A total of 188 people in B.C. have had a doctor assess their medical condition, help plan when and where, and put them to sleep and give them the drugs that will cause them to die 香蕉视频直播� all since medically assisted death was legalized in Canada.
As one man in the Cowichan Valley put it before his wife died earlier this month, it allows for sick people to die with dignity, in the comfort of their home, care home, hospital or hospice.
But many people are still being told they can香蕉视频直播檛 be approved for the procedure because of federal restrictions.
To qualify for medically assisted death, a person must be suffering from grievous or incurable illness, able to consent, registered for MSP, and over the age of 18.
But sticking points remain for Bill C14, such as the reasonably foreseeable future clause, which requires doctors to ensure, without a doubt, that the death of a patient is probable.
Generally, physicians have interpreted that to mean that the patient will die in six months.
香蕉视频直播淲e need an improvement,香蕉视频直播� said Vancouver-based Dr. Ellen Wiebe. 香蕉视频直播淚t means (some people) can expect to suffer for years.香蕉视频直播�
Wiebe has helped 46 people die and is currently assessing 120 more people living in the Lower Mainland.
She said it香蕉视频直播檚 terrible when she has to turn someone away.
A young patient, for example, diagnosed with a painful and inoperable illness, may not be as probable to die in the next six months.
香蕉视频直播淓very single one of these people are suffering terribly,香蕉视频直播� Wiebe said. 香蕉视频直播淚n each case that I香蕉视频直播檝e seen, there香蕉视频直播檚 really no hope in recovery of their terrible condition, and that香蕉视频直播檚 definitely the hardest thing I香蕉视频直播檝e had to do, is say no.香蕉视频直播�
All she can do is to help them know where they stand and what about their health needs to change for them to become eligible.
BCCLA awaits trial
When it struck down the prohibition on assisted death two years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada recommended that the procedure should be allowed in cases where 香蕉视频直播渢he suffering is intolerable from the perspective of the person who is suffering.香蕉视频直播�
But with Bill C14香蕉视频直播檚 restrictions, the BC Civil Liberties Association launched a legal action, arguing the reasonably foreseeable death clause violates the rights of those who suffer.
香蕉视频直播淚t has to be a question that that person can answer themselves,香蕉视频直播� BCCLA lawyer Caily DiPuma said.
The lead plaintiff is Chilliwack resident Julia Lamb, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, type 2.
Law is too broad, but also too exclusive: advocate
Dr. Jonathon Reggler, based in the Comox Valley and co-chair of the physician advisory committee with the group Dying with Dignity, said the bill leaves too much open to interpretation.
香蕉视频直播淭he law uses language that isn香蕉视频直播檛 particularly medical,香蕉视频直播� Reggler said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou won香蕉视频直播檛 hear terms like 香蕉视频直播榞rievous香蕉视频直播� or 香蕉视频直播榠rremediable香蕉视频直播� in a medical textbook.香蕉视频直播�
One physician might approve assisted death for one patient, while another might not allow it, he said, and that could mean a lack of standardized care.
Reggler香蕉视频直播檚 committee is advocating for the law to include patients whose death might not occur within the foreseeable future, but who are still intensely suffering.
In the meantime, physicians have been relying on each other to mull cases over.
香蕉视频直播淭he way it香蕉视频直播檚 happening is those who early on decided to be providers are talking to each other,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e do turn to the lawyers to some extent, but the lawyers have a very legalistic approach to this, whereas we believe very strongly we should make this very much apart of our ordinary clinical practice, and bring the same thoughts, and skills and experience to it that we do to any part of medical care.香蕉视频直播�
And time is ticking for those who aren香蕉视频直播檛 eligible, Reggler said, especially when a patient needs to be well enough to provide consent.
