Discussion Countering prolife hysteria around MAiD

[situationalsui]

I am from Canada and was devastated when the gov announced in Dec. they were postponing the March '23 date when folks with mental disorders were supposed to become eligible for MAiD (medical assistance in dying). We have already waited two years longer than everyone with somatic nonterminal illness, and there has been extensive work done to report and prepare over those two years.

I am considering taking up some activism on this topic and I wondered if anyone (especially but not limited to Canadians) here would be interested in joining me? There is so much press coming from the pro-life side, especially many psychiatrists and disability rights activists, that I feel we need to make more noise advocating for those with treatment resistant mental illness to have fair and equal access to MAiD, which is what the Supreme Court has ruled.

To start there should be a website devoted specifically to promoting MAiD for eligible people with mental disorders. Dying with Dignity has some info, but I feel there needs to be a MAiD for SUMAC (sole underlying condition mental disorder) site to try to balance the constant pro-life, disability rights hysteria and keep the pressure on the gov and psychiatrists. The gov and public are getting the message from psychiatrists and disability rights advocates that this should not be expanded, and this will lead to less people being approved in my opinion, which is absolute cruelty—again, my opinion.

Anyone here, especially Canadian or wanting to do MAiD activism, do web design or interested in getting involved? It could also allow others from this site with treatment resistant mental conditions to share their stories, either on video or written, around seeking a peaceful, self-determined death, and the cruelty of not having access to such. In my opinion these (our) voices are being dangerously drowned out by disability rights activists. Those who share stories wouldn't have to be limited to Canada. It could raise awareness globally.

Here is one of the few recent articles I found representing someone seeking MAiD in a more sympathetic light. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6749195

 

[TAW122]

I've read your article that you linked and it is definitely refreshing to hear some medical practitioners (especially a psychiatrist) supporting MAiD's expansion for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Coming from a logical and practical standpoint, there is a point where suffering for the sake of others or just suffering for the sake of no reprieve becomes futile and irrational. This is not even considering the economic situation, but just from a human rights perspective.

I will conceded on a minor point though is that there should be other options (in addition to MAiD) that the people suffering have access to other options as well to alleviate their problems (adequate housing, financial support, and other basic needs) in order to give them a fair chance to make a sound decision. If the other solutions are offered and they are still suffering, then yes, MAiD is definitely an option for them. I do still strongly disagree with Pollock, a disability rights activist on the notion that if one has a mental health issue, then [one] "needs help until [one] don't need it." This is essentially a never-ending goalpost and indefinite criteria because it could be years or one's entire (natural) lifespan before they get better, which in practice, one would have already passed from other causes, thus causing unnecessary and unbearable suffering (assuming one doesn't already take matters into one's own hands-- often with gruesome, barbaric methods, causing collateral damage to unwilling participants). Also, since mental illness is not something that can be observed (like a physical disease/ailment) or objectively measured (through instruments and what not), this leaves too much room for shifting goalposts and vague, inconsistent criteria (which is another topic for another thread).

Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear that the psychiatrist (Justine Dembo) that supports MAiD because it is centered around "human rights". Depending on what the criteria for "rigorous safeguards and protocols" and to what extent they are applied in practice, this could be a reasonable compromise and would be better than just outright denial of the right to die for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness.

 

[resolutory]

This would be wonderful if you did this, it's important to get our voices heard! Thank you! :D

 

[zeenatax]

Yes people with mental health issues should have choice and they need to relax the rules more. In its current state MAiD qualification is difficult to navigate.

 

[Octavia]

Best of luck to your endeavours, I would have loved to help if I was not going to die soon. I was hoping that my remains could at least be used to do some good after my passing, but it seems that MAID is no longer an option now. Quite the waste of perfectly good organs.