B.C. government struck compromise with assisted dying policy, court hears
Summary
This article reports on evidence presented in the British Columbia Supreme Court during a legal dispute over how the province’s assisted-dying policy applies to faith-based hospitals. The court heard that the provincial government reached a “compromise” policy intended to balance access to medical assistance in dying with respect for religious objections by some hospitals, particularly Catholic facilities that do not provide MAID on site. Government witnesses described efforts to ensure patients approved for MAID can receive the procedure without forcing faith-based institutions to act against their beliefs. The testimony also highlighted the role that faith-based facilities, including St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, play in the broader health system and the complexity of maintaining both access and institutional identity.
Relevance
This article is relevant because it addresses how provincial policy may shape access to medical assistance in dying within faith-based hospitals in Canada. The court’s consideration of the government’s compromise approach could affect whether and how MAID is accessed by patients receiving care in religious institutions.