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I live in Western Australia, WA Health is number 12 on the list of providers.

I was friends with a couple around the corner. The 75 year old husband died last March via Voluntary Assisted Dying.

From diagnosis (terminal cancer) to death, I think it was less than one month.

He was terrified of hospital and was in a lot of pain. It was his choice and he was completely compos mentis.

I personally have no problem with the above.

However....

The day after his return from Perth with his diagnosis, his wife went to 2 parlours... the funeral parlour, then the beauty parlour for a Mani Pedi. I visited that day. She was really chuffed with her nails.

I brought up the subject of at home palliative care which she was not interested in hearing about.

Their adult son was totally composed. Their adult daughter was completely shattered. I think it was far too quick for her.

In the 4 or 5 months prior to his death, the wife had their 3 dogs euthanased. The first was due to illness. I can't remember the reason for the second. But the 3rd was "because she sleeps all day". This dog wasn't being walked at all and had just lost her 2 best friends.

The wife also told me I should think about having my dog euthanased.

I'm not friends with her anymore and haven't seen her since she told me "I don't miss him you know" a few days after his death.

I refer to her as "that woman who euthanased her husband" now.

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My God. What an atrocious story. And that poor man. I wonder if his death was 'dignified' after all? Did you watch the Catholic TV video in the post? The Bishop speaks of the word 'compassion' actually meaning to 'suffer with' - not to get ones nails done. These people need to find God. Something utterly sinister about that.

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Yes, exactly.

Another Australian story... you remind me of. When friends/family of Aboriginals here are suffering, they do, what translates to, 'sit with'. They just arrive and sit with their loved one. 😊

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There is a reason why the old ideas survive. It's because there is something true and good in them, eh?

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Humanity at work

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