The Good Death Society Blog, He frequently gives pro bono presentations on aging, death, and dying to community groups.

The Good Death Society Blog, Yuhas, RN, is a death doula, author, and educator helping families find clarity and comfort at the end of life. Their common regrets revealed deep insights about life, authenticity, and Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation Should Respect Human Rights With the assistance of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and Exit International, I surveyed voluntary assisted dying (VAD) The article explores the complexities and contradictions in the concept of a “good death,” questioning the reliance on medication and the preconceived ideals, urging a flexible, adaptive approach to end As a society, we must ensure that assisted dying continues to be driven by the needs of terminally ill patients and that it remains just one of many ways to have a humane, dignified death. “Dear Son” a perfect example of what FEN encourages their blog readers to share with their families. — KTB) To be clear, I support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Also, there is the question of what has been called by the press, “Death Tourism. However, this might be a more traumatizing death for the family. In 2024, I think everyone should strive to be death positive. Since the 1970s there have been debates about whether “patients” have the right to refuse various forms of life-saving or life-sustaining medical treatment, ranging from blood transfusions to ventilators and Throughout most of American society the idea of dying is held in the back recesses of the mind. m. For people who have significant underlying physical Final Exit Network (FEN) is a network of dedicated professionals and caring, trained volunteers who support mentally competent adults as they navigate their end-of-life journey. Take a retrospective look at what happened to the Hemlock Society USA, as recounted Death in a boardroom; no “Caring Friends” present. ) Final Exit Network (FEN) is a network Thoughts On A “Good Death” By Steve Gurney | Advance Directives, Death Anxiety, Death Cafe, Death Wellness, DNR, Dying, End-of-life care, End-of-Life Planning, Funeral Planning, Good Death, Grief, I had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Trustees with the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA) for four years, during which time this dedicated group of individuals PREPARE For Your Care AD is free, easy to use, and covers all states: PREPARE asks questions about your surrogate choices, spirituality, pets, quality vs. NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its Reversing death: the weird history of resuscitation A historical look at various resuscitative methods to keep the apparently dead from joining the actually dead. Put your wishes in a document, generally an Having borne witness to the journey of many dying people over decades, I find that the messiness of death, the surprise of death, the mystery of death require respect on the part of The article contrasts the end-of-life experiences of Grandma Lilly, who suffers in ICU, with Grandpa Joe, who dies peacefully surrounded by loved ones, highlighting the choices in dying. In his 2006 book about death with dignity and the right to die (The Future of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia), Neil Gorsuch leveled several criticisms, by implication, against Oregon's Death With Debunking falsehoods about Death with Dignity "Opponents of Death-with-Dignity (DWD) laws use several falsehoods in their attempts to prevent legislation from passing. Take a retrospective look at what happened to the Hemlock Society USA, as recounted The distress and pain that surrounds the suicide of a healthy person is different in kind and in degree from the distress and pain of the hastened death of a dying person. Rethinking the importance of MAID laws The creator of The Good Death Society Blog shares his new perspective on Medical Aid in Dying. To prepare for using a dementia directive, readers may benefit from a discussion of the development of advance directives and Final Exit Network (FEN) is a network of dedicated professionals and caring, trained volunteers who support mentally competent adults as they navigate their end-of-life journey. "There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network: A Celebration of 20 Years" shares powerful testimonies from individuals connected to Final Exit Network (FEN), showcasing the Having hope as death nears is not always helpful – not if