Currently, the Canada Health Act does not consider home care access, pharmacare, pain management and palliative care as essential health services. In 2016, in response to Carter v. Canada, Canada legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for persons with disabilities, illness and intolerable suffering within the context of nearing death. What is remarkable is that both of these landmark court decisions were made in the absence of addressing existing inequities in home care, pharmacare and palliative care across the country. It raises issues of systemic marginalization and violence as persons with disabilities are not adequately protected or valued. Does access to home care and palliative care influence an individual’s decision to choose MAiD?

Source: thestar January 28, 2020 11:00 UTC