Dear editor,
Of the 59 residential care facilities on Vancouver Island, only four faith-based facilities refuse MAiD (medical assistance in dying). Island Health sent out a memorandum July 2017 to these facilities stating they must at least allow residents to have a MAiD assessment done onsite. Two facilities have refused, thereby putting the residents at risk to more pain and stress. One of these is St. Joe’s “The Views” in Comox. It is the largest provider in our community, with 32 per cent of all beds. The Bishop of Victoria who owns The Views thinks he is above the law.
Island Health is well aware that even the “minimum” required for The Views represents a gross breach of our S7 Charter Rights, our rights under Bill C-14, the protections afforded by the Medicare Protection and Canada Health Acts, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, and the Patient Bill of Rights under the Residential Care regulations. Island Health, what are you going to do about this?
Debbie Hind,
Courtenay
