This blog post is a place for listeners of the Thursday January 15 2015 End-of-Life University interview to engage further with me and one another. Feel free to post questions and comments here.
Bart Windrum
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Thank you, Bart, for your time today. As a fellow layperson, what do you believe are the best ways we as laypeople can help spread the word / advocate for better dying practices (not only within our own families)?
Hi Daphne; thanks for listening and engaging. Hmmm, there might be a zillion ways! I think what you opt for depends upon your goals. For instance, I focus on helping my fellow citizens, not to change medicine (there are a lot of patient activists including a cohort of harmed patients who are hugely active amongst themselves and with an alphabet soup of government agencies; they attend conferences and try to move the policy needle; Patty Skolnik here in Colorado got a law passed affecting doctor disclosure). So who do you want to advocate to, and what about?
Generally, speak up often and always. Stimulate and help providers answer direct questions honestly, in private and in public. Do your own homework: I see that as 3 realms: the whole advance directive/proxy thing, spiritual eldering, and the type of work I offer in my program. If you believe in and want aided dying where you live, lobby your legislators and then show up at the statehouse to testify during committee hearings.
You might try to organize public events where you live and get “radical” doctors and informed citizens as panelists. In my community there’s a nonprofit called Conversations on Death (not related to The Conversation Project) doing interesting outreach. If you’d like the names of some Facebook groups where you can mingle with a cadre of very involved and smart people, let me know.
If you are so moved and have done enough personal work, you might submit articles to medical journals and newspapers (see mine on Medical Error Death Stats at http://www.JoPM.org — search “windrum”). Consider submitting proposals for a TEDx talk in your community or, as a primer step, an Ignite talk (see mine on the Speaking page).
Do any of these thoughts resonate with you?
Thank you for the interview today. I also am glad to see you Bibliography, and the Matrix of Medical Terms.
I’m a layperson who has become educated about death care options. I think of myself now as an activist for consumer rights regarding final arrangements. I’m glad to see that you have Josh Slocum’s book Final Rights in your bibliography.
I live in MA. Death with dignity legislation will soon be re-introduced in our state legislature. A recent ballot question did not get quite enough support to pass.
Hi Sandy! Thanks for listening. Josh Slocum is a hoot and a half; if you ever get the chance to meet him, do so. I presented at the Funeral Consumer Alliance bi-annual conference in Phoenix some years ago. There are a number of very active alternative burial and funeral folks here in Boulder CO. Sue Mackey, Karen vanVuuren (Natural Transitions), and many more. Compassion & Choices seems to think that the legislative route is the best for aid in dying rights (distinct from ballot initiatives), with the courts as the next best—I think. Tomorrow is the day legislation will be introduced here in Colorado. I was surprised that the Catholic Church was able to so thoroughly, if temporarily, turn the tide in MA last year.
Oh, and many thanks for digging into the bibliography and the Matrix, which must go by its proper name, Windrum’s Matrix of Dying Terms. :)