Page 80 - THE ENDLESS WAVE | Skateboarding, Death & Spirituality

THE ENDLESS WAVE | PART ONE
When doing some research for this topic, I found out that the Benelux coun- tries have MAID at 4.7% of all deaths. I sense that as more people discover it is available as an option, the more it will grow. When it comes to medically assisted deaths, cancer is by far (67%) the number one illness that people have.
For some people, the idea of deciding to be medically assisted in order to exit this world seems absolutely contrary to every fibre in their body. This book is not here to debate the merits of MAID. It is merely here to let you know that MAID is slowly becoming an option for some people. It is a difficult choice, but it is indeed a choice.
One of the things that has become more popular in the area of death and dying is the idea of hospice. Over the last decade, hospice has become more known and it has definitely helped families in a time of crisis. I truly believe that hos- pice provides a special bridge between what a family can offer and what a hos- pital can offer. I think it carefully blends the best of the serenity and quiet of home with the assurance that medical assistance is only a few meters down the hall.
I strongly believe that when you combine all the positive aspects of hospice care with MAID, you get a situation where the patient, the family and the med- ical staff can work together to find the most suitable path.
If and when you find yourself at a crossroads and you do not wish to con- tinue living, it is absolutely vital that you have discussed your wishes. I’ll readily admit, these are not easy conversations to have, but they are ex- tremely important.
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