Newsletter, October 2021

WORLD NEWS:

  • Last month, the British Medical Association (BMA) adopted a neutral stance on the issue of assisted dying following a vote with a very narrow margin: 49% of the BMA’s representative body voted in favour of a motion for it to move to a position of neutrality on assisted dying, including physician assisted dying, with 48% against it and 3% abstaining. 
  • Click here to read an insightful commentary of whether doctors can be neutral on assisted dying.
  • In the UK, Assisted Dying Bill was being debated by peers in the House of Lords on Friday October 22nd. It proposes changing the law so that individuals who are terminally ill, with less than six months to live can request assistance in the form of lethal drugs to end their lives.
  • In an open letter to Health Secretary Sajid Javid 1,689 signatories, including current and retired doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical students, voiced their ‘great concern’ over the proposed Assisted Dying Bill  and warn that any change to the law will leave the vulnerable at risk of “abuse”, and undermine the patient-doctor relationship.

CANADIAN NEWS:

The report (available in French only) includes many important issues that deserve the attention of physicians and the general public.

It indicates that deaths due to euthanasia are increasing and now account for 3.3% of deaths in Quebec: MAiD in hospital (48%), home (39%), CHSLD (8%) and palliative care homes (5%).

Friday October 22nd was the deadline for the Delta Hospice society to rally members across North America to protect its vision of MAiD-free end-of-life care.

  • Letter from the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops to the Special Commission on the evolution of the law concerning end-of-life care (available in French only: Lettre de l’AECQ adressée à la Commission spéciale sur l’évolution de la Loi concernant les soins de fin de vie)

The letter expresses their opinion on the fundamental issues of human dignity, palliative care, the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying for persons suffering from mental disorders, and the possibility that a request may be made in the context of an advance medical directive.

Dr’s VOICES:

COMMENTARIES:

EVENT:

RESOURCE:

Launched internationally on September 9, 2021 and available in English and French, The Treasure of Palliative Care is a 10-minute video that answers six essential questions to help you learn more about palliative care before you make end-of-life choices. A production from the Living with Dignity citizen network.

IN THE LITERATURE:

0

About the Author: