Episode Details
Back to EpisodesDeath Doula Talk on Medical Aid in Dying and End-of-Life Planning with Joy Rodriquez
Description
End-of-life doula Joy Rodriguez talks with me about death doula work and supporting people who choose medical aid in dying. Medical aid in dying is often misunderstood and can be hard to access even where it is legal, especially when it is difficult to find participating providers. Joy shares her path from hospice volunteering in Washington to serving as a volunteer client advisor with End of Life Washington, helping families locate eligible doctors, understand the process, and prepare for the day of death.
She notes that hospice would not allow her to volunteer if she did that work. After moving to Hawaii, Joy saw how limited education and navigation support left many unaware of the law, so she now offers paid doula support with a sliding scale. They discuss emotional labor, the value of planning early, how a person’s “line in the sand” can change as illness progresses, and keeping clients as the “captains” of their own end-of-life choices.
00:00 Clients Captain Their Ship
00:20 Show Intro And Episode Setup
02:12 Joy Journey Hospice To Washington
05:34 Volunteering And Finding Providers
07:29 Pay Emotional Labor And Access
09:02 Paid Doula Work In Hawaii
15:24 Education Gaps And Public Awareness
17:16 Autonomy Misconceptions And Doctors
21:58 Planning Listening And Lines Shift
28:08 Doulas Versus Social Workers
33:52 Scope Of Practice And Captain Metaphor
41:18 Wrap Up And Where To Find Joy
42:24 Final Call To Action
Free bereavement group for aid in dying families: Medical Aid in Dying Group Registration
Community Care Events Medical Aid In Dying Bereavement Support Group
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