Family sues over hospital's religious exemption for euthanasia
Summary
A patient who requested MAID in a catholic hospital was transferred to another location because the Catholic hospital refused to provide MAiD to the patient. The patient's family is suing British Columbia for violating their daughter’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The organization Dying with Dignity was named in the lawsuit, and they released a survey reporting that most British Columbians are in favour of MAiD. Data also showed that the majority support religious healthcare institutions' refusal to administer MAiD.
Relevance
MAiD is a controversial issue in Catholic healthcare, as traditional Catholic values conflict with state laws. While patients may access MAiD through hospital transfers, the family's decision to pursue legal action suggests an expectation that there should be no service discrepancies between Catholic and secular hospitals.