Potentially sensitive

[TequilaMockingbird]

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Hi all,

I was hoping to get some advice on an extracurricular activity. I'm currently volunteering with an organization that's involved in end of life care and, if requested by the patient, providing life-ending medication. It's been a phenomenal, eye-opening experience, and I'm so glad I got involved.

However, I'm worried about what sort of impression it would make on admissions committees. I know that physician-assisted suicide (though this is a phrase that the organization STRONGLY objects to) is not often viewed positively. I'm wondering if I should leave out some of my duties, some information about the organization, or just out of my application entirely.

My duties include counseling patients on how to obtain authorization, providing a sounding board for the patients and their families, consulting on some of the more intimate details of the dying process, and, when required, actually being present when patients take their life-ending medication and confirming death. Doing this has been one of the big motivators for me going into medicine -- I want to help people have a good life, along with a good, satisfying death.

Can I include this activity in my application? Should I modify the details in some way? I would appreciate any advice.

 

[gyngyn]

End of Life is an important topic. If you are ready to talk about it, it can be a deal-maker.

 

[kamakazi5]

The way you describe it makes it sound like you're talking about physician assisted suicide.

Not sure if that's the case or if it makes any difference but it sounds like a unique and very cool experience.

 

[fivemoreminutesplease]

Definitely include it. I've been volunteering with an adolescent organization that has a significant palliative care component for almost five years and all of my interviewers this past cycle were very interested in talking about it. They love hearing about how you've spent time with and comforted those with terminal conditions.