Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
On February 24, 2021 the Delta Hospice will, in effect, be defunded by the BC Ministry of Health the Irene Thomas Hospice, that is operated by the Delta Hospice Society will essentially be expropriated by the Fraser Health authority.
In February 2018 the Board of the Delta Hospice Society was given an edict from Fraser Health to provide euthanasia (MAiD). At that time, the board of the Delta Hospice did not comply with the edict and continued its good work.
In December 2019, the Delta Hospice was ordered to provide euthanasia or lose government funding. The Delta Hospice refused to crumble under pressure from the government.
In February 2020, Adrian Dix, BC Minister of Health, gave notice that funding for the Delta Hospice would cease on February 24, 2021 unless the Delta Hospice changed their position and permitted euthanasia. The Delta Hospice refused.
The BC government continued there attack on the Delta Hospice Society even after the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians stated that: Euthanasia is not consistent with the philosophy, intent or approach of hospice palliative care.
The BC government policy discriminates against people who want to be cared for in a euthanasia-free environment. The Delta Hospice Society operates the Irene Thomas Hospice which is located across the street from the local hospital. The local hospital provides euthanasia. People can die by lethal injection at the local hospital.
In February 2018 the Board of the Delta Hospice Society was given an edict from Fraser Health to provide euthanasia (MAiD). At that time, the board of the Delta Hospice did not comply with the edict and continued its good work.
In December 2019, the Delta Hospice was ordered to provide euthanasia or lose government funding. The Delta Hospice refused to crumble under pressure from the government.
In February 2020, Adrian Dix, BC Minister of Health, gave notice that funding for the Delta Hospice would cease on February 24, 2021 unless the Delta Hospice changed their position and permitted euthanasia. The Delta Hospice refused.
The BC government continued there attack on the Delta Hospice Society even after the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association and the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians stated that: Euthanasia is not consistent with the philosophy, intent or approach of hospice palliative care.
* Sign the petition: Hospice organizations must NOT be forced to do euthanasia (Link).
The Delta Hospice Society is fighting for you.
Canada legalized euthanasia in June 2016 by passing Bill C-14. Bill C-14 did not require every publicly funded medical facility to provide euthanasia, it was the British Columbia provincial government that established a policy that all publicly funded medical facilities, except for those that are religiously affiliated, must permit MAiD, euthanasia and assisted suicide, on their premises.
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| Irene Thomas Hospice |
People who want to receive excellent care and die a natural death, without fear of being urged to consider euthanasia have been able to go to the Irene Thomas Hospice, but after February 24, there will be no safe space in Delta BC.
I am concerned for the many people who don't want euthanasia, but at their time of need have become so depressed or are experience deep transient feelings of hopelessness or despair that they request death by euthanasia. Some of these people are asked if they want euthanasia, while they are at their lowest time emotionally. These people need a safe place to die. A place where they will receive excellent care but not lethal injection.
This concern recognizes the humanity of the person. We all experience times when we feel that our life lacks purpose, meaning or value and yet we know that, with time, support and good community care, our deep dark time may pass.
We need safe places. This is what the Delta Hospice Society has been fighting for, this is a battle that effects everyone.
All I want to say is, seeing as this is the year of St.Joseph, I believe if enough people PRAY to St.Joseph, everyday, HE will help. St.Joseph is the Saint to pray to for a Holy death. He will always hear & answer your prayer.
ReplyDeletePatricia
Thanks Alex. I pray they get a generous benefactor that can sustain their work after the government pulls their funding OR they are granted an extension to see what else they can do. This is terrible.
ReplyDeleteThe hospice is bravely remaining true to the authentic mission of hospice and palliative care which are never to hasten death but always affirm the value of the lives of those they serve! Euthanasia is antithetical to everything real hospice and palliative care are about.
ReplyDeleteThe government's position reveals its actual evil and opposition to the culture of life and to God who gives us life. Euthanasia has no place in any healthcare setting. Killing is never part of caring for our patients!
We may wish to remember that in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the modern hospice movement was begun, volunteer hospice associations were the rule. Care was provided by physicians, nurses, and other volunteers without formal government recognition or funding.
ReplyDeleteWhen the government that is committed to the evil of euthanasia funds, they have the authority to cut off that funding and control the health care organizations/agencies that receive that funding.
In the United States, for example, Hillsdale College in Michigan has refused since 1844 to take any federal funding whether directly or in student aid, because they recognize that to take the funds means they will be controlled by the federal government. They have remained true to their mission of educating the students about the actual US Constitutional form of government, the recognition of human rights and respect for life.
Hospices in Canada will have to return to a partially volunteer form of functioning as well as returning to the nonprofit, donation-based method of funding their services. They may not qualify under Canadian law as a government certified "hospice" but they could provide services as part of regular healthcare to the ailing.