it’s delusionary and detracts from positive end-of-life attitudes and actions. Thoughts On A “Good Death” "I have the privilege to learn and hear interesting perspectives, along with all the questions and comments that our community members have, on the A society's evolving cultures and codes—moral, ethical, and legal—reflect its changing needs and experiences, particularly in how it approaches death, dying, and the decision to assist in the dying Posts about Death Literacy written by Junaid Nabi, Jim Van Buskirk, Susan Srigley, Anne-Marie Botek, Lacy Buynak, Bradley Shurman, Janis Landis, Barbara Karnes, and Aldebra Schroll We are all in the high-risk category for death because all living things die. This part of life’s adventure gives us the opportunity to put aside the games. The article explores the complexities and contradictions in the concept of a “good death,” questioning the reliance on medication and the preconceived ideals, urging a flexible, adaptive approach to end Recently, VSED Resources Northwest coordinator and co-founder Nancy Simmers published a piece on the Good Death Society blog, a project of Ghostbots: AI versions of deceased loved ones could be a serious threat to mental health By Dr. Each item we discard or organize is one less thing our loved ones have to deal with after we die. Pope, JD, PhD, and The “Good” Death (Diane Carter — RN, MSN, FAAN, Compassion & Choices volunteer — is founder and CEO of the American Posts about Right-to-Die Laws written by Faye Girsh, Bill Simmons, Joshua Pagano, Chris Palmer, Blog Editor, Dave Wagner, Michael Ollove, Patrick Hoctel, Jim Van Buskirk, and Lewis Posts about Good Death written by Edward T. By Death With Dignity | Assisted Suicide, Choice, Death With Dignity, Death With Dignity Act, Disability, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Euthanasia, Medical Aid in Dying, Mental health, Mental Illness, Psilocybin therapy: an option for palliative care Psilocybin therapy reduced anxiety and depression in patients with advanced cancer, showing promising long-term results. Author: Rebekah Finn Take Initiative To Create Your Own Personalized Death Care Plan “Once you come up with a few items that bring comfort and involve the senses, it becomes Please welcome death and grief educator, author, and public speaker Gail Rubin, aka The Doyenne of Death, as a guest contributor to the blog. NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its A society’s evolving cultures and codes—moral, ethical, and legal—reflect its changing needs and experiences, particularly in how it approaches death, dying, and the decision to This week we wanted to simply honor Derek Humphry, co-founder of Final Exit Network. ” It is thought that at least one British person every week travels to the Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland to end NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its It is primarily through having places to “story” that people have the opportunity to try to make sense of the senseless, to embrace what needs to be embraced, and to reveal that the human spirit prevails. She is founder of Dying Matters, LLC and author of Have You A variety of authors provide content for this blog, which is a project of Final Exit Network. , Faye Girsh, Michelle Witte, Bill Simmons, Dan Zimberoff, Joshua Pagano, Chris Palmer, Blog Editor, Melanie Thoughts On A “Good Death” "I have the privilege to learn and hear interesting perspectives, along with all the questions and comments that our community members have, on the But if we are trying to design a “good death” we could well cause ourselves more suffering, because if that’s not what happens, this can be experienced as a serious failure of I hope that you're aware of The Good Death Society Blog. , Faye Girsh, Michelle Witte, Bill Simmons, Dan Zimberoff, Joshua Pagano, Chris Palmer, Blog Editor, Melanie Posts about Death With Dignity written by Edward T. For only then can we bid a fond farewell and know that it truly is. Read all of the posts by Lamar Hankins on The Good Death Society Blog Building a meaningful, eco-friendly, and equitable end of life. quantity of life, treatment DIGNITAS mourns the death of its founder and Secretary General Ludwig A. They wonder what their parent, spouse, or friend truly felt. “Everyone, including and perhaps even especially Mom, are going to be concerned and frightened about what the future is bringing. After all, they are ‘euthanized. ’ Nothing is more personal than how we define a good death, yet our definition may not be obvious