Exploring Medical Assistance in Dying: Tania Stilson Shares Her Personal Journey

Send us Fan MailWelcome to this episode of Discover Fresh Perspectives with your host, David Gouthro. Today, we are joined by Tania Stilson to explore a deeply personal and complex topic: Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAID. Tania shares her insights and experiences stemming from her father's journey, who was a passionate advocate for this end-of-life choice.We'll learn about the strict criteria and ethical considerations surrounding MAID, the logistical processes involved, and the importance of having conversations about death and dying. Tania's perspective encourages us to confront the realities of mortality while also emphasizing the value of planned, meaningful end-of-life experiences.Join us as we dive into this thought-provoking conversation that challenges societal norms and opens up new dialogues about autonomy, suffering, and what constitutes a "good death" versus a "bad death."Resources:The following have lots of helpful links and resources on their sites. https://www.bridgec14.org/ - an organization that Tania volunteers with which provides support through all stages of MAID https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/- the national human rights charityhttps://www.maidhouse.ca/ MAiD House has locations in Toronto and VictoriaTania also recommends the following article: https://maidincanada.substack.com/p/trading-one-injustice-for-anotherTania's Bio:Tania Stilson is the youngest of John Warren's three daughters. Like her dad, she believes that, like most good things in life, a good death is worth thinking and talking about. Since her dad's passing last year, she has been sharing a daughter’s perspective of their MAiD (Track 2) journey through presentations at service clubs, death cafés, and healthcare-related events. She has also featured on the national podcast “Disrupting Death”. PLEASE NOTE: Tania is offering her non-legal, non-medical opinions as a daughter, not as a legal or medical professional.Tania aims to socialize and normalize conversations about death and dying so Canadians can make informed decisions about the choices that best align with their values. She has become a committed volunteer with Bridge C-14 in the past year. Bridge C-14 is a national non-profit organization that provides support to individuals and families through all stages of medical assistance in dying. Her roles in the organization include:Presenting to various organizations as a Community Liaison Hosting nationwide Drop-In sessions for those who are considering MAiD and their support networks. She finds it all deeply purposeful work. Should you be interested in having a conversation with her, Tania's email is [email protected] and her phone number is (403) 382-1396.Correction: Tania's father applied for MAiD in 2022 (rather than 2023 as was stated in our conversation).***************************************************************You can connect with David Gouthro at:Website:https://davidgouthro.com/  (where you can also subscribe to my Blog)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgouthro/NOTE: If you wish to join in the podcast fun, please click here to book your own episode with me: https://calendly.com/gouthro/podcast-pals!