Death with Dignity

I am an advocate of the right to die with dignity.

Tonight, Marcel Trembley is going to end his life. Before he does so however he is holding a "living wake" for family and friends. This touched me right where I live. My mother also suffers from Pulmonary Fibrosis among other things but thankfully she has not yet progressed to a point where her quality of life is impaired. If her life were to become unbearable and if she chose to end her suffering, I would support her. I love my mother with all her flaws. I hope she never gets to that point but if she does I am glad that she has the option to end her life if she so chooses.

This man however is capable of ending his life without assistance. The act of commiting suicide was decriminalized in Canada in 1972. What about people faced with similar circumstances yet lack the capacity to end their lives without outside assistance despite their desire to end their own suffering in as humane a way as possible.

I don't know what I would do if face with this possibility. But I would at least like to have the option available to me whether I took advantage of it or not.

Read his story here via the CBC

My thought are with Marcel and his family. His courage to do this publicly in an effort to bring awarness to this issue humbles me.