Good evening.
Thank you, Chair and committee members, for having us here today. My name is Kelly Masotti and I'm the vice-president of advocacy, and with me today is Daniel Nowoselski, advocacy manager, hospice palliative care.
Before I begin my remarks, I would like to acknowledge that I am speaking to you today from the traditional unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin people.
The Canadian Cancer Society is committed to supporting people with cancer and their caregivers by ensuring they have the information they need to make decisions about palliative care, advance care planning and end-of-life care, including medical assistance in dying. Since 2020, our helpline has responded to more than 300 inquiries specifically about palliative care, more than 200 about grief and bereavement and 40 related to medical assistance in dying.
Everyone with a life-limiting illness deserves care that provides comfort, dignity and choice. Palliative care isn't just for those in the last days or weeks of life. It doesn't mean death will come faster or that anyone has given up. In fact, research shows palliative care can help people live longer by focusing on care that helps maintain quality of life, relieve symptoms and provide support in the setting of their choice. For some, palliative care lets them step out of the role of caregiver and allows them to simply be a daughter, husband, sister or loved one. For others, it can be comforting to know their loved one is getting care to help reduce pain and minimize symptoms. For many, palliative care helps guide patients and their loved ones through the stages of life and grief that accompany it.
Critically ill patients are falling through the cracks when it comes to palliative care. According to CIHI, while people with cancer generally have greater access to palliative care than those with other chronic or life-limiting illnesses, the data says we still need to get better. Among patients who died in hospital with a cancer diagnosis, only 41% were hospitalized primarily for palliative care, and three in four had no indication of palliative care needs prior to their final hospitalization.
Access to palliative care differs by geography and population. Even when palliative care services are available, not all Canadians know about these services or how to access them. Those who are informed about palliative care often find out about it too late. Finally, those who access palliative care tend not to receive it in the setting of their choice.
At the same time, at the end of life many decisions need to be made, taking into account an individual and their loved one's values and preferences. According to Statistics Canada, while cancer is responsible for the death of more than one in four Canadians, it represents 67.5% of the underlying medical conditions of all reported MAID requests.
CCS respects and supports all Canadians with cancer by helping them make informed choices and autonomous decisions about their care. These choices include MAID.
I will now turn to Daniel.