Thursday, June 22, 2023

Canadian Quadriplegic woman approved to die by euthanasia faster than it takes to get needed disability benefits

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

CBC News reported on June 22, 2023 that Rose Finlay, a woman who lives with quadriplegia from Bowmanville Ontario, is scheduled to die by MAiD (euthanasia) within two weeks.

Finlay told Tyler Cheese, reporting for CBC news, that she applied for a medically assisted death because she has not been able to get the disability support services that she requires. Cheese reported:
A quadriplegic woman in Bowmanville, Ont., has applied for medical assistance in dying (MAID), saying it's easier to access than the support services she needs to live her life comfortably.

Rose Finlay, 33, has been a full-time wheelchair user since a diving accident when she was 17.

But for the past year, she says, she's been without the reliable daily support she needs. Without that support, which includes bathroom assistance, she suffers from recurring urinary tract and kidney infections.
Finlay was able to earn a living by operating a disability advocacy business, but her illness caused her to be unable to work. 

Finlay explained that it takes 6 - 8 months to be approved for disability supports but only 90 days to receive a medically assisted death. Cheese reports:
With no other way to earn an income, Finlay applied for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and says she was told by a representative over the phone that it would take at least six to eight months to have her application approved.

According to the federal government's website, the approval period for MAID is only 90 days. MAID allows individuals with "grievous and irremediable" medical conditions to end their life with the assistance of a doctor or nurse practitioner.

"That tells me that our government is not prioritizing the lives of disabled people and that it is easier to let disabled people go than it is to actually give them the assistance that they need," Finlay said.
Finlay told CBC news that she doesn't want a medically assisted death but without disability supports the outcome is the same as she has become very sick.

Finlay is not the only person experiencing this reality. Ron Anicich, a spokesperson for the ODSP Action Coalition, told CBC Toronto that the organization has heard from a number of Ontarians with disabilities who have considered or applied for MAID because they feel like they're running out of options. Anicich stated:
"That's a big problem,"
"If people are even considering going for MAID because of poor social assistance rates, then that is something that definitely needs to be looked at, that needs to be fixed, that needs to be repaired."
According to the CBC News report, Finlay applied for ODSP payments and supports in March, 2023 and has not heard anything back yet.

Finlay is concerned that even when she is approved for ODSP payments the income support will not be enough to cover her expenses. The CBC article explains that ODSP currently pays $1228 per month, which is completely inadequate for a mother of three.

Further reading:

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

How do I share this other than email

Bill Whatcott said...

Really sad. God have mercy and give this woman hope! The 9 billion Trudeau spent on the Ukrainian war (we have no strategic interest there and Zelinsky is a corrupt, pro-abortion, autocrat) could have gone a long ways in giving all of Canada's disabled citizens adequate housing and medical care.

Tershia said...

It is not surprising in this culture of death promoted by the government.
It is all about saving money and not about compassion, especially for disabled people.

Killing someone quickly is a one-time cost whereas providing ongoing support for disabled people is not a consideration. Various Canadian MSM have reported that 10,064 people died at the hands of MAID in 2021, an increase of 32% over 2020.
According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, euthanasia will reduce the annual healthcare costs between $34.7 and $136.8 million.

There will be eternal consequences for those who deliberately take away someone’s life.

Alex Schadenberg said...

The issue of the Ukraine doesn't connect to the Provincial government policy that makes it hard for a person to qualify for disability benefits even when that person clearly qualifies. Nevertheless the programs to enable people to live must become a priority.

Elaine said...

How can we send some money to Rose?

Alex Schadenberg said...

There is a gofundme page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/84wdp-help-needed?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_location=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Betty said...

This fact is not accidental either. Canadian government would rather kill the elderly, chronically ill, mentally ill, and disabled etc than give them the necessary services to make living possible. Try to get a family physician in parts of the Country is impossible, try to get referred for life saving treatment without one is a nightmare and coverage of life saving drugs is not provided but physicians and drugs to kill Canadians who are falling through the cracks of the Medical Crisis in Canada is easy as can be. They encourage you to kill yourself and that is a huge black mark on the Canadian story. life is sacred and government should be assisting for those suffering to live with dignity and in comfort. The methods are there but the will of government is not.