The History of MAiD and the Power of Narratives: Disrupting Death with Sandra Martin

Disrupting Death

In this first episode of Disrupting Death, Kathy and Keri-Lyn have a conversation with Sandra Martin about the history of M.A.i.D in Canada, stories of early M.A.i.D advocates, the importance of leading with an open heart, writing your own obituary, the power of narratives and much more.

Trigger warning: Themes of death, dying and suicide

As a journalist for The Globe and Mail, Sandra Martin was known for her books and arts coverage and her perceptive, deeply researched and vividly written obituaries. Sandra Martin is the author of the critically acclaimed national bestseller, A Good Death: Making the Most of Our Final Choices. Winner of the B.C. National Non-Fiction Award and a finalist for both the Dafoe Prize and the Donner Prize in Public Policy, A Good Death was named one of the best books of 2016 by The Globe and Mail, the CBC and several other media outlets. Margaret Atwood has called A Good Death “a timely and deeply felt account of assisted dying: the histories, the issues” and included it on her list of best books about death and dying. A Good Death was published in a revised paperback edition in 2017 with a new chapter on Bill C-14, Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying law (MAID).

For more information about Sandra Martin, check out her website! http://www.sandramartinwrites.com/

Links to items mentioned in this episode:

Sandra’s Martin’s book: A Good Death:

https://www.amazon.ca/Good-Death-Making-Final-Choices/dp/1443435961

Pierre Berton’s Obituary: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-voice-of-canada-is-gone-as-pierre-berton-dies-at-84/article18278395/

On Kim Teske’s Death: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/kims-choice-how-one-family-confronts-a-genetic-time-bomb/article19657030/

On John Hofsess:

https://reviewcanada.ca/magazine/2022/04/death-of-an-author/

“By The Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead” by John Hofsess:

https://torontolife.com/life/john-hofsess-assisted-suicide/

Atul Gwande’s Book: Being Mortal:

https://www.amazon.ca/Being-Mortal-Medicine-What-Matters/dp/0805095152

Music for Disrupting Death was created by the ever lovely Sarah McInnis. Sarah is a music therapist, a songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist and End-of-Life Doula. In 2021, Sarah began The Legacy Song Project, writing original songs for folks at the end-of-life, and for folks who have lost loved ones. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website https://sarahmcinnis.com

This episode of Disrupting Death was edited by Sadie Mallon.