Life asked death: “Why do people love me but hate you?”
Death responded: “Because you are a beautiful lie and I am the painful truth.” (Anonymous)
I struggled to write this piece. I know it’s not a favourite subject at the dinner table but someday, ready or not, it will all come to an end.
Just recently, a friend of the family, a physician, passed away in hospital. He was one of the “old school” doctors, not only interested in trying to cure your ailments but also wanting to find the cause of your complaint. He was a friend to all.
Even though he had been retired for many years, he still offered his advice to those who asked for it. He had a thirst for finding out why certain things happened to people.
We are the masters of our own destiny by the choices we make, be they good or bad. Do you sometimes wonder how our lives would have been changed if another route had been taken in our journey through life.
How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter, among many other things, is not your success in life but your significance.
According to Mollie Carlile, a specialist palliative care nurse, talking about dying is the most important conversation we can have. “You only get to die once, so you can’t afford to stuff it up.”
Mollie believes that everyone should have a conversation about their wishes around dying and should draw up an Advance Care Plan, a “contract”, a living will that tells family and medical staff your wishes for an acceptable outcome.
“Palliative care is not just about dying – it’s also about living. It’s about making the last days or weeks as good as possible.Death is something we don’t just talk about in our Australian society – it’s hidden, so people have very different responses.” (Nikki Johnston, palliative care nurse practitioner ).
Now available to all eligible Queenslanders, the Queensland Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 was passed by the Queensland Government and implemented in 2023.
It’s a legal way out for those who have a difficult time of living their life to the fullest.
Although there was some genuine concern at the time as to its implementation.
It must be a huge decision to make, but for one person known to me, (who took advantage of the Government decision), the most heartbreaking comment of all was when the conversation ended and they said “goodbye”.
An acceptable outcome is different for everyone. Some people would be happy if they were in a wheelchair and could be pushed outside and feel the warmth of the sun’s rays on their back.
While others say if they couldn’t walk or talk or feed themselves, they wouldn’t want ongoing treatment.
“Having a good death is about how you lead a good life.” (Dr Bill Sylvester, ICU specialist).
“Goodbye” Dr Bob.
