Doctors respond in defence of hospital care

Dear Editor,

Recently, letters to the local paper regarding access to MAiD in our community appear to question the qual- ity of care provided at St. Joseph’s Hospital and The Views. Indeed, there have been repeated claims that compassion is lacking at St. Joseph’s.

To be clear, MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying – in our community this is done by le- thal injection) is now a legally available option for patients who meet certain criteria. Pa- tients must be suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition, have an expected death that is rea- sonably foreseeable, and have been informed of the means that are available to relieve their suffering including pal- liative care (www.cpsbc.ca). Prior to this amendment to the Criminal Code, such acts were chargeable as homicide. This is a new and dramatic change for our society, for patients and for doctors. We recognize the importance of the difficult work that Dr. Daws and Dr. Reggler provide to these patients.

It is also true that in Cana- dian law, individual doctors as well as institutions such as St. Joseph’s are permitted to exempt themselves from participation in MAiD if it is in conflict with their long held values. Thus, the stage is set for a conflict of these rights and values.

We believe that the mis- characterization of this issue as being one of a lack of compassion is unhelpful and untrue.

It is our experience that the various support staff, nurses, administrative staff and phy- sicians at these institutions are deeply compassionate. These people come from a range of backgrounds and beliefs, and have their own personal views on MAiD. Daily, they work together as a team to provide care that is kind, thoughtful, and expert. Providing health care in an age of budget restrictions is very challeng- ing and requires a personal commitment to one’s own convictions to do one’s best, even when no one else is look- ing. The staff of St. Joseph’s demonstrate this commitment every day, providing excellent care, as we ourselves try to do to the best of our ability.

Many of these same doctors, nurses and support staff hope to soon provide an equally high level of care at the new Island Health hospital, a hos- pital where MAiD is expected to be provided on site.

Moving forward, the idea that St. Joseph’s is unfit to provide seniors care is flawed.

St. Joseph’s has shown an exceptional ability and com- mitment in its past service, as well as in its planning for an ambitious expanded service to our aging community after the acute care hospital has relocated to the new Island Health site.

Yes, we live in changing and complex times. This brings challenges such as how to provide reasonable access to MAiD for those that request it, while also taking advantage of the best of care that our aging population deserves. If St. Joseph’s is able to provide excellent care for our aging population, such service to our community should not be rejected based on this single issue. We do not want to miss the opportunity to provide the best of care for our vulnerable seniors, so that they choose a premature death because of neglect, fear or loneliness. The right to die should never become the duty to die.

Hopefully we can turn down the temperature on this de- bate, and instead respectfully discuss which decisions will provide our community with the best in seniors’ care, the best residential care, the best hospice care, as well as ac- cess to MAiD for those who choose it. We would rather be part of a creative solution than choose sides in a battle that only splits our community.

Undermining the reputation of our local hospital is not helpful.

The hardworking staff of St. Joseph’s deserve better, not to mention the patients who arrive, often in pain and fear, to be treated and comforted there every day.