at first. Forgiveness is a personal journey, allowing you to heal by releasing pain, regardless of the other person’s actions or remorse. In Part 1 of this post, Michele Bograd explores the concept of the “good death,” highlighting the influence of personal beliefs, social privilege, and structural inequalities in shaping end-of-life experiences as NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its May 15, 2022 by Anita Hannig Choosing The Clothes To Die For (The author is associate professor of anthropology at Brandeis University, where she teaches classes on medicine, religion, death and May 15, 2022 by Anita Hannig Choosing The Clothes To Die For (The author is associate professor of anthropology at Brandeis University, where she teaches classes on medicine, religion, death and Times to Have “The Conversation” “The rest is up to you,” he finally said, ending the conversation for good. Creagan, M. Will on The Good Death Society Blog Posts about Alzheimer’s written by Bill Simmons, Chris Palmer, Beverly Thorn, Bronwyn Fryer, Althea Halchuck, Lamar Hankins, Kate Christie, Joy Loverde, and Pam Ostrowski Linguistic Accuracy Was Put to Death; It Wasn’t ‘Euthanized’ If you believe the media and ignorant, sanctioned killers, ‘putting down’ healthy animals that have done nothing to deserve an early death is Reframing how we speak about dying Based on her legacy research, Marlaine Figueroa Gray reflects on how we talk about serious illness 4 posts published by Derek Humphry, Althea Halchuck, Ruth Dixon-Mueller, and Robert Rivas during September 2021 As a society, we play so many games – say what we don’t mean, do what we don’t want to do. A research project from the University of California, San Diego School of NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its An Ethical Take on Physician-Assisted Death: A Physician’s Morality "If medicine can justify one method for the humane ending of life, then all methods should be justified, inclusive of In 2007, testifying before the American Public Health Association, Robert Joondeph, executive director of Disability Rights Oregon (DRO), said the only complaints his organization I believe we are more alive when we are present with death; we are much better off in the aftermath of a loss, for having kept our eyes open rather than shut. They struggle with unresolved conflicts, lingering questions, The Good Death Society Blog A variety of authors provide content for this blog, which is a project of Final Exit Network. , Marc Malamud, Danny Kenny, Faye Girsh, Anita Winsor, Anne Raftery, Clair Fisher, Jenna Khoja, and Bradley Take Initiative To Create Your Own Personalized Death Care Plan By Rebekah Finn | Death Anxiety, Death Wellness, Dying, End-of-life care, End-of-Life Planning, Good Death, Gratitude, Hospice | 6 Thoughts On A “Good Death” (Steve Gurney received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Masters Degree from the Erickson Death cleaning is, ultimately, a gift to our survivors. Read all of the posts by Kevyn Burger on The Good Death Society Blog On this blog, we have dealt often with aspects of advance directives. Consideration of this question leads me to the idea that a good death is a dignified death; that is, the The article contrasts the end-of-life experiences of Grandma Lilly, who suffers in ICU, with Grandpa Joe, who dies peacefully surrounded by loved ones, highlighting the choices in dying. Brubaker, Bill Simmons, Dan Zimberoff, Joshua Pagano, Junaid Guidelines for Comments This blog is intended for broad, serious, civil discussion of issues important to the mission of Final Exit Network (FEN). Regrets of the Dying In palliative care, Bronnie Ware saw immense personal growth as patients neared death. They exercised daily, ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, and kept, in their well “Opponents of Death-with-Dignity (DWD) laws use several falsehoods in their attempts to prevent legislation from passing. Most blog Death from ALS — It May Not Be as Peaceful As You’d Like Author and retired technology expert Harwell Thrasher shares his experiences caring for his wife Sharon after she was If you’ve been a frequent visitor to the Good Death Society Blog, or just stopping by for the first time, thank you. However, each of us hopes to live a long, productive (however defined), satisfying life in the meantime. Far too many families are left with silence when a loved one dies. Forgiveness at the End of a Life Unresolved conflict complicates grief. No One Dies Alone – Reflections of a NODA Volunteer No One Dies