Dear editor,
I am very concerned that new long-term care beds and the six hospice beds will end up being controlled by Providence Health Care, a Catholic organization, and thus reduce the opportunity for reasonable MAiD support and care (without the need for a transfer).
The community donated considerable time, effort and money to make the current four hospice beds a reality, yet that beautiful facility will be torn down within the next two years, well short of its reasonable life expectancy.
The community is not willing to again invest the money and effort to build a hospice that will, in any way, be subject to Catholic beliefs or control.
The hospice facility needs to be a long-term commitment and in a central location. The same is true for the proposed 70 bed long-term facility.
There is a lack of trust in the community as to the intent of Island Health and Providence Health. The process seems to have considerable closed door meetings.
We do not want hospice, long-term care, or our hospital subject to Catholic control.
Any organization running the hospice and long-term care facility should be done with local control and for the purpose of caring for our community, not for the profit of shareholders and an off shore business.
The Comox Valley is the leader in Canada with regard to MAiD, even with the opposition by St. Joseph’s and Providence.
Few health providers understood the demand for MAiD and are prepared for the implementation of the service.
As we catch up with the needs of our community please do not step backwards by failing to provide a secular and centrally located modern facility for hospice and long-term care.
Dr. J. Earl Rogers, JD, PsyD
Courtenay
