Our Story
Supporting a loved one through their difficult decision of choosing medical aid in dying is an emotional and complex journey (see our disclaimers to understand the difference between medically assisted suicide and medical aid in dying). Our family experienced this firsthand with our grandfather, who was suffering from dementia. In 2020, he made the brave choice to embrace medical aid in dying. Naturally, we asked him why he would want to take such an action. He told us he did not want to lose his mind, to live his last few years withering away under the weight of exponential neurological decline. He said he wanted to die with peace and on his own terms, surrounded by those he loved. Navigating how to support his decision and find the right path was challenging and took us two years, from 2020 to 2022, with four people working on it routinely. (For a more in depth description of just how strenuous a process this can be, we encourage you to read Ms. Amy Bloom’s book, In Love, which documents her account of her husband taking the same steps our grandfather did.)
When our grandfather asked us to explore this option, we began with facilities in the United States, discovering that while some states had legalized medical aid in dying, they imposed strict requirements, such as residency and a six-month terminal diagnosis. These regulations, combined with the necessity for patients to be fully cognizant, effectively disqualified those with neurological diseases like dementia. (Often, individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s lose mental faculties long before death, rendering them ineligible under U.S. laws.) When we told our grandfather this he implored us to look internationally.
Our search led us to several countries where medical aid in dying was legal, but only one, Switzerland, permitted foreign citizens to access these services. And that is where we discovered DIGNITAS.
DIGNITAS – Zurich, Switzerland
Switzerland is the only country that allows for foreigners to use their facilities while also having more flexible eligibility requirements. They allow those who may have a terminal illness that extends past six months, certain forms of cancer, and end-of-life debilitating conditions to come and use their facilities. It is crucial to remember that, even with the more flexible eligibility all Swiss facilities require a person to be in complete control of their own mind when making the decision to embrace medical aid in dying.
In Switzerland we found DIGNITAS, a beacon of hope for those seeking a dignified end to their suffering, particularly for those with neurological illnesses or diseases that may linger for more than six months. DIGNITAS, one of the oldest institutions providing this service, is a pioneer in the legal regulation of medical aid in dying and in its treatment of its members. (Again, as we have mentioned, DIGNITAS is not a medically assisted suicide company, but a company that offers medical aid in dying services.)
Our journey with our grandfather was fraught with challenges, from understanding legal requirements to managing the extensive paperwork demanded by various experts and authorities. Yet, through determination and love, we overcame these obstacles, ensuring our grandfather received the care and respect he asked for in his final days.
Recognizing the difficulties we faced, we felt a strong calling to help others in similar situations. This is why our close-knit family has come together to form a consulting group dedicated to helping fellow Americans understand their options. Axios’ mission is to streamline the overall process, reduce research time, and, if applicable, alleviate the stress of navigating the extensive requirements of DIGNITAS. Where it took us two years, Axios aims to reduce your timeline for answers to mere months or weeks.
Axios is here to support you, providing the knowledge and resources needed to navigate this path with dignity and compassion. We wish we had had someone to guide us through the complicated process; it would have significantly shortened the qualification time and alleviated much of our uncertainty and anxiety. That is why Axios is here for you now.
Visit Our Process to see how Axios Consulting can help you in your journey for dignity and peace. To get in contact with Axios, please complete the contact form below.
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