"I have a terminal Illnes, I'm going to die a long painful death and I don't want my family put through that kind of trauma. So I'm getting on a plane at the end of the week to go overseas so I can euthanaise myself." These were my instructions from a dying client, in my office to finalise affairs. It was a palpable experience. Death and grief are a part of my professional life. Daily I deal with extraordinary sadness and none more so than terminally ill clients putting their affairs in order to ease the burden on their families. The attached article reports on California passing the End of Life Option Act, which allows terminally ill patients the right to seek aid-in-dying options.

I'm not sure how I would respond if I were ever in that situation. I do know that making the choice to leave your family to die with dignity adds a layer of devastation in an already desolate situation.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/55f1fbbae4b002d5c078cd6b?section=australia&adsSiteOverride=au