I have seen horrible suffering at end of life and for some people there must be a better way to die than writhing in pain. I have heard it said many times, “we treat our animals better than we do dying people.

I was a fairly new nurse when the Death with Dignity Law was passed in Washington State. I remember that there was heightened anxiety about the new law and what it meant for my place of employment, the doctors and nurses and our patients. There was very little information available and therefore ignorance and fear leading to conjecture and posturing.

The law has been in place now for some years and it might be a good time to review how the law came to be and what impact it has had on our State and community.

I invite you to attend a discussion given by Dr. Tom Preston a retired cardiologists living in the San Juan Islands on how we die, suffering at end of life and the Death with Dignity Law. Dr. Preston was instrumental in writing the Washington State Death with Dignity Law and thus has a unique insight and perspective.

Hospice of San Juan hosts the “Coping with Change” series on the third Wednesday of each month from 6 to 7:30 pm, at the San Juan Library. Dr. Preston will make his presentation on July 15th. One thing is certain, we will all die, and how we die will become important to each of us. Please come and expand your knowledge on this issue.

Kathryn Clary, RN, BSN, HPNC

Friday Harbor