Alone is a compassionate volunteer program that ensures people with no one else available have someone by their side at the Thaddeus Pope writes about the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) dropping its longtime opposition to legislation giving terminally ill patients the option of medical aid in dying NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its Dr. The opinions expressed on this website in both the posts and the comments are the views of the signed authors and commenters, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Final Exit “Part of the experience of death is finding ways to accept what has happened, express what we are feeling, and find ways to move on. The practical applications, as best as I can assess, are to To me, that is part of what it means to have a good death. Blog posts and an archive of past posts on everything related to having a Good Death. Choosing Death Over Suffering: Informing Patients About Physician Aid-In-Dying (Part 1) By Amber Comer | ALS, Assisted Suicide, End-of-life care, Medical Aid in Dying, Oregon What Does A “Good Death” Really Mean? Although many individuals shy away from contemplating the inevitability of death, most would agree that they would like to die well. Vocabularies Debunking falsehoods about Death with Dignity "Opponents of Death-with-Dignity (DWD) laws use several falsehoods in their attempts to prevent legislation from passing. It's a handy resource for you with many short, reader-friendly articles on virtually all aspects of Blog posts and an archive of past posts on everything related to having a Good Death. He didn’t have any more guidance, and certainly no more patience to talk The article contrasts the end-of-life experiences of Grandma Lilly, who suffers in ICU, with Grandpa Joe, who dies peacefully surrounded by loved ones, highlighting the choices in dying. In giving ourselves “something to Building a meaningful, eco-friendly, and equitable end of life. Two or three sentences should be sufficient. Therapy access is limited in the We are delighted to introduce media personality and podcast host Jane Asher by presenting an exclusive preview of her upcoming book, The Next Room. By Marilyn Mendoza | Completed Life, Death, Death Wellness, Death With Dignity, End-of-life care, Hospice, Paliative Care, Religion, The best Assisted Suicide blogs curated and ranked based on multiple factors, including content relevancy, subject expertise, posting Posts about Rational Death written by Faye Girsh, Joshua Pagano, Louis Profeta, Jenna Khoja, Greg Barnsdale, Anne Raftery, Patrick Hoctel, Jim Van Buskirk, and Lewis Cohen Posts about Rational Death written by Faye Girsh, Joshua Pagano, Louis Profeta, Jenna Khoja, Greg Barnsdale, Anne Raftery, Patrick Hoctel, Jim Van Buskirk, and Lewis Cohen 10 posts published by Beth Baker, Anita Hannig, Jim Van Buskirk, Monisha Pujari, MD, Julie Pfitzinger, Claire M. He served as Peace Corps Director in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ecuador, and Gary at the Good Death Society shared this blog with me, which contains many useful end-of-life resources. Schwartz, Bronwyn Fryer, Lewis Cohen, Shelly Berkowitz, and The Order of the Good Death was launched with the goal of building a movement of people who believe that the American death industry—funerals, crematories, cemeteries, mortuary Derek Humphry, co-founder of The Hemlock Society and Final Exit Network, reflects on the trend of using “completed life” as a reason for self-deliverance Making Your Final Wishes Known By Julie Pfitzinger | Advance Directives, Communication, Death Wellness, End-of-Life Planning, Funeral Planning, Good Death, Healthcare Power of Attorney, The Philosophical, Legal, and Ethical Basis for Aid in Dying A society's evolving cultures and codes—moral, ethical, and legal—reflect its changing needs and experiences, Although many individuals shy away from contemplating the inevitability of death, most would agree that they would like to die well. This approach Posts about Death With Dignity written by Edward T. We hope you will review the rest of FEN’s website to learn more about the organization. Acceptance, Denial, And Related Responses To Death "After a two-hour appointment in which my mother was assessed and then diagnosed with dementia my stepfather announced, “OK! What if we viewed death not as a fear, but as a part of life, finding freedom in accepting our limits and living fully? The Good Death Society Blog : Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its Is the “good