In September 2017, I was involved with a patient who enacted the Aid in Dying Act. It was my first time. Since June 2016 California law permits physicians to prescribe a lethal medication to patients who request it and meet specific criteria: he or she must be an adult, have a life expectancy of six months or less, have the mental capacity to make the decision and be able to self-administer the drug. Clinicians in

There he was. So adorable, so soft, so cuddly. Smelling of vanilla and chocolate. And, the little brown bear was ½ price as it sat on the Valentine discount shelf in the Hospital gift store. What’s that? Did he just say, “Buy me.” I never bought a stuffed animal before but I was compelled to do so now. Traveling up the hospital elevator I tried stuffing him into my big purse but his feet stuck out. When I re