Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Thank you very much for the question. I will answer in English. I have to be honest with you, I've heard several different figures. That's the figure that's in the panel's report. Our report has different figures from across the country. I've heard figures as low as 15%, and to

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  That's 15% of Canadians have access to palliative care.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  The fact that in public circulation there are estimates as low as 15% and up to 50% to 60% is a pretty clear indication that we don't have a good handle in this country on how well palliative care is being provided, or at what level in different parts of the country. In fact we d

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Our report is based on a complete review of all the most recent literature across the country. In terms of the statistics that we cite in ours, because palliative care isn't measured or defined in the same way across the country, you have to gauge access through other indicators.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I appreciate what you're saying, and I think that as this issue moves on, there's no question that there's probably some more thinking that we have to do and we'll have to be part of some of those decisions. Certainly we recognize that the country's moving forward in this area an

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Senator, if I, in any way, have left that impression, I want to correct it. We completely understand that direction has been provided by the court, that there's work to do on assisted dying, and that a response has to be provided on that. Frankly, we accept that this is now a rig

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Sure. The professor may have more to add, or corrections to make, to my response. We take a broader view of palliative care in that we really believe it needs to begin as soon as someone is diagnosed with a critical illness. Palliative care is the care that's focused on and pre

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Yes.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Senator, I really need to be careful, because I'm not a physician.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Thank you.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Why don't I speak first about the impact of a lack of palliative care on any patient? Then we can talk a bit more about how it might affect someone facing that issue. Palliative care is care that's designed to protect the quality of life of the patient and their family. It's eas

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  That's correct.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Of course.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I can only make some observations based on.... I've been there only a little while, so I'll play that card to protect myself a little bit on this question.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I'll wait until I'm a senator.