Assisted: A doctor’s story of assisting death and embracing life

‘A tender and truthful look at the idea whose time has come: assisted dying.’ - Andrew Denton

‘They speak of their love for each other, of the wonderful years they have shared, mentioning a few cherished memories. I am silent as I sit by their bedside, watching this love scene unfolding in front of me. It takes my breath away.’

What if you could decide, at the end of your life, exactly when and where your death would happen? What if instead of dying alone, in the middle of the night, in a hospital bed, you could be at home at a time of your choosing? You could decide who would be in the room with you, holding your hand, or embracing you as you left this earth. And what if a doctor could help ensure that your death was comfortable, peaceful, and dignified? This option is now available to many: what does it look like in practice?

Dr Stefanie Green shares the most intimate moments of her first year as a doctor delivering medically assisted dying. She recounts the courageous stories of her patients and the tender, funny and sometimes absurd and confronting details of how our last days can unfold. This is also the story of her transition from assisting births to assisting deaths, and how she sustains herself in order to be able to assist others.

For anyone who wants to understand what it might be like to have an assisted death, and for health professionals considering working in this area, Dr Green’s account offers a precious insight.

‘This compelling book describes the journey of a compassionate doctor as she provides end-of-life control to her suffering patients.’ - Dr Rodney Syme, Urologist, former president of Dying with Dignity, Victoria