A Potential Window of Opportunity
By Mark Savan
Executive Director, Arizona End of Life Options

Earlier this week, I had the honor of speaking to the congregation at The Fountains United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills about End of Life Options and Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). This engagement was made possible through AZELO volunteer Penny Davis and her friend Pastor David Felton who graciously invited us into this thoughtful community.

Faith communities, especially in Arizona, often have deep reservations about MAID, so I was grateful for the opportunity to foster understanding and connection on this topic.

Rev. Madison Shockley, a dedicated advocate for end-of-life choices and a member of the board of directors for Compassion & Choices, joined me in speaking. Rev. Shockley’s personal story about his father’s final months resonated with everyone present. His father’s dual diagnoses of liver and bone cancer presented heart-wrenching choices, and he recounted his experience trying to help his father experience a “better” death, knowing that liver cancer would likely be a quicker, less painful path than bone cancer. Rev. Shockley’s experience highlighted the importance of patient-directed care and respecting a loved one’s dignity at the end of life—a perspective aligned with AZELO’s mission.

The congregation’s response was outstanding. They brought thoughtful questions and demonstrated genuine curiosity about how MAID can fit into a compassionate approach to end-of-life care. We had a robust Q&A session, addressing the status of MAID in Arizona, and the ways AZELO and organizations like Compassion & Choices advocate for those facing these difficult choices. To those of you who attended and are now joining our newsletter readership, welcome.

As I write this article, we are about 10 days away from the election. I’m sure that you’ve heard enough about it (I know that I have) so I’ll just mention once again that depending on the composition of the state legislature we may have an increased chance of success with MAID legislation. We should know more on this by the time of our next newsletter and we will share our thoughts at that point.

Image: Penny Davis (AZELO Volunteer) and Gail Shockley of Compassion and Choices answering questions during an event at The Fountains Methodist Church.