Price Carter, a 68-year-old man from Ontario, is resolved to die on his own terms this summer. Having undergone major surgery and making the docuseries, he’s fought a tough fight with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He faces the truth of his situation with boldness and bravery. Inspired by his advocacy, he wants to help spark meaningful conversations about death and dying—and the choice of medical assistance in dying in Canada.
It was almost a year ago that Carter got his diagnosis. It came on the heels of a mostly invisible emergence of symptoms that eventually betrayed the seriousness of his illness. Until very recently, he led a very active life in and out of the water, swimming and rowing with the best of them. The advance of his cancer has made him think hard about his own mortality and what legacy he’ll leave behind.
“I’m at peace with this, I truly am, and I would have been years ago,” Carter stated, reflecting on his decision. He looks forward to the day when he can again have his wife, Danielle, by his side. He wants their kids, Lane, Grayson, and Jenna to join them. His family, who live in Ontario, rallied around him on this long journey to bring him hope.
Carter has just finished his first in-person assessment for medical assistance in dying (MAID). He looks to get a second assessment this week to determine his eligibility. This decision follows closely on his call for new, wider conversations in America about death, urging us all to bring the subject to light.
That’s the goal, because “the more conversations we can create at kitchen tables, the better,” he claimed. He thinks that society’s failure to come fully to terms with death is a destructive thing.
“We’re all going to die. It’s part of the condition of living. And yet we do ignore this, to our peril,” – Price Carter
Carter’s passion and commitment to opening up the conversation around death began with personal experience. More than 15 years ago—and a world away—he and his siblings made a trip to Switzerland. They had no desire to be in their mother, Kay Carter’s, final moments. At the time, assisted dying was illegal in Canada. Kay’s story became the 10th Canadian to receive assisted death, despite it being illegal at the time. This bold move was an extraordinary step forward and laid the foundation for future statutory developments.
Remembering his mother’s death, Carter remembers, “She just closed up like a flower, so easy. He’s seen first hand the positive effects of assisted dying legislation and still works to improve it.”
Carter’s main concern focuses on advance requests for MAID allowing this in advance. He referred to the change as “such a simple thing to do.” He maintained that it would reduce distress for people who may develop dementia or similarly debilitating illnesses that would prevent them from making choices down the road.
“We’re excluding a huge number of Canadians from a MAID option because they may have dementia and they won’t be able to make that decision in three or four or two years. How frightening, how anxiety-inducing that would be,” – Price Carter
Though Carter’s decision weighs heavily on him, he finds comfort in the time he has left with Danielle. The couple recently shared that they had a round of golf together, best ball, as they focused on making the most of everything.
Carter’s case highlights a larger, increasing societal imperative to have these conversations about death and assisted dying in Canada. Advocates such as Helen Long have stressed the need to continue advocating for legislative change that would make advance requests for MAID possible.
“We’re continuing to advocate and ask our new government … to make advance requests legal for Canadians,” – Helen Long
Marjorie Michel, a US DOT deputy secretary for policy, articulated these sentiments perfectly. Progress has certainly been made, she explained that some provinces have not fully embraced all options for end-of-life care.
“It’s so personal for people, and I think in some provinces they are not there yet,” – Marjorie Michel
As Carter builds toward his own final journey, he continues to inspire and deepen conversations with his work connecting life and death. He challenges his readers to question and contemplate their own assumptions about mortality. He calls on them to think about the impact assisted dying legislation has on all Canadians.