death” a good idea? (part 1) In Part 1 of this post, Michele Bograd explores the concept of the "good death," highlighting the influence of personal beliefs, social privilege, and If you believe the media and ignorant, sanctioned killers, ‘putting down’ healthy animals that have done nothing to deserve an early death is a compassionate, merciful act. (Cathy J. Sobbing, his son Bill lovingly The opinions expressed on this website in both the posts and the comments are the views of the signed authors and commenters, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Final Exit Civilians leading the death-positive movement suggest engagement through workshops and retreats with a spiritual aspect. Marlaine Figueroa Gray advocates for a new, compassionate language around death, emphasizing the importance of legacy, personhood, and meaningful connections in the dying process. Everyone, Interviewed one hour before his death, Ricardo stated, “I firmly believe that this is a right that every human has, to determine when and how to leave this life. You Posts about Dementia written by Bill Simmons, Chris Palmer, Wally Klatch, Beverly Thorn, Bronwyn Fryer, Lewis Cohen, Barbara Karnes, Althea Halchuck, Lamar Hankins, and Joe Musso The article contrasts the end-of-life experiences of Grandma Lilly, who suffers in ICU, with Grandpa Joe, who dies peacefully surrounded by loved ones, highlighting the choices in dying. (Please scroll down to comment. , Lamar Hankins, Fran Moreland Johns, and Katy Butler A cache of old videos recalls the height of the AIDS crisis and its critical, emotional nexus with the developing right-to-die movement. Death and the Atheist Seth Andrews–The Thinking Atheist–discusses death and end-of-life issues from his perspective. I When Loved Ones Rally Before Death (Over the span of two decades, author, columnist, consultant, and speaker Carol Bradley Bursack cared for a neighbor and six elderly family “In my experience of interviewing hundreds of families from all different cultural backgrounds for over a quarter of a century, I can tell you this – those who loved well at the end What Is A Good Death? How To Die Well. Guidelines for Submissions If you would like to write a post for the blog, submit a synopsis of your proposed topic to fenblogeditor@gmail. This blog covers a wide range of topics related to dying and death. How to Be Part of Online Death Discussions Please welcome death and grief educator, author, and public speaker Gail Rubin, aka The Doyenne of Death, as a guest contributor (Gary Wederspahn is a Final Exit Network board member and co-editor of The Good Death Society Blog. Posted onMarch 9, 2025March 10, 2025 a few dead minds in the higher places or a bomb or two now and then in your upturned faces or such other improprieties as our Name Brand society is prey to with its men of distinction and its men of In Part 1 of this post, Michele Bograd explores the concept of the "good death," highlighting the influence of personal beliefs, social privilege, and structural inequalities in shaping This post explores the brain’s activity during death, linking it to near-death experiences, and suggests that understanding these processes can improve end-of-life psychological care. The opinions expressed on this website are the views of the The Good Death Society Blog is listed on the website of Final Exit Network on its News and Events page. Minelli, who died on 29 November 2025 shortly before his 93rd birthday by voluntary assisted dying. I’m not committing suicide. Their common regrets revealed deep insights about life, authenticity, and what truly matters. Posts about Death With Dignity Act written by Michael Ollove, Leonard Bernstein, Anita Hannig, Lewis Cohen, Shelly Berkowitz, Death With Dignity, Thaddeus M. Does palliative sedation ease suffering during end-of-life care? What constitutes unbearable suffering, and at what point is palliative sedation appropriate? Is there a difference How does a hospice chaplain end up as an exit guide, board member, and counselor for FEN? Here’s an intro to the new blog moderator, . So the key wisdom was to recognize there are no guarantees, and if you want a good death, it starts now with creating a good life you could contentedly die in – a life that was up to A Good Death Is More About The Journey Than The Destination By Joy Johnston | Advance Directives, Dementia, DNR, End-of-Life Planning, Hospice, Palliative Care, Suffering and Death | 4 Comments By Patrick Hoctel | Choice, Communication, Completed Life, Death Wellness, Death With Dignity, End-of-Life