(This letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was copied to Coast Reporter.)
Dear Prime Minister:
I am a former hospice volunteer and current client.
The World Hospice and Palliative Care Association states that palliative care “improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through … assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”
It “affirms life, regards dying as a normal process” and “intends neither to hasten nor to postpone death.”
People anticipating suffering due to their illness need to know that everything possible will be done to control pain, so that they can live their last days as fully as possible with loving support. They need to discuss their options freely.
Canada’s legislation legalizing medical assistance in dying (MAiD) does not change those principles, but pressure from government, regional health authorities and professional associations is being placed on hospice societies to take an active role. Some across the country have resolved not to compromise the principles that regard dying as a normal process and intending to neither hasten nor to postpone death. Others have chosen to co-operate and have instituted policies to that effect, as has Sunshine Coast Hospice.
Allowing MAiD to take place in a hospice facility weakens the affirmation of life and the intention neither to hasten nor postpone death. Knowing that MAiD could take place in the next room could prevent people opposed to euthanasia entering hospice. Staff and volunteers in Langley and Delta are protesting that MAiD carried out in hospice could lead to suicide contagion among the vulnerable, already concerned about being a burden on their loved ones, and are concerned about losing staff, volunteers and funders who oppose MAiD.
Physician-assisted suicide is not meant to be part of palliative care practice.
Hospices should be able to opt out of providing this on-site and transfer patients who want it to their homes or other facilities.
Anne E. Stuart, Sechelt
