Tell Us Your Story
We
are always looking for personal stories focused on end-of-life
experiences and we would like to hear from you, your family or your
friends. Experts agree that storytelling activates a function in the
brain called ‘neural coupling’ which enables a listener or reader to
convert the ideas in the story into his/her own ideas and experiences.
This makes the content more personal and relatable. Stories from
Arizonans are critical, because when we have gathered enough original
stories, we will produce an "anthology" for use in demonstrating to
lawmakers and news media the importance their constituents place on
end-of-life choices. So, if you have a story (or even an idea for one)
please send Marsha McIntosh an email at AZELO.comm@gmail.comand
let her know. She can even help you craft your submission. Carla
Wykoff's from-the-heart story below is a wonderful example.
My
name is Carla Wykoff. I am a long-time resident of Arizona, a
retired engineer, scientist, teacher, and advocate for the desert
biological diversity. I have been fighting lung and liver cancer
for six years. I have endured surgeries, radiation, and the side
effects of treatment.
I
do not know how much longer I have to live. I am fighting the
best I can but I am tired of being sick and I am exhausted by medical
interventions. I do not want to die nor do I want to live in a
weakened state, unable to do the things that have always given my life
meaning. I want to live as long as I am able to get out into the
wild places that are my source of spiritual energy.
But
when my body signals me that my time is close, I want the option of
ending my own life with dignity, enjoying the company of those I love
- when, where and how I choose.
It
troubles me that I will likely not have this option in my home state of
Arizona -- that others, whose beliefs I do not share, can and
will force me to suffer pain and indignation in my last moments on the
planet. I find that wrong, even barbaric.
I
would like to thank my family and friends, and my doctors and other
caregivers for their long support. I would like to ask you, my
fellow Arizonans, to implement the option of medical aid in dying for
all terminally-ill Arizonans who would prefer, like me, to end
their lives on their own terms.
AT THE CAPITOL
-- Leesa Stevens of Sedona (left) and Mary Ganapol of Tucson review the
busy lineup of legislative meetings, guest speakers, and floor debates
at the 2020 Secular Day at the Capitol Feb. 24 in Phoenix. The Secular
Coalition for Arizona works to ensure a clear separation of church and
state and supports AZELO's efforts to bring medical aid-in-dying
legislation to Arizona.
ELSEWHERE:
'The people of Maryland have spoken'
Advocates, lawmakers, and leaders of national organizations were gathered last month at the Maryland State Capitol in Annapolis to urge legislators to pass the state’s End-of-Life Option Act.
Peg Sandeen, Executive Director of Death with Dignity National Center,
delivered remarks at a press conference where she released the results
of a new pollshowing that 66 percent of Marylanders support medical aid in dying (MAID).
“It’s an honor to be here today as we begin our fifth session of work
on the Maryland End-of-Life Option Act," she said. "We hope it is the
final phase of our long effort to let the people of Maryland have the
option to die with dignity. This is our year.
“I’m pleased to confirm what those of us here already know. The Oregon
law – and all the other state laws that are modeled on it – have
performed flawlessly for an entire generation, without any of the horror
stories that its opponents like to promote. That’s right: we have a
generation’s worth of data demonstrating the law works as it
should—granting the right to medical aid in dying to a small number of
qualified terminally ill individuals while protecting all others against
coercion and
abuse.
“Recently, Death with Dignity commissioned a poll of Marylanders from
every corner of the state. As you can see from the results we have
provided here, every single demographic in this state supports death
with dignity. Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Rural, urban and
suburban. Old, young and middle aged. African American, white.
“Every single group of people supports this law, according to this January 2020 poll from respected Maryland pollster, Gonzales Research & Media Services.
Study shows 53% of AZ doctors
favor medical aid-in-dying law
A
recent survey of 800 Arizona doctors reveals that the majority of
practicing physicians support options that allow terminally ill adult
patients to have much more involvement in how their final days and
ultimate passing should be handled. In addition, the study reported
there are two primary reasons
medical aid in dying still isn’t legal nationwide. First, the general
public lacks a good understanding of the entire death and dying
experience. Second, end-of-life (EOL) care is sorely lacking in most
medical schools across the country. Most survey respondents reported
having no EOL training in medical school.
One survey respondent said, “Even though I am a Catholic, and a
physician, I think that if death is inevitable, there is little benefit
in prolonging it with medical technology, in order to gain a few more
days or weeks of life that will be mostly miserable. As a person, I
would like to have the option to die at home, with a physician's help,
legally, if I am terminally ill and I am suffering, should I choose to
do so. I should not have to travel to another state. The option should
apply to all of us."
See the full study results (CLICK HERE)
