A few months after the adoption of an Act respecting end-of-life care (previously Bill 52), Minister Gaétan Barrette wants to reform health and social services networks. But this reform is dangerous for the public.
Mr. Ménard, a well-known lawyer for the rights of patients, says in Le Devoir that “it goes much further than a simple reform of the structure. It goes backwards in terms of transparency, network independence and accountability, and the population doesn’t realise what is happening”. He adds that these reforms will reduce patients’ choice in terms of where and how they will be able to access health care.
The choices will be more and more restrained in such a health care system. What will happen with palliative care services, already shamelessly limited, in such an environment?
Further, as stated in the article, the minister is grabbing unprecedented power, and there is no transparency in the adoption process of these reforms as they will happen through special laws and emergency measures.
They are reducing choices, and aren’t consulting the population, yet have legalized euthanasia.
The risk was already great for our elders, people with disabilities and people who are sick. These risk can only grow if these reforms are adopted.