In Quebec, health care workers, spiritual care providers and volunteers accompanying patients who are considering requesting medical assistance in dying have a duty of neutrality and cannot express their point of view on the subject. Health professionals sometimes express their opinions on their patients’ health-care choices, but the issue becomes particularly delicate when it comes to MAiD.
Family and friends of people considering MAiD are always free to speak out. More often than not, people who disagree with a loved one’s choice to request medical aid in dying are silent or reluctant to broach the subject directly. This silence is often due to a fear of damaging the existing relationship, or of restricting the loved one’s freedom in such a personal matter. The Living with Dignity citizen network is convinced that speaking out freely and respectfully can, on the contrary, have a positive impact on the relationship, on the patient’s eventual end of life and on the grief experienced by the family member or friend who chooses to speak out. This implies that the family member or friend will have already verified with the health-care providers the availability of quality palliative care for the person concerned.
We hope that the page aidinliving.org will be of assistance to you.
