7.8 Chapter Summary
Key Summary Points
- Understanding the concept of dying with dignity and the importance of dignity at the end of life, can help people who are dying and their loved ones better align their end-of-life care with personal wishes/preferences.
- Palliative care does not necessarily mean an individual needs end-of-life or hospice care; whereas hospice is end-of-life care. Medical assistance in dying is about ending life or hastening death. All are focused on the dignity of people who are ill and/or people who are dying.
- Assisted dying is available in a growing number of countries/regions around the world. Advocacy organizations that have played a role in bringing some of this legislation forward, also assist with education efforts and provide support for people wishing assistance in dying and their families.
Additional Resources
Below are a list of supplementary resources for students interested in learning more about the chapter topics. These resources are NOT required course materials. A list of required course materials, beyond those found throughout this chapter, are provided on the following page.
Additional Viewings
Dying with Dignity Canada. (April 15, 2024). In my own time [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/aTLMJ6PSyWo?si=l0ULvMVuizjrDEZ7
Shared Wisdom Network. (October 12, 2022). Living & dying: A love story (Full documentary) [Video]. YouTube.com. https://youtu.be/K7WYimyuvE8?si=uNRnw7PYFxnmcHv7
The Fifth Estate. (August 11, 2016). Assisted suicide: The life and death of Gloria Taylor [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7blnXINYTOM
The New Yorker. (June 23, 2021). Documenting her wife’s death on social media [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/1i-TvqmjsBw
Additional Readings
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). (2018). Access to palliative care in Canada. https://www.cihi.ca/sites/default/files/document/access-palliative-care-2018-en-web.pdf
Gentleman, A. (November 18. 2009). Inside the Dignitas house. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2009/nov/18/assisted-suicide-dignitas-house
Websites
Canadian Virtual Hospice. (n.d.). http://virtualhospice.ca/
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA). (n.d.-a). Historical timeline. https://www.chpca.ca/about-us/
Death with Dignity. (n.d.-b). Our history. https://deathwithdignity.org/history/
Dying with Dignity. (n.d.-a). https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca
Health Canada. (2018). Framework on palliative care in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/palliative-care/framework-palliative-care-canada/framework-palliative-care-canada.pdf
MAiDHouse. (n.d.). https://www.maidhouse.ca/
Ontario. (June 28, 2024). Palliative and end-of-life care. Ministry of Health. https://www.ontario.ca/page/palliative-and-end-life-care