24 and Ready to Die Reflection
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Uploaded by ChefStraw5781
“24 and Ready to Die” Reflection Paper
Samantha Ledamun
ADMH 3000 - 0LB
October 22nd, 2023
Julie Muravsky
Reflection Paper
ADMH 3000 - 0LB
10/22/2023
Introduction
Throughout this reflection paper I will be arguing why I am against Medical
Assistance In Dying (MAID) in regards to mental health. I am on both sides of being for
MAID and against MAID and my ethical judgement changes per situation. I will be looking
at Emily’s case in
“24 and Ready to Die”
which will back up my ethical decision from 6
different lenses. I will be using
Virtue Ethics, 7 Grandfather Teachings, Act & Rule
Utilitarianism, and Bioethics.
I will be using these lenses to explain my reasoning for why I
chose for this argument to be against MAID in Canada for Mental illness, especially in
regards to Emily’s case in Belgium. Upon researching this topic, I was frankly either
disturbed or confused as to why someone would want to consider this for mental health
needs, especially at the age of 18-19 years old being a legal adult. I can understand in terms
of a social worker lens, and I will never be able to understand how it feels to have no other
options left in regards to my mental health. By using my trauma-informed, anti-oppressive
and harm reduction frameworks I work from, I try to meet people where they are at & support
them even if it means that I am going against my own morals.
Virtue Lens
I think Emily already was thinking about this when she was making her decision on
the procedure the day she was supposed to die. “
Is this action consistent with my acting at my
best?”
Emily even states that the weeks leading up to her death she felt that things were
“calming” down and the crisis was averted. Was this because Emily was seeing more support
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from her community of care? Was this because Emily was showcasing 3 of Aristotle’s 12
moral virtues; courage, honesty and self-control? When we see things from a virtue lens it
talks about the focus on what kind of person we should be. I can empathize with individuals
who are experiencing severe mental health conditions, but for something such as depression,
anxiety, or a severe mood disorder, I don’t feel like this should be an option. Now, for
psychosis, schizophrenia, or other SEVERE mental health conditions, where the patient is
over the age of 40, they have exhausted all other areas of getting viable treatment, this I
would maybe consider being an option. MAID is technically another form of assisted suicide,
the only difference is you’re receiving a drug, a “pass” from the government to say it is okay.
Whereas, suicide is not okay, it shouldn’t be glorified. I understand that you can inflict your
own death by taking these medications and planning out your last days, but how is that
acceptable? This is not showing the younger generation to fight against mental illness, to be a
light for others in a dark place, and to me it is like you’re giving up on yourself. Living with
severe mental health challenges requires courage and honesty. But if Emily can recognize that
she was so close to death, but if the last few weeks for her were “bearable” it gave her hope
that she can continue the fight (The Economist, 2015). This is where her moral character
started to kick in, as she started to recognize Eudaimonia, her mental and emotional health
flourishing with the opportunity for her circle of care to support her more than ever, in her
time of need.
7 Grandfather Teachings
Emily is highlighting three of the 7 Sacred Teachings, which are bravery, humility,
and honesty.
“To face life with courage is to know bravery” (The 7 Grandfathers Teachings,
n.d.).
Going back to the scene where Emily started reflecting on her last hours, she starts to
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realize that she yes, does have this option where if it all becomes all too much, she can fall
back on. At the last moment, she chose bravery.
“For the wolf, life is lived for his pack and
the ultimate shame is to be outcast. Humility is to know that you are a sacred part of creation.
Live life selflessly and not selfishly. Respect your place and carry your pride with your people
and praise the accomplishments of all” (The 7 Grandfathers Teachings, n.d.).
Emily is
ashamed of having a mental health diagnosis which is making it unbearable to live another
day, but she is now showcasing the teaching of humility, which is not living selfishly, as her
friends and family want to continue helping her fight against her mental health. She is also a
good example and role model for those who are also suffering and resonate with Emily’s
story. “
To walk through life with integrity is to know honesty. Be honest with yourself.
Recognize and accept who you are. Accept and use the gifts you have been given. Do not seek
to deceive yourself or others” (The 7 Grandfathers Teachings, n.d.).
Through showcasing this
teaching of honesty, Emily is starting to understand that she doesn’t want to go through the
process and is wanting to be more honest with herself. Folks who are considering suicide by
euthanasia can have the opportunity like Emily to self-reflect on is this something they truly
want, or do they want the pain to stop?
Utilitarianism Lens
This lens speaks on the consequences of our actions & an ethical action is one which
produces the greatest balance of good over harm for many people. I am anti-MAID in regards
to mental health because of the effect it has on other people and those in society. When
someone is experiencing a crisis, we as mental health workers need to assess the crisis & is
this person is in their right mind to make any decisions. There is a difference between being
mentally competent, knowing you are suffering from mental illness needing to reach out,
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versus being mentally competent and letting your mental illness speak for you. There are
times where our judgement is clouded because we are experiencing an intense crisis, so what
would be the difference when you’re applying for MAID? The consequences of these actions
could trickle down to grief, loss, trauma and suicide from family and friends, or other people
in society. The reason this triggers me, is the fact that all of the advocacy that has been done,
the stigmas we have tried to break down throughout the years, is thrown out the window with
someone who holds a PH.D, and to someone seriously considering this option would read
this, and agree with them. It is giving them the wrong message to those not coping properly,
whereas suffering doesn’t always need to end in death.
Bioethics, Principle of Nonmaleficence
The argument I have here against bioethics in regards to MAID is that the principles
are: do not kill, do not harm, do not cause pain or suffering, and most of all - do not deprive
others of the goods of life. With being anti-MAID in mental health, my argument here is even
though this person is suffering and is choosing the autonomy to die by assisted suicide,
medical professionals are still going against the principle of nonmaleficence by causing death
and harm, and depriving someone the goods of life. We need to be focusing on offering more
accessible resources, affordable therapy, treatments, and free therapy groups for not only
BIPOC individuals experience mental illness, but for everyone suffering from this. We have
worked so hard to offer services, working so hard to be able to provide and save lives, to
reduce suffering, so why is the government passing this law? Do you know how much it costs
a person to go through with this? It would cost Canada anywhere from $34.7 - $138.8 million
from our annual healthcare spending costs. It would cost a total of $751.85, for a total
assessed case.
(National Library of Medicine, 2017).
How in this economy are we focusing
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on this, versus the money we could be putting into accessible mental health services? Letting
people have assistance from a medical professional to die by suicide, but the government not
implementing more resources available before this option is given? Horrible. Therefore, in
my opinion for MAID & mental health, I do not agree with this choice. It can do more harm
than good, promote false hope in the mental health field, in vulnerable communities, and in
young adults. I would only agree to this option, if someone has a terminal illness as well as
mental health issues, or if someone has exhausted every avenue of healing, and they have a
severe diagnosis, which would be including psychosis, or they were a danger to others. The
liberal government is very questionable, but the government in general still doesn't care about
Indigenous communities, or mental health, it is very surface level. Even with safeguards in
place, social media and stigma against mental health will still exist. Promoting more
advocacy and free services for folks who are experiencing this, should be the main focus vs
promoting MAID as an “easy way out”.
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References
National Library of Medicine. (2017, January 23).
Cost analysis of medical assistance in
dying in Canada
. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5250515/
The 7 Grandfathers teachings
. (n.d.). Uniting Three Fires Against Violence.
https://unitingthreefiresagainstviolence.org/the-7-grandfathers-teachin/
The Economist. (2015, November 10).
24 & ready to die
[Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWWkUzkfJ4M
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