This Q&A is a “working document” that will be up-dated as new questions are asked and new information becomes available. We welcome questions on further topics that may not be covered below.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Residential Hospice offers a specialized health care for individuals who are living with a life-limiting illness that is usually at an advanced stage. A residential hospice becomes home to the individual and their family and offers an alternative to dying at home or in the hospital.
- Provides support for not only the patient but the caregivers and loved ones
- The goal of palliative care is to provide comfort and dignity for the person living with the illness as well as the best quality of life for both this person and his or her family. A“family” is whoever the person says his or her family is. It may include relatives, partners and friends
- Variety of supports available including physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual
- An important objective of palliative care is relief of pain and other symptoms to improve the quality of life for residents and their family. Palliative care meets not only physical needs, but also psychological, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs of each person and family. Palliative care may be the main focus of care when a cure for the illness is no longer possible.
- Non-denominational, culturally sensitive
- Residential Hospice care is available to anyone regardless of race, national origin, colour, political affiliation, religion, age, sexual orientation, economic circumstance or disability. Residents live out their final days with dignity in a way that honours their belief and value system.
• Memorial Donation
• Donation by cash, cheque, credit card or online
• Join the monthly giving program (fits all budgets, easy to set up)
• Gifts of appreciated securities and other personal property such as stocks, bonds or life insurance.
• Gift in Will
What does medical assistance in dying mean?
Medical assistance in dying refers to an individual seeking the assistance from a physician or nurse practitioner to end his or her life in specific circumstances.
What qualifies a person to receive medical assistance in dying?
Under federal legislation (Bill C-14 – Royal Assent – June 17, 2016), people who are eligible to receive medical assistance in dying must:
- Have a serious or incurable illness, disease, or disability;
- Be in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capacity;
- Endure physical and psychological suffering that is intolerable to them;
- Their natural death has become reasonably foreseeable
- Two independent physician assessments must agree the person meets the above criteria;
- Must be mentally capable of making a personal request for medical assistance in dying
Are Ontario hospices required by law to allow medical assistance in dying?
Currently, there are no laws mandating hospices to permit medical assistance in dying at their facilities.
Will the Chatham-Kent Hospice admit residents for the sole purpose of receiving medical assistance in dying?
No. Chatham-Kent Hospice will not admit any person for the sole purpose of medical assistance in dying. Rather, once in our care, should a resident make their own decision to receive medical assistance in dying and wish to remain in hospice, we will honour their right to make decisions for themselves and will respect their choice.
Why is the Chatham-Kent Hospice not prohibiting medical assistance in dying?
Chatham-Kent Hospice does not support or oppose medical assistance in dying. Rather, we will respect the decision of our residents and continue to provide compassionate hospice care while respecting their dignity and their rights to make decisions for themselves. We always want to encourage the use of hospice palliative care.
Are Chatham-Kent Hospice physicians, nurse practitioners or hospice employees obligated to perform or participate in medical assistance in dying?
No. Just as we will respect a residents’ personal decision about medical assistance in dying, we respect the personal objections of our staff. Physicians, nurse practitioners and other staff can refuse to perform or participate in medical assistance in dying.
Additional Resources:
- Government of Canada – https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html
- Government of Ontario – http://health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/maid/
Still have questions?
If you would like to learn more about Chatham-Kent Hospice, give us a call at 519-354- 3113 or email info@chathamkenthospice.com