Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members.
The reason I requested to be a witness before this committee is twofold. The first part is to have legislation changed to be able to preplan the end of life while still a healthy individual—for example, when you make your will—and to be able to make a choice. The second part would be education, as I believe that attitudes do not change without education.
My husband had MAID on November 23, 2020.
He had a double bypass in 2000 and a pacemaker/defibrillator installed in 2009. He had a good quality of life until 2019, when his condition began to worsen. In the spring of 2020, his family doctor advised him that there was no further treatment available to improve his quality of life. The doctor, who was very proactive, discussed what to expect for quality of life until his end of life and described his choices: palliative care or MAID. For the next six months, we travelled Ontario, visiting relatives and friends.
As his condition worsened, he sought MAID. A date was set for November 29, his birthday; however, his condition got severely worse, and on November 23, he had MAID. The family all came on the morning of the event, and we have nothing but good memories, because he was there for all the conversations, and he said goodbye.
When the doctor came, she asked if he was ready. Lester gave a hug and said he loved them. He went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. I lay beside him and held his hand, and he said goodbye. The doctor asked him again if this was what he wanted, and he responded, “Yes.” What better way to end a life? We have only good memories.
The reason that I am so passionate about preplanning is that prior to the age of 31, I had three cardiac arrests and had two-thirds of my stomach surgically removed. I had three children and worked full time, so I did worry about my future, and 50-plus years ago, I put a plan in place for my end of life. I have a document signed by my family and friends for them to take me to Switzerland for medically assisted death. The document clearly states my wishes and the criteria for my family to make that decision.
To conclude, the need for preplanning is to ensure you have a choice on how you would want to proceed with your end of life, beyond religion and external influences, prior to a medical event or accident that later will make you incompetent to make that choice.
On the second part, education, I recommend a federal-provincial initiative to add to the curriculum in all medical teaching institutions the “last phase of life up to end of life”, emphasizing the need for the patient to be part of all medical discussions. This mould of talking to the family, not the patient, needs to be broken.
I would like to see this done in three parts. First, in the “last phase of life to end of life” section, the doctor states that he or she has no further treatment to offer to the patient to enhance their quality of life and discusses with the patient what they could expect as their condition worsens up to the end of life, and what their choices are. The second part is palliative care and MAID; these should be taught in depth. Number three is continuing education.
Here's my final thought. I personally find it hard to understand the negativity around MAID, as in both scenarios you will die of a drug unless you die of a coronary. Palliative care is a longer process in which you are well cared for and kept comfortable with a drug until your body shuts down, most of the time as a result of the same drug. In MAID, you choose your date and have your family with you, and you are still part of all the conversations up until you say goodbye.
I would like to thank Mr. Longpre for his assistance over the last few months, and Adam Moore for recommending me.
Thank you. I'm very willing to answer questions.