Interview with Linda Watson, author of “Facing Death” on Oct. 1st, 9AM pacific

Linda Watson, author of “Facing Death” on Oct. 1st, 9AM pacific. Call in to listen live at (347) 945-5152 or listen online at blogtalkradio.com/kindethics

Linda Watson, M.R.E., M.Div., Th.M. the author of a beautiful and profound book to help facilitate end of life conversations called, Facing Death, A Companion In Words And Images.

As a former pastoral and supportive care professional, Linda Watson found herself drawn, again and again, to work with the dying and the bereaved. With degrees from the University of Calgary, McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, and the University of Toronto, Linda worked in parish ministry and later as the Peer Support and Supportive Care Coordinator of a breast cancer resource centre in Winnipeg, MB. Where others sometimes kept their distance, Linda moved in close and became a trusted companion of the dying and their loved ones on many occasions. She learned at least some of the questions to ask, some of the silences to leave hanging, and some of the words to offer when it was time. Her counseling and theological training, plus the experiences life provided her, combined to assist her in being a positive presence at bedsides and elsewhere with those facing death.

It was an event in her personal life, however, that moved her to put some of the wisdom she had gained in the context of these experiences down on paper. Her sister, who had been battling cancer for a few years, was suddenly given 6 weeks to live and Linda was too far distant to be there in the ways she desired. Writing down kernels of wisdom and quotations she knew would be helpful to her sister led eventually to the compilation in this volume, one that has been tested now by others and evaluated favorably by other professionals in the field of end of life care.

The challenge of preparing for one’s own death is enormous. Facing Death: A Companion in Words and Images book by Linda Watson It is difficult to overcome one’s own reluctance to talk about death and dying — let alone the fear of family and friends — and yet it helps the process for the words to be shaped. In addition, in the final stages of life, the endurance for study is limited but the need for meaningful content is very great.

The morsels of wisdom and comfort in Facing Death, along with the beautiful, accompanying nature photographs, address these needs. Throughout, this book allows readers to make their own sense of what is presented, to access what is offered in their own fashion, to identify particular items for frequent re-visiting, to personalize and customize, if and as they wish.

Facing Death understands death to be, though unwanted in most cases, an inevitable and normal part of life. The book presents death in this way but draws attention to the process of life, in all its heartache and glory.

www.authorlindawatson.com
http://www.healthpropress.com/store/watson-29487/bio.htm

Have a kind and respectful day.

A Good Death – The Patient Gets to Decide

A good death is what the patient tells us it should be. No one can define what would make a good death for another person. We have to ask.

There is a famous bioethics case of a lady who needed to have her leg amputated. She didn’t want to have her leg cut off even though it meant she would die. The doctor argued with her again and again. He would ask, “Don’t you want to be alive to see your grandkids grow up? Don’t you want to spend time with them?” Finally the woman said to the doctor, “I hate my grandkids.” He was shocked. But she went on to explain that the only thing that brought her joy was working in her garden. And if her leg was cut off, then she couldn’t do that anymore. The doctor had thought that what would be valuable for him would be valuable for her. He was mistaken.

We have to ask the patient what they would want and then respect their answers. We have to respect the person. It is their life and their death.

I know it is difficult to accept when people want things we don’t understand. For instance, for some people suffering has meaning. If I understand this, I can understand when the patient doesn’t want to take their pain pills. Or if they want to trade a little bit of pain control for increased consciousness, then I will understand if the patient will only take a little of their pain meds. It is their death. We need to listen to them.

When I work as a hospice volunteer, I have lots of ideas for things people might want to do to create a legacy for their family but that is only if the person wants to. But I don’t assume that what other people want is what I would want. I ask. If someone wants to record their life history on an audio or a video tape, I will help them. Or perhaps they will want to write love letters for their family to open after they are gone. And some people want to write an “ethical will” outlining what values and beliefs they would like to pass on. Or if they would rather avoid thinking about dying, then I honor that. It is their decision to make. They get to choose what makes a good death for them, so I listen.

Have a kind and respectful day.