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
Additional Viewings
Shared Wisdom Network. (2018). Living & dying: A love story – Full documentary free to watch [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/257939456
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
Ontario. (December 2021). Ontario Provincial Framework for Palliative Care. Ministry of Health. https://tinyurl.com/dfap2zwv
