Medical aid in dying: a new kind of grief to be experienced

Coping with death at the hands of a loved one

In Quebec and Canada, since February 2015, the Supreme Court has obliged legislators to allow medical aid in dying for terminally ill people wishing to decide to end their lives with dignity. An approach that has forced the medical profession to take a fresh look at the end of life. The same is true for the loved ones who have had to live through this experience.

Indeed, even knowing the date of death, the event remains a shock for the family. It's a surreal episode, full of contradictory emotions. On the one hand, the immense grief of seeing someone go, and at the same time, they perceive the patient's relief as he positively anticipates the end of his suffering.