Bioethics

[CatherineM]

I am going to be named to the Bioethics committee at a large rehabilitation hospital in the next couple of weeks. It's the place you go here after becoming paralyzed, having a stroke, losing a limb, that kind of thing. They also have a lot of affiliated programs like adult fetal alcohol, teenage psychiatric in patient, eating disorders, etc. 

We have given lectures on living with mental illnesses and dealing with kids with fetal alcohol to their classes of nurses training to be psychiatric nurses every semester for the last five years. They help us get these young adults we take in tested for FASD so we can get them resources and supports. 

For those who aren't aware, almost a year ago, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down the laws banning assisted suicide. The court gave the provinces a year to come up with guidelines for it. They did that because when they struck down the abortion laws, the provinces didn't pass guidelines so it is technically legal to have an abortion at 8.9999 months because we have no laws now. 

My husband is on the provincial committee overseeing the development of the new rules. He wasn't sure he wanted to do it, but asked the bishop and he said we needed to have people like him on the committee so it didn't end up being a free for all. Those rules are going to be online in about four weeks. 

So this is going to be the biggest responsibility I've taken on since I did death penalty work. Our committee will be approving the policies for the hospital and ultimately deciding who will get to do it. I hope I am up to the task. We certainly don't want people with treatable mental illnesses to be able to kill themselves because they can't accept their diagnosis, or have caused their families shame or dishonour. It might take some real fighting. 

So if you guys have suggestions on how to approach some of the issues by personal experience, I'd love to hear it. I never knew anyone who awoke from a coma, or tried to kill themselves because they had a cancer diagnosis and then recovered. My grand father was put in a nursing home due to dementia, and after a couple of years, for some reason he got better and was able to go back home. He relapsed a couple of years later, but if he'd committed suicide after his first diagnosis, he'd never have met his great grandchildren. 

[CatherineM]

I've been getting to see palatine care up lose and personal this month as my father in law comes to the end of his life. At first I though it was nice that Austin and his sisters have had time to spend with him. My Dad died suddenly, so we didn't get that. Now, I'm realizing how a quick death can also be a gift. My FIL is getting really close and going through some real unpleasantness. We're starting to pray for it to end. 

[corban711]

Catherine,

 

i dont have any suggestions for you from personal experience but I did want to let you know that I am here, and am praying for you (and for your husband).  

The work that you are doing is huge and vastly important.  I pray He continue to give you the wisdom necessary to make good decisions and the strength and support you need to continue on and see it through.  Because it won't be easy.  

And I am very sorry to hear about your FIL.  Praying for him and your family as well.  Over the last 5 and a half years I saw my grandfather and my grandmother die and it was very hard.  Both of them hung in there for quite a long time.  From experience on that point, I can say that having the time with them before they go is definitely a gift and can also be immensely difficult, especially the longer it continues on.  Of course give them the proper care and support their body needs (we weren't going to let our grandmother starve to death or die of thirst), but at some point I really do feel like if death is all that separates them from a full entrance into life, death can be a blessing too.  

I think that one of the really sad things with the suicide issue is precisely the kind of situation you point to.  I think many people would look at the diagnosis and say "it's not worth it" or "we can't beat it anyways" and choose to end their life when, in many cases, there could be a whole lot of life left for them, but instead they give up and throw in the towel.  There will be a lot of hurting, wounded people choosing to end their life because they can't accept their diagnosis.  And I think that only gets much worse (and will likely be much more common) among those with treatable mental illness.  It is a very sad reality and I'm very happy to know that you and your husband are out there fighting that battle.  

My prayers are with you

 

 

[CatherineM]

My FIL is hanging in there. I can't tell you how many times they've told us he won't survive the night to call in the morning to hear he is reading the paper and flirting with the nurses. 

[CatherineM]

A perfect example of why assisted dying is laughing in God's face. My husband just got a call that his Dad has been reclassified as not actively dying. Whatever that means. 

[Spem in alium]

This is such important work!

This probably isn't along your lines, but I just thought of it. A very dear friend of mine was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) seven years ago. She couldn't walk at all, then progressed to crutches, and now uses a walking stick. A couple of years ago she developed involuntary muscle spasms, and then the CRPS spread to her right arm, which she now can't use at all. She's had to learn to walk again and to use her left arm for everything. Her prognosis is pretty poor. The doctors working with her have tried everything, really - spinal stimulation, physical therapy, drugs - but the consensus is that she won't improve much beyond what she is now. It has, to be honest, been a really hard seven years in terms of our relationship. I love her deeply, and I know she loves me, and it's been very hard to see her change from such a relaxed person into someone very irritable. I feel like my role has become more of a nurturer and comforter for her rather than a friend.The drugs she was on last year made her incredibly forgetful and she would ramble a lot when we spoke. She has lost many friends through this. Early on, she started talking about suicide and was placed under observation, and she now sees psychiatrists and is medicated for depression. I know she's not dying, and that some of the ethical issues don't play into this situation, but through my experience with my friend I've really seen the impact of chronic illness, how much it can take out of you, and how much it can reduce a person. There's also a lot that I and her family can't understand - especially her physical pain. And there are a lot of questions to ask, importantly: how much more can be done for her? Do we continue this treatment even though we know it's not helping?

Edited February 3, 2016 by Spem in alium

[CatherineM]

I've been through that same discussion many times. After my spinal burst fracture, I couldn't move for 7 weeks. If it had been available, I don't know if I'd have done it. I certainly had suicidal thoughts, but couldn't have even if I decided to. 

[CatherineM]

Today's my first meeting of the committee. As long as I focus on conception to natural death and all have equal human dignity, I should be able to make wise decisions. 

[CatherineM]

I knew it was going to be an interesting day when I arrived for my meeting to find the elevators weren't working. There was a line of walkers and wheelchairs around the corner waiting for them to fix it. It was wonderful to be taken seriously in a professional capacity again.