VANCOUVER, B.C. – Delta Hospice officials were shocked and outraged this week by the Fraser Health Authority’s blatant move to cut off all discussions and close the facility because it wants the hospice to provide MAiD (Medically Assistance in Dying) at a facility dedicated to allowing patients a full and comfortable final days.
Angelina Ireland, President of the Delta Hospice, said the Fraser Health Authority and the British Columbia Health Minister abruptly cancelled the Hospice’s contract on Tuesday without even acknowledging or responding to the hospice’s offer to lower government financing of the facility by $750,000 per year.
“The Ministry is now admitting that the issue of MAiD vs palliative care is an agenda-driven policy rather than one that has compassion and care for those in palliative situations and their families,” she said. “And it’s fiscal. It is easier and cheaper for the government to provide euthanasia at $500 per procedure rather than continue with palliative care at $1,300 per day. Basically, they are saying that no palliative care facility in BC has a right to exist unless it also provides euthanasia.”
Faced with the government’s decision and refusal to consider other options such as decreased provincial funding, Ms. Ireland said the hospice will look at all of its legal and other options to continue to exist and serve patients and families in their final days.
The decision is particularly baffling, she said, since access to MAiD for those who request it is available at many locations in the lower mainland, including Delta Hospital right next door to the hospice. That, in her mind, reinforced the view that this is not about the patients or families, but rather about a social policy agenda. “MAiD is a separate public health care stream, distinct and apart from palliative care. If the government wants to open MAiD facilities that’s their option, but they must not be allowed to download it onto the backs of private palliative care facilities.”
“Palliative care physicians and nurses believe in the historic practice as defined by the World Health Organization. It says that palliative care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms and affirms life as well as regarding death as a normal process. At no point does WHO indicate that euthanasia is an aspect of such care!”
Forced closure of the facility ignores the fact that this is a privately owned hospice on land leased from the government, employs more than fifty people has provided contributed significantly to BC’s public health care system and raised more than $30 million for public health as well, she added.
“This is an invasion of the historic precepts and medical discipline of palliative care. The Canadian model is respected around the world. The government and the health authority are running roughshod over that principle and reputation.”
Ms. Ireland expressed hope that “even at this late date” the authority and the BC Ministry of Health will come to the table and discuss the issues, including the financial offer. “Our deepest concern is with those patients and families who have entrusted their final days to us. We want to make sure those days are filled with comfort and peace. That is still our goal.”
The Minister of Health and health authority have both publicly stated that they hope to take control of the premises currently occupied by the Hospice. The Irene Thomas Hospice operated by Delta Hospice was built by the Hospice privately, without taxpayer funds, at the cost of approximately $9,000,000. The Hospice Society has built and operated the Irene Thomas Hospice for 10 years, providing more than 700,000 hours of volunteer labour and $30 million to the public health care system. For the government to step in and seize this private property is “a scandalous appropriation of private assets,” said Ireland.
On Saturday April 4, a Rally for Delta Hospice will be held in front of the Legislative Buildings at noon. Speakers include Dr. Margaret Cottle (palliative care physician) and Dr. Will Johnston (family physician and obstetrician) along with MP Tamara Jansen and Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
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For further information, contact:
Angelina Ireland
President
Delta Hospice
irelandangelina@gmail.com
778-512-8088