The end of a life journey can often intertwine living with dying.....

Her Choice

by Beverlee Bampied (c)

She should have the right to die
Inside she is screaming but all that can be heard is her sigh
She did not choose to be living this wasted life
She did not choose to put everybody into such strife
As she now has to be cared for
As if she were a baby
She is nothing more
Than a shell of who she was
So is it not possible that just maybe 
This isn't what God had planned for her"
This isn't the way that her life
Was supposed to be
And this certainly isn't the way she wants to be remembered
Can't 'they' all see?
She's incapable of living a normal life
She's unable to be heard now - can no longer speak
And an end to her living hell is what she now seeks
'They' need to understand that she does not want to go on
Living in such horrible pain - all her normal abilities gone
She tries to show emotion and her tearless eyes cry
As she's lost all her rights but does not know why
'They' keep on fighting  over which way it should be
As she lays there struggling to breath
She needs to move on -  they' need to see
That 'they' must let her go and allow her to
Die with dignity

The opportunity to live one's life well, even at its end, should not ever be denied and must be the first goal of the medical profession, palliative care medicine, and hospices. However, when there is no longer the ability to live life well, and no amount of medication can eliminate the excruciating pain a terminally ill person is experiencing, should there not be another option available to living while dying? Should not patients - and no one else - be able to decide their own end-of-life care and should not that decision include the choice to die with dignity? With this choice, suffering could be prevented for both the patient and their loved ones. Good things would be possible. Loved ones could be together. Memories could be shared. The patient could be emotionally protected and treasured at this very difficult time and feelings of happiness, contentment and warmth can take over as their life comes to an end.....