Assisted dying remains ongoing discussion for local health authority
The bill for assisted dying is still winding its way through the legislative system and the Prince Albert Parkland Regional Health Authority feels plans to offer the service to local patients is not quite ready.
“Just in the legislation there’s been criticism publicly from different groups,” Doug Dahl, Communications Officer for P.A. Parkland Health Region, said. “Some people thought it should be broader, some people think it should be more narrow. It’s all over the place.”
As it stands right now, Bill C-14 will allow for a patient who has an incurable disease, illness or disability, access to the service. The person asking for the service must be at least 18 years old and have given signed consent. A patient would then have to wait a full 15 days, from the day written consent is signed to the actual day of appointment. From there, the nurse practitioner or physician assisting would have to again confirm with the patient they’re sure they want to follow through.
Dahl said Bill C-14 is tentative for the local area at the moment and a lot still needs to be discussed, both provincially and locally, before assisted dying can be offered to patients.