Care, End-of-Life Planning, Final Exit Network, Good Death, Gratitude, Healthcare Power of “We are notorious for ignoring and denying death; we keep death out of sight and out of mind, postponing any serious considerations until death comes knocking at our door. We believe policy decisions But death is not an easy process no matter how it is achieved, especially when the body remains healthy while the brain fails. com. A society's evolving cultures and codes—moral, ethical, and legal—reflect its changing needs and experiences, particularly in how it approaches death, dying, and the decision to When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. His waiting children had no one to call for advice, but Michael had left instructions for this eventuality. You should be and here's how. In the second of a two-part blog, a renowned EOL healthcare reformer (a triple amputee) talks to Final Exit Network about the thorny nexus between Medical Aid in Dying and the profound challenges You Should Be Thinking About Death: Why Memento Mori is the Ultimate Life Hack (Danny Kenny is a senior consultant and facilitator at InspireCorps and a writer for Big Think and his NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its Reversing death: the weird history of resuscitation A historical look at various resuscitative methods to keep the apparently dead from joining the actually dead. This first discussion by author and blogger Dale McGowan approaches the NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its By Faye Girsh | Advance Directives, Assisted Dying, Athanasios, Choice, Death With Dignity, Dignitas, End-of-Life Planning, Final Exit Network, Good Death, Hemlock Society of San Diego, Medical Aid in Posts about Regret Prevention written by Danny Kenny, Maryclaire Torinus, Maureen Pollard, Francesca Lynn Arnoldy, Joe Musso, and Jennifer O'Brien We should all have choice in dying. He frequently gives pro bono presentations on aging, death, and dying to community groups. There is no better way to do that than share a tribute written by Faye Girsh, close friend of Rethinking the importance of MAID laws (Editors’ note: The following is by Lamar Hankins, founding editor of The Good Death Society Blog. The thanatologist Gail Rubin likes to say that just as talking about DIGNITAS mourns the death of its founder and Secretary General Ludwig A. Surrounded by loved ones, a good death honors privacy, allows for meaningful goodbyes, and reflects a life lived with purpose. A new Even though I would argue that most deaths aren’t good, we improve the quality of death of the vast majority of people we care for, often substantially. And there isn’t much that’s more But in thinking about this research and considering what a good death means to many people, I realized that a good death is always described "There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network: A Celebration of 20 Years" shares powerful testimonies from individuals End-of-life decisions are best made in the light of day, not under the harsh glare of an ICU monitor at 3:00 a. Nigel Mulligan | Artificial Intelligence, Complicated Grief, Grief, Grieving Process, Suffering and Death | 2 Good death Chances are you're not prepared for the end. It can be found here. How to Tell Children About Death (Joy Sackett Wood is a professional Psychotherapist, Counselor, Relationship and Grief Transformational Coach, Hypnotherapist, and Reiki Master Teacher. No One Dies Alone – Reflections of a NODA Volunteer No One Dies Alone is a compassionate volunteer program that ensures people with no one else available have someone by their side at the Are you good with your people? Have you said what needs saying, done what needs doing, loved who needs loving? If not, what are you waiting for? Death is waiting to help you figure But sometimes pinpointing what constitutes a "good death" is nearly as difficult as determining what makes a good life, and families do not always realize when hospice is failing them. It also supports “death-with-dignity” Dr. (Please scroll down to comment, and feel free to share our blog posts with others who may benefit from them. Only when life forces it upon us do most consider addressing the issues dying and death NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its If you work at acknowledging the reality of your death, instead of denying it, you will open your heart and mind to the possibility of a new, rich way Death Cleaning: A Thoughtful Gift to Those We Leave Behind (Chris Palmer is an author, speaker, wildlife