Dying with Christ, Living with Hope
A policy passed by the medical regulator in Nova Scotia in May 2024 requires physicians to participate in MAiD. 42 Nova Scotia physicians have indicated that they cannot follow the policy that forces them to refer patients for euthanasia and advise patients when they might qualify. 8 other Canadian jurisdictions have found ways around this problem.
The reasons people choose MAiD may surprise you. The following statistics are for the people who died by MAiD in Canada in 2022. 53% experienced a loss of dignity. 35% perceived that they were a burden on others. 17% chose MAiD because of loneliness and isolation. 86% felt a loss of ability to engage in meaningful activities.
Palliative care supports patients physically, spiritually, and emotionally at the end of life. The goal of palliative care is not to hasten the patient's death, but to attend to all types of suffering and alleviate pain to improve quality of life. Palliative care experts indicate that all physical pain can be treated at end of life.
