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Striking a fine balance

It’s a decision no one wants to face.

It’s a decision no one wants to face. When you or your loved one is facing irremediable, enduring suffering, should one suffer through until the end or take the choice to end that suffering through physician assisted death?

The Supreme Court of Canada has now given patients that choice, coming down with an unanimous decision to allow physician assisted death in a ruling last year. The court has since given the provinces and the federal government until June to pick through the minefield in deciding how, when and where physician assisted death will be available.

Catholic bishops have already registered their protest, which is certainly significant, as in the Edmonton region, 90 per cent of the total palliative care beds are run by Covenant Health, Alberta’s parallel Catholic health system. There’s no doubt that a model that puts patient care first is one uniquely positioned to serve those in palliative care. But what about those who are facing prolonged, painful suffering, who are mentally competent, who seek a more peaceful end?

One only has to look at the case of Ms. S, a Calgary woman who traveled to Vancouver last month and received assistance in dying, to understand the argument for physician assisted death. Ms. S was in the final stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in significant pain, struggling to breath due to choking on bodily fluids, unable to speak, unable to swallow liquids, and having water pumped through a tube into her stomach. To leave the patient in such pain for months on end seems unnecessary, intolerable and as decided by the Supreme Court, unconstitutional.

The bishops’ statement denouncing state-sponsored killing has created a very clear line in the sand, stating that Catholic-run hospitals should not, and will not, provide this service on any count and that no physician who objects to the practice should have to refer a patient who requests this service elsewhere.

As the province consults with members of the public on this issue, it should find ways to accommodate the religious and personal beliefs of those that object to this practice, while still making sure all Albertans have all the information and options available to them regarding their health care, and for those in grievous, irremediable and painful suffering, end of life care as well.




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