{"id":4261,"date":"2018-06-22T18:02:07","date_gmt":"2018-06-22T22:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collectif.lesartsmartial.com\/en\/?p=4261"},"modified":"2025-08-12T00:21:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T04:21:20","slug":"call-to-action-june-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collectifmedecins.org\/en\/call-to-action-june-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Call to action – June 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

In view of the upcoming Quebec general election\u00a0scheduled for\u00a0October 1, 2018<\/span><\/span>, we invite you, our colleagues and supporters, to join forces with many concerned groups and citizens to express to politicians and the media our deep concern about the woeful state of Palliative Care in Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n

As you know, only about one-third of those who need expert palliative care at the end of their life receive it. When the\u00a0Act respecting end of life care<\/em>\u00a0was adopted in 2014, it was presented to us as, above all, a law to promote quality palliative care for all. However, since the law\u2019s implementation, we have instead witnessed the opposite: great efforts are being made to ensure that all those who request \u201cmedical aid in dying\u201d receive it, while palliative care is suffering in many places. Indeed, as a direct result of some Health Ministry policies, many doctors have abandoned palliative care to work in other fields.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Coll\u00e8ge des m\u00e9decins du Qu\u00e9bec<\/em>\u00a0has drawn this outrageous situation to the attention of the Minister of Health, Dr. Ga\u00e9tan Barrette, in a\u00a0letter dated May 29, 2018<\/a>. Even the College (one of the main driving forces behind the law permitting euthanasia) is very concerned about the widespread lack of access to palliative care, which could drive suffering patients to request \u201cmedical aid in dying\u201d because they cannot obtain the care they need to live peacefully until the end of their natural life.<\/p>\n

We need to ask ourselves what kind of society we have become, that would drive people to ask a doctor to end their life because we cannot provide them with the health care they need. Palliative care is the humane response to suffering at the end of life, and is in fact less costly than hospital-based care. Euthanasia is of course the cheapest option.<\/p>\n

It is imperative that this pitiful lack of resources for Palliative Care be addressed, to offer citizens a true choice for End-of-Life Care.<\/p>\n

The next few months represent a tremendous opportunity for us and all our allies to voice our concerns and advocate for Palliative Care. Legislators need to hear from us, as our determined opposition has the potential to play a formidable role in the upcoming election.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, we urge you to consider writing to your Member of the National Assembly (MNA). Please click on this\u00a0link for your local MNA’s email address:\u00a0http:\/\/www.assnat.qc.ca\/en\/deputes\/index.html#listeDeputes<\/a><\/p>\n

We can also make our voice heard powerfully through the media. Consider writing to a major or local newspaper, or expressing your concerns to radio or television stations. Contact information for some media can be found below.<\/p>\n

Together we can make Palliative Care a true choice!<\/p>\n

We thank you for contributing your voice to this important effort in support of Palliative Care.<\/p>\n

Catherine Ferrier
\nPresident
\nPhysicians’ Alliance against Euthanasia<\/p>\n

Recent news articles addressing shortage of Palliative Care resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n