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3 Weeks ago, I went to Calgary to see my father in law, who was in a hospice and dying of cancer. This 200 pound man had withered away to 91 lbs of skin and bones. His cheeks and eyes sunken in, his skin a funny brown color and covered with black patches all over his body. He laid there in pain, high on morphine, unable to walk or even shave due to extreme weakness. Any pride he had was long gone. Any contribution to anything, ever, or any joy left of his life was long gone, and he knew it.
Last monday he finally died.
"Dying with Dignity" is an issue brushed under the carpet by most people and it shouldn't be. No one should have to suffer the way he did. His disease was terminal. We treat our dying pets better than we treat our dying relatives. Dr. Kevorkian was put in jail for this reason. A real shame.
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