Dying with dignity is an issue being raised again in Ireland following rejection numerous times. Hospice care makes a huge difference for individuals and families but I dont think is widespread and available enough. I worked as a general nurse for 10 years and I personally questioned the level of interventions used to keep people alive resulting in extremely limited quality of life. I think there are wider conversations to be had. In the modern world comfort is prized and suffering is a frightening concept. I think older generations had a harder life and developed a greater capacity for suffering. *its a little hard to read, but love to see the handwritten page
Jun 6, 2023·edited Jun 6, 2023Liked by Tripp Hudgins
I really resonate with your question "is suffering undignified." I think you've hit the point when you suggest that it is not, but that culturally we have made it so. That places an added burden on the sufferer to cover their suffering for the sake of others. Suffering is human. Period. Full stop. I recommend to you Fanny Brewster's Archetypal Grief on this topic; she does some interesting writing about the ways enslavement stripped positive rituals of birth and death from Africanist culture, making the grief and trauma of the constant state of death that was enslavement even greater.
As CEO of a charitable hospice in Scotland, this issue is becoming a very "hot potato" as there is a bill about to be presented to the Scottish government that will allow Assisted Dying.
This means squaring my personal beliefs (yes, with strong safeguards and equitable access to high quality palliative care) with that of the sector (generally, need to oppose, definitely not get involved).
I suspect the upcoming discussions will bring out a lot of angst and hand-wringing from both sides of the debate.
Thanks for your article.
Ps. As a dyslexic, I find the hand written note difficult. If it want for the topic, I'd have given up. Which is a shame as I find your writings thoughtful and thought provoking!
I’m okay with the messy ambiguity of it all that each person/family gets to work out for themselves. The last thing we need shoved at us in the end is someone else’s dogma. I loved all your questions. As a retired RN who worked for a number of years as an oncology nurse, I always hoped people would choose their path with forethought. It really does make the end easier when wishes are made known before those emotional last days.
When I was first notified of my possible cancer, I was quite at ease with the future. When time came for me to schedule my surgery, I needed to update my DNR paperwork, since the person making the decision has changed. I was quite at ease filling in the blanks with all the "do-nots". It is a relief to know that the possibility of having to use it at this time is now, hopefully, many years away. It is never too early to prepare your mind, your family, and your friends .
In my experience with the experience around death with dignity, it is not death that folks are afraid of, it is suffering, being out of control, lack of agency. Sometimes just obtaining the drugs to achieve assisted suicide, is enough to give them this assurance. It really is pretty limited in my state, just because of the abilities you still need to have to carry through with it. One of the advantages of hospice can be the sense that their pain will be managed/controlled, and that there may be some support for the family. Would I do it myself.....maybe, it would depend on the circumstances. But I am okay with others having the option. In my brief experience in hospice (which was different as my role as a family member and social worker) they talk about the 'work' the dying person is doing at the end. The idea that the soul is maybe learning from this life experience, or processing their journey even when to our eyes they are just sleeping. I don't know about this concept. Maybe in your new position you will be able to share something about this.
Dying with dignity is an issue being raised again in Ireland following rejection numerous times. Hospice care makes a huge difference for individuals and families but I dont think is widespread and available enough. I worked as a general nurse for 10 years and I personally questioned the level of interventions used to keep people alive resulting in extremely limited quality of life. I think there are wider conversations to be had. In the modern world comfort is prized and suffering is a frightening concept. I think older generations had a harder life and developed a greater capacity for suffering. *its a little hard to read, but love to see the handwritten page
I really resonate with your question "is suffering undignified." I think you've hit the point when you suggest that it is not, but that culturally we have made it so. That places an added burden on the sufferer to cover their suffering for the sake of others. Suffering is human. Period. Full stop. I recommend to you Fanny Brewster's Archetypal Grief on this topic; she does some interesting writing about the ways enslavement stripped positive rituals of birth and death from Africanist culture, making the grief and trauma of the constant state of death that was enslavement even greater.
As CEO of a charitable hospice in Scotland, this issue is becoming a very "hot potato" as there is a bill about to be presented to the Scottish government that will allow Assisted Dying.
This means squaring my personal beliefs (yes, with strong safeguards and equitable access to high quality palliative care) with that of the sector (generally, need to oppose, definitely not get involved).
I suspect the upcoming discussions will bring out a lot of angst and hand-wringing from both sides of the debate.
Thanks for your article.
Ps. As a dyslexic, I find the hand written note difficult. If it want for the topic, I'd have given up. Which is a shame as I find your writings thoughtful and thought provoking!
Tripp, I find the handwritten notes hard to read because of the size of the print on my screen, even with my glasses on. Just my two cents.
I’m okay with the messy ambiguity of it all that each person/family gets to work out for themselves. The last thing we need shoved at us in the end is someone else’s dogma. I loved all your questions. As a retired RN who worked for a number of years as an oncology nurse, I always hoped people would choose their path with forethought. It really does make the end easier when wishes are made known before those emotional last days.
When I was first notified of my possible cancer, I was quite at ease with the future. When time came for me to schedule my surgery, I needed to update my DNR paperwork, since the person making the decision has changed. I was quite at ease filling in the blanks with all the "do-nots". It is a relief to know that the possibility of having to use it at this time is now, hopefully, many years away. It is never too early to prepare your mind, your family, and your friends .
In my experience with the experience around death with dignity, it is not death that folks are afraid of, it is suffering, being out of control, lack of agency. Sometimes just obtaining the drugs to achieve assisted suicide, is enough to give them this assurance. It really is pretty limited in my state, just because of the abilities you still need to have to carry through with it. One of the advantages of hospice can be the sense that their pain will be managed/controlled, and that there may be some support for the family. Would I do it myself.....maybe, it would depend on the circumstances. But I am okay with others having the option. In my brief experience in hospice (which was different as my role as a family member and social worker) they talk about the 'work' the dying person is doing at the end. The idea that the soul is maybe learning from this life experience, or processing their journey even when to our eyes they are just sleeping. I don't know about this concept. Maybe in your new position you will be able to share something about this.