Transferring patients would be ‘unfortunate,’ says Dying with Dignity Edmonton co-chair Bradley Peter
CBC News
Advocates for physician-assisted death are condemning a decision which will allow Covenant Health to opt out provincial regulations on the practice.
The Supreme Court of Canada ordered the federal government to have a law in place allowing physician-assisted death by June 6. But the bill addressing that order still faces a battle in the Senate, so it appears unlikely the deadline will be met. Meanwhile, provincial governments are still grappling with how to address regulations for the new law.
The Alberta government has said Convenant Health – a Catholic-run and publicly funded health organization – will be allowed to opt out for conscience reasons. Patients at hospitals and continuing-care facilities run by Covenant Health will be transferred to other health facilities if they seek a physician-assisted death. . .[Full Text]