BC introduces plan to improve end-of-life care
Posted March 25, 2013 2:52 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Dying-with-dignity is the goal of a new plan by the province to improve end-of-life care.
BC’s health minister thinks it could also be the remedy to the euthanasia debate.
The province doesn’t have a position on physician-assisted suicide, and Margaret MacDiarmid is reluctant to share her views on the issue. “As a care provider, if I went back into that world, I don’t believe I would personally participate in euthanasia.”
But she feels good end-of-life care helps people die with dignity.
“When patients and their families feel that people in British Columbia have good access to good high-quality end-of-life care, when they know their symptoms are going to be well-managed so that their comfortable, then a lot of that debate really quiets down.”
MacDiarmid has released a new plan for end-of-life care, as well as several million dollars for hospices and a new centre for excellence.
The Vancouver Hospice Society has received $950,000 for a new facility.
Marion Hospice in Vancouver receives $2 million, Peace Arch Hospice in White Rock will get $3 million and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice will receive $2 million.
The government has committed $2 million to establish a Provincial Centre for Excellence in end-of-life care, which will focus on research, education, information management, and policy and clinical care.
