Blog Post #5 – Inquiry Project

My inquiry project is: Why do people choose/use Medical Assistance in Dying?

Today, my research will be focusing on what goes on within a patient’s mind during the whole process. I will be looking at the feelings of the patients and further explore how they feel. I will also be researching about some general information about MAiD and pretty much anything I have not researched yet to sum up this last researched blog post.

First of all, I want to state that it is completely normal to be feel frightened prior to the date of the death. Everyone feels this way, and if the patent doesn’t want to go through with the plan anymore, they have full control to call it off. Secondly, all the decisions about their own death must be made by the patient themselves. Other people, such as family members, aren’t allowed to persuade, bribe, or talk the patient into either using MAiD to pass away or not using it to pass. Although feelings may conflict, it is best for the patient themselves to choose their own fate. Additionally, there are many other reasons a terminally ill patient may choose to use MAiD are that includes loss of autonomy, loss of ability to do meaningful or enjoyable activities, disease-related symptoms, and fear of suffering. However, a professional doctor must give the “okay” sign before any procedures leading to MAiD, otherwise it is considered illegal to perform the operation. [1]

People may wonder if there is a cost that required for using MAiD. The answer is no. Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are receiving publicly-funded health services in Canada have access to MAiD at no cost. Another very common question asked my patients who may want to seek more information is “How is Medical Assistance in Dying different from suicide?” Suicide is a very widely debated topic these days, and in most people’s minds, it is a bad thing to commit suicide. However, there is a huge difference between using MAiD and committing suicide. Some see the act of suicide as a wish to die and victims are unable to see living as an option, while MAiD is an accumulation of losses over time that leads to someone feeling that life isn’t worth living because quality is too poor. Therefore, MAiD is an act that is safe and approved by professionals, and suicide is a terrible thing that must be stopped. Now, about how long will the MAiD process take. Well, it takes a varied amount of time, usually depending the complexity of the patient’s case, their location, available practitioners, their preferred timeline, and the stream of eligibility criteria they fall under. The patient and their families are encouraged to share their preferred timeline, and depending on these factors, all efforts will be made to accommodate their request. [2]

Where can MAiD take place? There are a variety of different places a patient can choose to pass away. They include health-care facilities, a designated Medical Assistance in Dying location, another location agreed upon by the patient and care team, and even at the patient’s home. Research has shown that most patients feel safe and at ease within the four walls of their own home, so many of them have asked the doctors to go to their house to perform the operation. How long does it take a patient to die after given the medication? In fact, most patient lose consciousness quickly, and die within a few minutes. However, everyone is different in their own way and sometimes the time length varies from person to person. [3]

Thanks for reading!

These are the sources I used:

1. https://www.virtualhospice.ca/maid/articles/why-do-people-consider-maid/
2. http://www.vch.ca/public-health/health-topics-a-z/topics/medical-assistance-in-dying/frequently-asked-questions-about-maid
3. https://www.ontario.ca/page/medical-assistance-dying-and-end-life-decisions