Thursday, August 13, 2026

A friend cancels her death date after receiving care and support.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

I had the opportunity to speak to an amazing retired nurse, earlier this week, while attending a conference.

The woman (retired nurse) spoke about a friend who was approved for (MAiD) euthanasia but in the end had a true dignified natural death.

The woman told me that when she learned that her friend was approved for euthanasia, that as a friend, she explained that she opposed euthanasia because it is a homicide, but she emphasized, with her friend, that other options existed.

The retired nurse didn't stop there. 

The woman explained that she began visiting her friend regularly and helped her with some of her needs. She visited as a friend and hoped that her friend would change her mind.

At first her friend continued with her euthanasia approval.

The woman continued to visit and even brought other friends with her at times, so they could socialize and enjoy being with each other, while at the same time she advocated that her friend try care options that would benefit her.

Her friend was approaching death but her experience of living made her decide to delay her euthanasia death and eventually her friend canceled the euthanasia.

The woman told me that her friend agreed to euthanasia because she didn't realize that other options existed. She thought that there were two options, dying by euthanasia or dying in pain. When she realized that pain and symptom management existed and that she had friends who actually cared about and for her, she changed her mind.

This was a victory. The friend died a natural death and a truly dignified death.

This story challenges everyone to recognize that we all have people in our lives that need to be assured that being killed by (MAiD) euthanasia is not only wrong, but other options exist.

This story proves that caring for others, which is sometimes very difficult, has enormous benefits, but these experiences are worth it.

If you need training to become a visitor or an advocate for people in need contact Compassionate Community Care (Link) or email them at: info@beingwith.org

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