Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Anna Ladini knew how her death could play out.
“I was a nurse in Naples,” she explained. “I’ve seen horrible deaths. I don’t want to suffocate. When I first heard about VAD, I
felt such relief.”
felt such relief.”
Finding a doctor to help her, however, was difficult. Many Catholic doctors believe in the sanctity of life and echo the Vatican’s condemnation of VAD as an “intrinsically evil act in every situation and circumstance”.
A healthcare professional's right to object to being involved is a cornerstone of the VAD law and they can opt out for any reason.
“My own doctor doesn’t want to deal with me,” Anna said. “He’s too religious.”
After the Care Navigator Service connected her with VAD practitioner Dr Andrea Bendrups, one of Anna’s first questions was “Will there be any pain?” The answer: “Absolutely no pain.”
A Roman Catholic herself, Anna holds onto her faith: “I’m religious, but does God want me to suffer? My hope is that He will take me quickly. VAD is my plan B.”
“I’m going to die in three to four months anyway. So, with the medicine in my hand, why would I not drink it?”
