The family of a B.C. woman who was denied access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is calling for changes to be made to the policies that restrict access to this end-of-life option. Despite the legalization of MAID in Canada in 2016, some hospitals and facilities in B.C., including those run by Providence Health Care, do not permit this procedure due to faith-based policies.
Sam O’Neill, a patient with terminal cancer, was denied MAID at St. Paul’s Hospital, a Catholic health-care provider. She was forced to endure multiple painful transfers to a facility where MAID was allowed, ultimately leading to her inability to provide consent for the procedure.
The O’Neill family, along with a palliative care doctor, is taking legal action against the hospital and the B.C. government, advocating for a change in policy to provide dignity to dying patients. Similarly, Dr. Jyothi Jayaraman and a group of physicians are calling for an end to forced transfers for MAID patients to ensure compassionate care.
Despite promised changes to alleviate these issues, there remains a stigma attached to accessing MAID in certain facilities. The fight for change continues, as Sam’s parents call for a more compassionate approach to end-of-life care in B.C.