Nipissing Serenity Hospice says they are not opposed to medically assisted death, or MAiD.

But, in a letter to donors, Board Chair Vivian Papaiz also says the board has decided not to offer the procedure at the facility.

She says assisted death is a person’s legal right, it’s readily available in the community and the hospice will provide information to any patient requesting MAiD.

The letter also says contrary to “misinformation being circulated by a small number of vocal individuals”, the board’s decision has not been influenced by donors or religious considerations.

Papaiz says they do not accept donations to which conditions are attached.

(File photo by Linda Holmes/BayToday.ca)

 

Below is the letter to donors:

To Our Valued Donors,

I am glad to report that Nipissing Serenity Hospice will soon begin its second month of palliative care services to our community following our January 11 grand opening. The compassionate care and support we provide to patients and their families would not be possible without your generous support. Thank you!

Our facility is staffed with top palliative care experts with a wealth of knowledge and experience in pain management and palliative care. These experts, along with our wonderful volunteers, are singularly focused on relieving suffering and improving the quality of life for those we are entrusted to serve in their final days and hours of life. While our facility is operating successfully, we are disappointed to have encountered division in our community over the provision of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). I would like to take this opportunity to share information with you on this difficult and emotional issue, and to assure you that we continue to fulfill our commitment to provide quality end of life care in a peaceful, caring and supportive environment.

As you are likely aware, the hospice’s board has decided to not offer MAiD in our facility. This decision was made after careful consideration of information and input from experts, the community and provincial authorities. Our position is consistent with the standards set out by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians (CSPCP), and is aligned with the practices of 42 of Ontario’s 48 hospices.

According to a joint statement issued by the CHPCA and CSPCP, “Hospice palliative care sees dying as a normal part of life and helps people to live and die well. Hospice palliative care does not seek to hasten death or intentionally end life. In MAiD, however, the intention is to address suffering by ending life through the administration of a lethal dose of drugs at an eligible person’s request” and is usually planned in advance of when the death would normally occur.

The vast majority of palliative care patients have developed a care plan prior to entering a hospice and, at the time of their arrival for end of life care, are beyond the point where initiating a request for MAiD is possible under the existing law. Consistent with this, a 2018 survey conducted by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario found that since the enactment of MAiD legislation in 2016, Ontario hospices received 33 requests for MAiD. Of those, five procedures were performed, two in-facility and three patients were transferred to another setting. These findings show that, while some patients wish to have the opportunity to ask about MAiD, most do not exercise this option when expert professionals provide high quality palliative care.

Nipissing Serenity Hospice does not oppose MAiD. Assisted death is a person’s legal right and we believe it is a viable option at end of life. For any individual wishing to have MAiD, it is readily available within our community. In the event MAiD is requested by a patient while under our care, the hospice will provide information on the options available in our community and will ensure the patient is accommodated in a respectful and compassionate manner. For the reasons outlined above, we do not offer the procedure in our facility.

Contrary to misinformation being circulated by a small number of vocal individuals, the board’s decision has not been influenced by donors or religious considerations. In fact, we do not accept donations to which conditions are attached. We acknowledge and respect the views on both sides of this issue, and we are sustained by the words of support we receive daily from numerous donors and other community members.

We are mindful that MAiD is relatively new in Canada. The law and practices governing assisted death are evolving as governments, the courts, professional bodies and organizations determine how best to proceed in this changing environment. As a responsible community board, any possible future change to the hospice’s position on assisted dying would only be made after reviewing relevant new information and with further input from experts, the community and provincial authorities.

In the meantime, we continue to provide the compassionate hospice palliative care services needed in our community. Unlike other health care facilities, the costs of hospice services are only partially covered by provincial government funding. To continue serving patients and their families, we need ongoing support from community members like you.

Please consider joining our Hospice Heroes program online with a monthly gift of $25 or as low as $15. Our Hospice Heroes have built our hospice, and give the gift of dignity and compassion to each and every one of our patients and their families. Monthly donations can be cancelled anytime. Or consider an amount that better fits within your budget. Every dollar counts and will be gratefully received.

Thank you again for your past and ongoing support.

Yours most sincerely,
Vivian Papaiz RN, MN, PhD(cand.), CHPCN(C), CCHN(C)
Chair, Board of Directors

Filed under: Nipissing Serenity Hospice