Lack of funds for national palliative care strategy cited
OTTAWA (CCN)
Though many welcome aspects of new spending in the Liberal’s first federal budget, the lack of any funds targeted for a national palliative care strategy has raised concerns.
“Since the government is now drafting the bill to answer the Supreme Court’s decision in Carter v. Canada and to legislate on euthanasia and assisted suicide, presented as ‘medical aid in dying,’ I dare hope that the absence of Federal money for palliative care in the Liberals’ first budget is not a clear message that we are heading for an end-of-life disaster,” said Catholic Organization for Life and Family director Michele Boulva. “For sure, Catholics should be speaking to their MPs right now and signing the petition of the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience.”
“It appears they have bought into a concept that all we need is a bit of euthanasia and everything’s going to be fine,” said Euthanasia Prevention Coalition executive director Alex Schadenberg.
Most people fear “a bad death, a painful end of life,” he said. “The way you allay that is not by euthanasia, but by proper end of life care.” Though acknowledging health is a provincial matter, Schadenberg said a federal national strategy is needed to fund efforts to make palliative care accessible across Canada, noting access is good in many cities, but spotty elsewhere.
“Good palliative care provides death with dignity; it’s just not about killing someone,” he said. Most people will not die by euthanasia, as the experience of Belgium and the Netherlands has shown, but those who die a natural death need effective care. “It’s an abandonment of people who are vulnerable when we do not provide palliative care.”
The Cardus think tank also noted the omission in the budget, given the “revolution” Canada is undergoing regarding end of life care.
“The government had an opportunity to recognize the supporting role of natural caregivers in the end of life care continuum,” said Cardus co-founder and executive vice president Ray Pennings. “It seems to have been otherwise occupied, which is not to its credit.”
“Budgets that attempt to do as much as this one still cannot do everything, and that caveat must temper criticism of inaction on compassionate care,” he said. “Still, it remains a pressing issue that warranted far more prompt attention.”
Pennings said the Compassionate Care Benefit under Employment Insurance provides up to 26 weeks of leave for people caring for gravely ill or dying family members helps equip natural caregivers and “is good or patients and can reduce stress on acute care resources.”
“When considering end-of-life care, public policy must consider the full range of social institutions connecting the range of options available to patients and their caregivers,” he said.
