It's haunting to think about but the older we get, the more likely we are to see our loved ones reach the end of their lives. And in most cases, this is preceded by a period that finds them in and out of hospitals for months.
And whether they show it or not, such periods are hard for everyone involved. Those in the patient's corner are forced to see them suffer, whereas the patient finds themselves increasingly aware that routines in their lives they once took for granted have become difficult and painful as their condition worsens.
There's no easy answer for situations like this but the more options the patient has, the more likely they are to arrive at an end-of-life plan that makes them as comfortable as possible.
And it seems that Spain is gearing up to make a hotly-debated option available for those dealing with the most extreme cases.