Editor: Yesterday, while I was waiting for somebody, an article in the newspaper caught my eye. FHA using hospice beds for MAiD.
Online, there were a few comments about euthanasia and suicide.
I think we all have to take a deep breath. As a health care provider in acute and the community since 1976, I am not sure of the purpose of these arguments .
Yes, hospice is meant for those at the end stage of their life. We have developed protocols around the use of the palliative beds. Now we have developed protocols for those undergoing MAiD.
Religious groups and select politicians would let us believe we have to develop a separate facility for these individuals.
If you have end-stage renal failure and have to travel to hospital three times a week for dialysis or end stage cardiac disease, where it is difficult to take three steps without having to catch your breath, ALS, where you can only blink with one eye to communicate or dementia, where you don’t recognize your family or spouse — would you not like to make a choice about your life and die with dignity?
Are you not entitled to a quiet peaceful place to spend your last moments with family and friends?
Sadly, according to these groups this is not to be. These groups are strongly opinionated with minimal education as to the process which is heavily legislated. FHA is attempting to allow these individual to die with dignity.
Can we be courteous to those in their last days?
K.W. Den Braber,
Health care worker