RMH and Community Partners prepare to provide Medical Assistance in Dying
On July 20th, representatives of the Ross Memorial Hospital met with community healthcare partners to discuss Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), what the hospital is doing to prepare to provide this service, and what steps will need to be coordinated with community healthcare organizations.
Medical Assistance in Dying is a medical treatment that could potentially be provided in any area of the hospital or in a person’s home. It is not the same as palliative care, which focuses on the control of pain and suffering in a patient with a life threatening illness, maximizing quality of life leading to a natural death.
“What if your organization had a request for this service tomorrow?” asked Dr. Bert Lauwers, RMH President and CEO, and chair of the LHIN Steering Committee on MAID.
Under the new legislation that legalizes MAID, healthcare providers may refuse to provide the service for reasons of religion or conscience. RMH has a MAID Steering Committee, which surveyed its physicians and staff to determine their willingness to participate. The Steering Committee has studied the legislation and directions from the professional colleges, and has prepared policy and procedure guidelines, as well as information for patients and their families.
Understandably, the Hospital’s policy involves many steps to ensure a patient is eligible to receive the service and capable of understanding the implications. It complies with legislative, ethical and professional obligations and includes safeguards to protect the patient and those involved in providing the service.
The RMH team discussed its policy step-by-step, highlighting definitions of roles (e.g. most responsible physician, assessing physician, independent witnesses) and terminology (e.g. ten day reflection period between the date of signed consent and the date of the procedure).
Questions from community participants emphasized the need for seamless coordination between all healthcare partners as patients often move from their homes to the Hospital and back.
Information that RMH has prepared for patients and their families emphasizes that people who choose to have a medically assisted death may change their minds at any point. It also provides a list of questions to consider and recommendations including discussions with legal counsel and insurance representatives.
The RMH Steering Committee is pleased to work with all community healthcare partners in an attempt to ensure that local patients’ wishes are respected and they receive coordinated care wherever they choose to receive Medical Assistance in Dying. This area of treatment will continue to evolve as further direction and guidance is provided from provincial bodies, including the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
Anyone with questions about this service is encouraged to speak to his or her physician or nurse practitioner, or contact Kim Stephens-Woods, RMH Interim Vice President Patient Care at 705-328-6074 or kwoods@rmh.org.