - Reply

    Thanks for sharing this, Peter. I was with Noreen and her family shortly before she died. She was an incredible woman with a passion for living and a commitment to helping others live fully and die peacefully.

    Here’s a video she made that was presented at the Oct. 1, 2016 public information meeting on assisted dying organized by the Victoria Chapter of Dying With Dignity Canada: http://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/noreen_campbell_video

  2. Jeffrey Brooks 15 January 2017 at 00:43 - Reply

    Yes Peter thank you for this. I was with Noreen on Thursday when she died. A privilege and an honour. In addition to the quote you cite, she mentioned how having C-14 and her MAiD approval in August gave her 4 more months of life. It meant she did not have to consider her Plan B which was Dignitas in Switzerland in October or the horrible choking death that would have been natural with her COPD.

    She was so grateful. She said it doesn’t get better than going to her grandson’s hockey game Wednesday evening then having a nice lunch Thursday with much food, fine Riesling (“But that will be a waste on you, Jeffrey”) laughter (To her MAiD physician: “No I haven’t changed my mind or anything.”) and then she died as planned.

    She was so proud of Canada for having C-14. She knew they will fix it to meet the Supreme Court Carter decision and then “go beyond Carter”. Some of us get to chose the time and place of our peaceful death.

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