It is distressing that the government is so intolerant of those who affirm the value of life and refuse to kill, but it is the nature of the Canadian socialist government.
“all publicly funded medical facilities, except for those that are religiously affiliated, must permit MAiD, euthanasia and assisted suicide, on their premises. “
ReplyDeleteWhy are they not considered Religiously Affiliated? How can the society become affiliated?
Gene Cyr
It is good that it has been out to the public to read this. Euthanasia is killing what God has created and the pressure to withhold funding to a place that provides care during the end of life, is terrible and very upsetting.
ReplyDeleteI second Patricia's call for prayer to St. Joseph. So much of direst consequence is happening across Canada (eg the N.S. order against St. Martha's hospital) that we need in great numbers to beseech the great intercession of St. Joseph for God's mercy and deliverance of Canada from extremely evil times. And let us pray for the conversion of architects of euthanasia and assisted suicide like Jocelyn Downie. Through the dark light of these lost souls it has been seen necessary to silence the conscience of physicians, other health-care providers and caring institutions. Conscience is the most radically human thing about a person.
ReplyDeleteThey have a secular constitution and they are not religiously affiliated. If they had been religiously affiliated they wouldn't have this problem, at least for now.
ReplyDeleteI understand that they have a secular constitution and are not currently religiously affiliated. However, I was under the impression that members, of which I am, would have a vote to change their status and become religiously affiliated. Has this vote taken place or is it still pending? Thanks for any clarification on this matter, Joanne
ReplyDeleteThe meeting has not yet happened. The local euthanasia activists are trying to "take over" the Delta Hospice and due to the court proceedings the meeting date has been put on hold, for now.
ReplyDeleteGood day,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your good work. For those who are seeking more information before consenting to sign the petition, please note the link : https://www.chpca.ca/chpcacspcp produces a "Page Not Found" ....
A very smart move by the supporters of euthanasia, allowing religious but not secular institutions to opt out. This props up the associations they get support from promoting: That opponents are dictated by outdated religious scriptures that should not dominate modern life. It does not leave much space for secular opponents, who focus on 1) how this practice systematically puts pressure on the weakest in our society - instead of offering decent care and help, including palliative treatments, in the final parts of life, 2) that a secular humanism sees life as valuable in its own right - meaning that society should not make rules that in practice decides which lifes are not worth living, 3) finds that the supporters build on a fundamentally flawed conception of 'autonomy' in ending life, not as something you could do yourself but as something others and society should help with and condone.
ReplyDeleteWe wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities .Our government sad to say is controlled by the wrong spirit until we as a society turn back to God and allow Him to guide us choose a godly government we will have this battle just as we kill our babies the sick and the elderly and the troubled will be in danger of a untimely death determined by man.We must as a nation return to our Heavenly Father and see that He and He alone is the author of our faith .Rather than being a culture that kills their weak and the vulnerable we need to elect a godly government that makes godly laws.We need to have men and women who love our Lord Jesus run for office but we as a nation need to stand for what is right.How grieved our for fathers would be to see the laws that our being made today .How grieved our Heavenly Father must be to see this great nation of Canada becoming a culture of evil and death.Come on Canada let’s stand up and call wrong wrong and right right .Life no matter what age it is valuable and precious.Lord we know you see the beginning to the end we turn back to you and we ask you to undertake on behalf of the vulnerable we pray that we as a nation would abhor this evil culture of death that has crept in and that you would expose it and that we as a nation would repent and turn back to you and life would again be precious as you intended it to be in the name of Jesus we pray blessings Marlyen Torrie
ReplyDeleteGood that majority agreed to proceed with a virtual AGM.
ReplyDeleteThe Dying with Dignity Group are sending mass e-mail with a link to the DHS membership webpage but with the intent to convert those who opposes MAiD in hospices to become one of Dying with Dignity pro-choice allies.
Delta Hospice Society Board were clear they OPT-OUT. The definition of OPT-OUT in the 2018 British Columbia MAiD Policy approved by BC Deputy MInister of Health Brown is "OPT-OUT refers to a decision that may be made by a Contracted Organization to NOT ALLOW the provision of MAID in their setting(s). The mandate to provide MAiD in hospices is Fraser Health mandate and not a provincial mandate.
Here is the link to the joint statement and call to action:
https://www.cspcp.ca/joint-statement-from-chpca-and-cspcp-regarding-palliative-care-and-maid/#:~:text=%28Nov%2027%2C%202019%29%20The%20Canadian%20Hospice%20Palliative%20Care,about%20Palliative%20Care%20and%20Medical%20Assistance%20in%20Dying.
Let us continue to support the Delta Hospice Society with its purpose to advocate for an authentic palliative care . Join and be a part of the virtual AGM.
https://deltahospice.org/dhs_membership_form/