![]() Today, Minnesotans are depriving themselves of food and water in order to hasten their deaths to escape extreme suffering. Nonetheless, I have come to see that not only are these laws being using conservatively, compassionately and wisely, I believe that as a person who has death on my horizon, I should be able to do with my body as I choose. I now am living with my own terminal disease, and it is very unlikely I would need or choose this option, as my suffering will likely be brief and treatable with hospice care. I did not participate directly in their deaths, but I witnessed great compassion among the doctors who did. All were well served by our hospices, but all had suffering beyond our capabilities to ease. As a hospice medical director, I was witness to several patients who chose this option. Each person who enrolled in the program had complete agency in decisionmaking over the period required by the law. In 2021, the last year of reporting, one out of 215 people who died did so through the "death with dignity" law. In fact, in both Washington and Oregon, the legalization of physician-assisted suicide has been used sparingly, compassionately and thoughtfully. I also knew I could never prescribe drugs to intentionally cause death because my entire ethical framework as a palliative care physician is to relieve suffering, knowing that the drugs I gave could hasten death - but that my intention was always to relieve suffering primarily.Īll that said, I was wrong in my opposition to death with dignity. I believed that death is a fulfillment of our time here on Earth, and I have witnessed great growth and healing of folks on their deathbeds, as well as in their families. I believed that almost all physical, emotional and spiritual pain can be successfully eased with the care already available. ![]() Creagan, I believe we underutilize resources such as hospice in our death-denying culture. In fact, when I practiced in Washington state, I was a strong and public opponent to the "death with dignity" ballot initiative. Not anymore.Īs a board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physician for 30 years before I retired, I find myself frequently in agreement with Edward Creagan's counterpoint, "All lives matter, even the lives of the dying" (Opinion Exchange, Feb. MEDICAL AID IN DYING I used to oppose it. Our failure to do so makes our mourning for the earthquake victims seem hollow indeed. Wars are man-made disasters we can prevent if we chose to do so. But we must also remember that, according to the United Nations, between March 2011 and March 2021, at least 350,209 lives were lost in the Syrian civil war.Įarthquakes are natural disasters we don't choose and can't prevent. The world rightfully mourns the loss of at least 6,000 lives in the Syrian and Turkish earthquake. Paul.Opinion editor's note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. They typically perform in five productions from September through May at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown St. The 60-year-old orchestra has 46 core musicians and regularly expands with extra players. “Furthermore, in September, both parties agreed to negotiate in good faith and operate under the terms of the previous contract until a new agreement could be reached.” “We’re disappointed at this unnecessary step by the union, as throughout these negotiations we have been responsive, transparent and accommodating to their numerous requests,” the statement read. Minnesota Opera management issued a response that said a new labor agreement was best accomplished at the negotiating table during mutually agreed upon sessions. Management is unwilling to share a strategic plan/detailed company vision and all financial information about the Minnesota Opera. ![]() Musicians have received no indication from management that the next four year contract will guarantee their work together as an orchestra. The stated position of management is that there is “no interest” in a service guarantee going forward or even a contractual assurance to the musicians for the future. Management has cut musicians’ work by more than 40 percent. ![]()
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