QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Medical Assistance in Dying
October 31, 2024
Leader, the National Post recently ran an interview with a woman living in Nova Scotia who has breast cancer and a history of autoimmune disorders.
She was just about to have a mastectomy and was giving her health history to an unfamiliar doctor when she was asked if she knew about medical assistance in dying. Fifteen months later, a different doctor asked her the same question just before rolling her into surgery for her second mastectomy — just before rolling her in.
Leader, I want to be clear, this woman does not say she was offered assisted suicide; however, she thinks it was completely inappropriate to raise it. I would agree.
Senator Gold, does the government you represent agree with this woman?
The legislation we passed and, indeed, amended in the Senate that was brought forward by the government has put into place serious safeguards to ensure that Canadians who may be seeking access to medical assistance in dying are nonetheless protected in the fullest way possible.
The responsibility of the federal government to put in place the legal framework is something we all participated in, and I think we did the best job we could. It is also the responsibility of the provinces, with exclusive jurisdiction over health care, to oversee and manage; they have responsibility for how their doctors, nurses and health care professionals implement the health care policies proper to their province. Again, in that regard, I think the question should properly be directed to those who are responsible for those medical professionals who were involved in this.
Pass the buck, pass the buck, pass the buck. That’s your slogan. My answer to this lady clearly will be: No, you do not agree with her. That’s what I will let her know.
She said:
There are people who have . . . conditions like mine who don’t have a big, happy loving family, or financial or emotional support, and if those words are said to them when they’re lonely and alone . . . . If my life were like that, I may not have had the strength or courage to either pretend that that question didn’t exist or just say, ‘No, I don’t want to talk about it. . . .
Senator Plett, I don’t know the circumstances under which the question was asked or not. As I said, no one should be encouraged against their will to seek that alternative, which is a choice of last resort for those who do avail themselves of it.
In that regard, my answer simply is that the medical professionals need to show sensitivity and care for those under their care.
