I—
Evidence of meeting #27 for Medical Assistance in Dying in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was disability.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #27 for Medical Assistance in Dying in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was disability.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
He does not support us. He had caregiver's fatigue. It was a lot. He was taking care of my mom. Besides my sister and me coming in on the weekends to help bathe her, he was there 24 hours a day, and we believe that he had caregiver's fatigue.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
—as horrific as it would be for our mother to pass, at least he could get his life back. He said that to us two weeks before she died.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you, Senator Dalphond.
Senator Wallin, we'll try this again. I hope your voice quality is higher.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
I regret to say that it's not any better. I'm terribly sorry.
Next is Senator Martin.
10:45 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
For Christie and Alicia Duncan, first of all, I just want to say that I think how both of you are working so hard to take on the system to in essence get to the bottom of what happened is very admirable. My sister and I suffered through a situation of thinking we should do the same after our father's death, but we just didn't have the energy, nor the means. I empathize with you greatly.
Would you explain how the Abbotsford police did get involved? Was it just through your request? To launch an investigation, there must have been a reason or grounds for that.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes. Thank you.
I had contacted the Abbotsford Police Department. My sister works for the RCMP, and we decided that we were going to review the Criminal Code after we received my mom's medical records. They didn't indicate any.... There was no terminal illness noted. The doctors had done extensive testing to rule out all forms of terminal illness. As well, we had an autopsy completed after her death to confirm that there was no terminal illness.
There are so many contradictions in the Criminal Code itself, and we just didn't understand how she was not facing a foreseeable death but then didn't have to go through the 90-day assessment period. It was fast-tracked. She died within a week of initially applying. The doctor who assessed her subjectively decided that her death was foreseeable.
My mom was essentially starving herself. She was paranoid. I have records. She spent over $6,000 contacting a psychic to find out if foods were contaminated with lead poisoning. She was energy-testing her food before she ate it. She was highly paranoid. It didn't make sense. We went to the police with all the information we had. They also agreed that there was no clear information, which is why they initiated the investigation.
10:45 a.m.
As an Individual
They did a very thorough investigation. They spent almost eight months on this, because they also couldn't understand why it wasn't followed. There are so many contradictions between what we've been told and what's in the documentation that it seemed suspicious to them too. That is why they spent eight months investigating.
10:50 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
You mentioned there wasn't continuity of care, so there is also that challenge in trying to piece the parts together.
You also said you weren't sure whether she qualified under track one or two, because of how quickly it was done. Is that correct?
10:50 a.m.
As an Individual
That's correct. She had no terminal diagnosis, so we assumed it was under track two, but she didn't have to go through the 90-day assessment period.
We just need clarification. We need the documentation to confirm that all the safeguards were followed.
10:50 a.m.
As an Individual
She wasn't at risk of losing her ability to consent. She was of sound mind, but that does not mean she wasn't suicidal. Being depressed doesn't make you not of sound mind. It makes you want to die, and that is what she got.
10:50 a.m.
As an Individual
When we went through the courts and had her application postponed, she was so upset that she slit her wrists. It was then she was considered to be suicidal and put in a psychiatric unit for the last two days of her life. Within four hours of being released, MAID killed her.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you.
Thank you, Senator Martin. I'll turn it back to you now.
10:50 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
I want to thank all the witnesses who appeared before our committee today.
Thank you so much for taking the time, as well as for sharing with us your very important words.
With that, colleagues, I will bring this meeting to a close.
The meeting is adjourned.