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.
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