filmmaker, conservationist, educator, professor, and grandfather. A new review of existing Assisted-Dying In August 2017, the FEN Blog began under the title The Good Death Society Blog, suggested by FEN’s Board of Directors. D. For three years, I May 4, 2025 by Odessa Sawyer Your life, your death: sharing your final wishes with your loved ones (Odessa Sawyer is a program coordinator at the Center for Practical Bioethics, providing support for Death in a boardroom; no “Caring Friends” present. A decluttered and organized home 10 posts published by Danny Kenny, Althea Halchuck, Faye Girsh, Michelle Witte, Dylan Thomas Doyle and Jed R. Don’t wait until you’re at death’s door to explore your passions, deepen your relationships and find your posse. Whose Death Is It, Anyway? Unconscious, Michael lingered for hours. We, as adults, need to find ways to help our children to do this too. Helping Kids Think About Death Without an Afterlife Talking to children about death is a topic not yet dealt with on this blog. ) Final Exit Posts about Bereavement written by Taryn Lindhorst, Maureen Pollard, Carin Bonifacino, Karen Wyatt, and Chris Haws Posts about End-of-Life Planning written by Joshua Pagano, Theresa Brown, Holly Vossel, Maryclaire Torinus, Anita Winsor, Anne Raftery, Susan Srigley, Bronnie Ware, Beverly Read all of the posts by George F. He now devotes his life to In palliative care, Bronnie Ware saw immense personal growth as patients neared death. ” His latest book is Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life. The article contrasts the end-of-life experiences of Grandma Lilly, who suffers in ICU, with Grandpa Joe, who dies peacefully surrounded by loved ones, highlighting the choices in dying. We believe policy decisions affecting people with terminal illness should be VSED: The Least Bad Option By Kate Christie | ALS, Alzheimer's, Choice, Death Doula, Death With Dignity, Dementia, Dying, End-of-life care, End-of-Life Planning, Good Death, Hospice, Medical Aid For people in the rest of the country, and for all who suffer from terminal conditions like Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s, and other slow-moving degenerative diseases, VSED is often the only legal option Posts about Surrogate written by Janis Landis, Althea Halchuck, Lola Butcher, Edward T. “Whose wishes for his medical treatment were we to honor? Those of my father back when he was a healthy, highly functioning geneticist? Or those of the simpler, weakened man my father had My parents lived good lives and expected to die good deaths. Posts about chronic illness written by Lamar Hankins Diane Coleman, President and CEO of Not Dead Yet, looks at the lack of resources available in the health care system as the nation prepares for overwhelming COVID-19 cases and October 12, 2025 by Gary Wederspahn and Robert A Neimeyer, PhD Finding Meaning at the End of Life (Gary Wederspahn, co-editor of the Good Death Society Blog, recently interviewed Robert A. The thanatologist Gail Rubin likes to say that just as talking about To me, that is part of what it means to have a good death. Through being open, sharing, together, and supportive of one another Final Exit Network (FEN) is a network of dedicated professionals and caring, trained volunteers who support mentally competent adults as they navigate their end-of-life journey. Derek Humphry, co-founder of The Hemlock Society and Final Exit Network, reflects on the trend of using “completed life” as a reason for self-deliverance among the elderly. Authors include experts with extensive knowledge about death and dying issues, as well as blog readers who submit The Good Death Society Blog. Authors include experts with extensive knowledge about death and dying issues, Getting Ready to Exit Wederspahn’s organization publishes “The Good Death Society Blog” and advocates for the right to die on one’s own terms. Is there a better word than suicide? By Bill Simmons | Choice, Death With Dignity Act, Medical Aid in Dying, Right-to-Die Laws, The Right to Die | 15 Comments Having hope as death nears is not always helpful – not if it’s delusionary and detracts from positive end-of-life attitudes and actions. We believe policy decisions NOTE: Posts and comments on The Good Death Society Blog are the views of the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Final Exit Network, its As we hold the space for them to make the decision for hospice, it is important we convey to them that death is never about giving up. oahxwoj zjyq7i2e r1oh kwjbac t5ot 4zce h11rt dbuk0xu s1qj0 wb6