by Dr. R. Christinck, Eganville, ON
If you are facing an end-of-life situation, and are concerned that euthanasia (MAiD) might be forced upon you, there are things you can do to be pro-active. The same can be said if you’re actively involved with a loved one who is facing end-of-life care decisions. There are several things you can do, to avoid having the option of MAiD thrust upon you, if you find it an offensive proposal.
Unless you know that you have a family physician who shares your Christian faith, and opposes euthanasia, you may need to prepare for a day when the topic of MAiD may be introduced. This is becoming a common occurrence, and as a Family Physician, I’ve had several people talk to me about being offended when they were offered euthanasia – some of these people did not even have a life-threatening condition when the offer was made! There are a few practical steps you can take, even if you are not approaching end-of-life. It is ‘planning ahead’, much like most adults make a Will, even though their death is not imminent.
Practical Suggestions:
As mentioned above, having an up-to-date Will is always a sensible thing, no matter what your stage in life. A second step in that process would be to create a so-called ‘Living Will’. This document would list many of the situations that can come up, when life is coming to an end. Putting some thought into your preferences, and writing it into a document is very helpful, both for you, and for others. Once you’ve sorted out your views and preferences, it can be used to have a discussion with your family and Power of Attorney for Health; they need to know what you think. It needs to be signed and witnessed be become a legal document.
Link for Ontario Living Will: [https://lawdepot.ca/estate/living-will-personal-directive/]
There is also a wallet card put out by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, titled “Please do not kill me”. If you are in an accident, and arrive in the emergency room unaccompanied, this card would tell the nursing staff your stance. [Card link: https://epcc.ca/resources/]
Be specific about euthanasia:
As part of your ‘living will’, it is best to be very specific about being morally opposed to the very idea of euthanasia. It would be best to provide your family doctor with a copy of your Living Will. This can lead to a discussion, where you can request your family physician to make a note in your chart, in a prominent area, that you never wish to be offered MAiD, even if your life is coming to an end. You can even request that it goes in a portion of the chart, that is sent along with all consultations to specialists. This is easiest if it is an electronic chart – it can go into the “ongoing issues area”, as comment like “Patient never wishes to discuss or be offered MAiD”. In a paper chart, the physician will typically have a reminders area as well, where you can ask that it be highlighted.
How to Advocate for others:
If you have an aging parent, or a loved one who is unwell, going to appointments with that individual is very encouraging and supportive to a person (if they are in agreement with your company!). Working through a Living Will with them can help you to learn their priorities, and then helping to give this information to their family physician, will also assist that individual in providing care, as end-of-life approaches. For instance, if someone has an infection, and noted on their document that they would/would not like antibiotic treatment, then the physician can just confirm that choice, instead of starting a discussion from scratch.
Conclusion:
The desire to minimize the chance of having euthanasia proposed as a ‘treatment option’ to yourself, or to someone you love, is something many people of Scriptural faith share. Preparing a Will, a Living Will, and choosing a Power of Attorney for Health, can all be helpful in avoiding this topic. Thinking through your preferences, writing them down, and then discussing them with your family, your Power of Attorney for Health, and also your Family Physician, can inform all the key people in your care circle, and help them protect you from such an offensive discussion. In addition, keeping a copy on top of fridge is also helpful – it is where paramedics tend to look for homecare charts, Do Not Resuscitate forms, etc.