Fraser Health meets with rogue Ladner hospice leaders over assisted dying policy
Credit to Author: David Carrigg| Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2019 03:40:42 +0000
Fraser Health has met with the Delta Hospice Society to “discuss concerns we have regarding compliance of their contract,” according to a health authority spokesperson.
The meeting was called after the society reversed a recent decision to finally allow medical assistance in death (MAID) at its Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner.
The two parties have been in conflict over MAID since September, 2016, when Fraser Health dictated all its non faith-based hospices needed to permit medical assistance in dying at its facilities.
The society refused, instead demanding any patient who wanted to receive assistance in dying be taken to another facility. In September, 2018, Fraser Health toughened its stance by mandating hospices could not transfer a patient to another facility for MAID.
In September, 2019, the board terminated long-time executive director and founder Nancy Macey — who spearheaded the anti-MAID policy — and soon after voted in favour of assisted dying.
However, at the Nov. 28 annual general meeting — and following a membership drive that swelled the society’s ranks — a new anti-MAID board was elected and the policy was reversed. The new board also dismissed the acting executive director and appointed another interim leader. The new Delta Hospice board argues medical assistance in dying goes against the society’s constitution.
No patients has ever received MAID at Irene Thomas Hospice.
In a prepared statement, the health authority stated “Fraser Health’s Medical Assistance in Dying policy, which came into effect in September 2016, covers all Fraser Health services, owned and operated, contracted and affiliated settings. It sets out the expectations Fraser Health has of all staff in addressing a capable patient’s request for information about medical assistance in dying and making connections to fulfil that request.”
Fraser Health funds 10 hospices, that includes seven of its own facilities and three under contract — including Irene Thomas.
The health authority provides $1.3 million a year to the society to help operate the 10-bed Irene Thomas Hospice, and owns the land on which the hospice building on Clarence Taylor Crescent sits. The society has a long-term lease in place with the health authority. The society also owns the land and building in Tsawwassen where it operates its charity store. According to Canada Revenue Agency documents, the society has $9.3 million in land and buildings.
The health authority said that on Dec. 5 it “met with the leadership from the Irene Thomas Hospice to discuss concerns we have regarding compliance of their contract. Fraser Health subsequently provided them with formal notice of the concerns.”
The Surrey-based Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians backs the Delta Hospice Society’s stance and in a recent release stated “Hospice palliative care and MAID substantially differ in multiple areas including in philosophy, intention and approach. Hospice palliative care does not seek to hasten death or intentionally end life.”
Board president Angelina Ireland has not responded to several requests for comment from Postmedia News.