End of Life

‘When you have severe disabilities, life isn’t over’: Expansion of MAiD raises concerns

As Bill C-7 expands MAiD's eligibility criteria, advocates for those with severe disabilities continue to fight against the pressures to accept an early death.

Quebec’s move to allow advance requests for MAiD ‘the worst news imaginable’

Quebec’s decision to forge ahead with advance requests for Medical Assistance in Dying could put the elderly and those with dementia at risk, critics say.

Essential exposure: The case for mandatory palliative care clinical rotations

Clinical exposure to palliative care is not afforded the attention it deserves in undergraduate medical curricula. To rob medical learners of such experiences is a travesty.

Excuse me for living: MAiD, autonomy and feeling like a burden

With the option of MAiD squarely on the table for so many, is staying alive becoming a path that requires justification?

If not you, who will make your medical decisions?

Imagine finding yourself in a medical emergency, unconscious and unable to communicate. Who then becomes your voice in this complex web of health-care decisions?

Episode 81 – Outcomes Post-Cardiac Arrest and Palliative Medicine Consultation for Seriously Ill Patients

Can we afford to keep ignoring the health of unpaid caregivers?

Unpaid caregivers must be a priority focus if we are to sustain the future of our healthcare system. We absolutely cannot afford to keep the health of unpaid caregivers in Canada invisible.

Holiday wishes for our beleaguered health-care system

Health-care workers and experts share their wishes for Canada's health-care system this holiday season.

Should “magic mushrooms” be legalized? Experts weigh in

Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms", is making waves for its therapeutic benefits in treating psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder and end-of-life anxiety. But does that mean it should be legalized? We asked a panel of experts to weigh in.

Episode 65 – Hydrocortisone for Pneumonia and Goals of Care Conversations

Long-term care in Ontario in need of an overhaul

Money alone won’t fix the long-term care crisis in Ontario. While it is true that increased funding is part of the solution, the reality is that a paradigm shift is essential.

What Canada can learn about MAiD for mental illness from Belgium and the Netherlands

Canadians are clearly divided on MAiD based solely on mental illness. From federal laws and legal cases to medical guidelines and published studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, we can make more informed decisions regarding MAiD eligibility for psychiatric patients.

Delirium prevention: Up close and personal

Despite being the third most common cause of unintended harm as a result of medical treatment, delirium is still widely misunderstood. This is what the public, patients, and health-care workers all need to know about the condition.

Is anyone listening to Canada’s caregivers?

Caregivers are essential, but they feel overwhelmed and undervalued. National and provincial strategies focusing on supporting them are needed.

Palliative pixie dust

Just as Disney World has grown and evolved, so must palliative care. The time for Ontario to update palliative care into the 21st century may have arrived.

‘Technology to help bridge the gap’: Smart homes and sensors ease caregiver burden

Smart home technology has become ubiquitous in recent years. Now researchers in Ottawa are finding ways to use this same technology to aid health-care workers, family caregivers, and allow patients to age in place.

 ​​MAiD mental-health debate should be about ‘agency’, not ‘autonomy’

I do believe that the option of MAiD may be good for a very small number of patients. However, I believe the issue is not about “autonomy” but “agency.”

Psychiatry’s cognitive dissonance problem

Ottawa has decided to delay legislation that would expand MAiD to those with mental illness. But having a mental illness should not preclude one from decision-making related to suffering and end-of-life care.

Hospice care, not hospital beds: Investing in palliative care will help solve the health-care crisis

6,000 patients in Ontario currently need an “Alternate Level of Care” (ALC). They do not need to be in hospital, but there is nowhere safe for them to go. Government investment in palliative care is a crucial part of the solution.

The key to living longer and better? Dying at home

Despite our preferences, most Canadians do not have the privilege of dying at home. Although it is not possible to guarantee a good death, it is possible to reduce your risk of a bad death by thinking and talking about end-of-life.