Gaye O’Neill fondly remembers her daughter Sam as a happy, kind, and fiercely independent individual, even nearly three years after Sam chose to end her life through medical assistance in dying (MAID).
Sam, a 34-year-old woman, battled stage 4 cervical cancer that had spread to her bones and lungs. Despite being approved for MAID, she faced a harrowing experience during her transfer from St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver to St. John Hospice for the procedure.
Gaye recalls the excruciating pain Sam endured and the lack of dignity in her final moments. The transfer, due to St. Paul’s restriction on MAID, was marked by intense pain for Sam, causing distress for her loved ones.
Expressing her anguish, Gaye shared her family’s heart-wrenching experience, highlighting the need for compassionate end-of-life care. She spoke at a gathering organized by Dying With Dignity Canada outside the BC Supreme Court, where a Charter challenge is underway regarding the right of publicly funded, faith-based hospitals to refuse MAID.
The challenge, led by CEO Helen Long, emphasizes the importance of upholding patients’ dignity, autonomy, and Charter-protected rights in end-of-life decisions. The lawsuit targets the B.C. government, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Providence Health Care, which manages St. Paul’s Hospital.
Providence Health argues that its refusal of MAID aligns with its deeply held religious beliefs on the sanctity of life and compassionate care. The case, set to unfold over several weeks, delves into the clash between institutional policies and patients’ legal healthcare choices.