The shit thing about the euthanasia referendum is that I can’t vote no and also give a reason.

Like, no, but I support euthanasia, but please fix palliative care and support for disabled, long-term ill, and caregivers first.

I always thought I would vote yes on it. Always.

But I’ve reflected a lot on my own chronic illness experiences the past few years. Our public health system offered 0 support. Nothing. Specialist wouldn’t even see me. No pain management options. Nothing.

If I didn’t work in tech, if I didn’t have financial privilege to afford to see the one specialist nationwide and pay $400/visit monthly, I would feel pretty goddamn hopeless as well as being in pain. I’d feel like a burden really, really fast.

And no, our current bill doesn’t include disabled people. But a very similar bill in Canada just had a court challenge on exactly that and they won. So yeah, until we fix support for disabled, chronically ill, caregivers, and palliative care, it’s a no for me.

(I honestly didn’t realise I felt like this until this morning, but discomfort has been building for the past few weeks, and apparently I have ~feels~ about it).

P.S. Voting yes on cannabis though. I don’t and have never smoked, but many people with my condition say that edibles are the best pain management for us out there. I really want to be able to try that and maybe get some relief and semblance of life back.

Also, racial justice