A Death Doula's Substack

A Death Doula's Substack

Final Exit Network: Ethics and End-of-Life

The concept of choice and options we face at the end of our journey.

Catherine Durkin Robinson's avatar
Catherine Durkin Robinson
Jan 02, 2025
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The Final Exit Network (FEN) is an established source of support for those seeking an alternative to prolonging life at all costs. I'm a death doula who prioritizes a client’s agency and autonomy at the end of life.

Let's delve into the origins of FEN, its services, and the opportunities for individuals to engage with it.

FEN's Beginning

The Hemlock Society was an early right-to-die advocacy group that became well-known in the 1980s and 1990s. Its founders and members advocated for assisted deaths and end-of-life care for people with incurable illnesses.

Around 2003, it split into two organizations: the Final Exit Network, which focused on providing information about self-deliverance methods, and Compassion & Choices, which primarily advocates for legislative changes to legalize Medical Aid in Dying.

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Two distinct organizations with different strategies to achieve similar goals.

Today, both groups continue to advocate for the lawful and ethical right of individuals to choose when and how t…

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