CCBI News: Catholic Hospitals; Euthanasia—UK; MAiD Review—Needless Deaths; Congratulations!

All Saints, November 1, 2024

Dear Friends of CCBI,

Catholic Hospitals and Religious Beliefs

A recent survey in Canada revealed that the majority of people in British Columbia think Catholic and other health care facilities should be able to reject euthanasia on their premises. An Angus Reid survey found that fifty-eight percent of British Columbians believe that a patient requesting euthanasia in a religious hospital should be transferred elsewhere, while only 24% think the hospital should be compelled to go against its religious beliefs. This is not a complete poll, but a survey, although the result is still encouraging. Patients can be transferred to a facility that performs MAID, therefore their rights are not being ignored, even when they are actively seeking death.

The survey comes in the wake of a case involving St Paul’s hospital in Vancouver, where a patient requested MAID even although it was known St Paul’s does not provide such procedures. She was transferred in line with St Paul’s policy, but the hospital is now being sued by the patient’s mother, who alleges her daughter suffered needlessly in the process of being transferred.

Euthanasia in the UK

A tentative piece of good news arose in the move to legalize euthanasia in the UK, which refers to it as ‘assisted dying.’ The Welsh parliament voted against it when the issue was put to a vote there, and this has raised some hopes that the measure will fail when the UK Parliament debates it. Lord Falconer introduced it in the House of Lords in June, 2024, and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, promised to bring it to the Commons, saying that a free vote would be allowed as a matter of conscience. The latter point could help those against the Bill, and was not allowed in the Canadian debate, where the Prime Minister had a tight grip on caucus. If you remember, he was clear that anyone who was pro-life would not be welcome. Then, within a year, euthanasia was passed. There is at least the possibility in the UK that the same will not happen, at least not because of a Prime Minister’s directive.

The British Cabinet is split on the issue, while Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said: ‘I don’t intend to support it… I know some MPs who support this issue think, ‘For God’s sake, we’re not a nation of granny killers, what’s wrong with you’… [But] once you cross that line, you’ve crossed it forever. If it becomes the norm that at a certain age or with certain diseases, you are now a bit of a burden… that’s a really dangerous position.’ Not one senior figure in the Canadian cabinet said anything remotely like that. British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was “uncharacteristically undecided” on the subject, but asked the pertinent question, which Canadians should still be asking: “Is palliative care in this country good enough so that that choice would be a real choice, or would people end their lives sooner than they wish because palliative care, end of life care, isn’t as good as it could be?”

The Scottish Parliament has debated and rejected assisted dying at least twice, and pressure is mounting again. CCBI was able to contribute to the debate by speaking at a special session in the Jesuit church in Glasgow, while the tireless Alex Schadenberg also spoke in Scotland about the situation in Canada. It remains to be seen what will happen, but it was heartening to meet pro-life campaigners who are well-organized and vocal in their views. They have learned much from Canada and have a better idea of what can happen once euthanasia measures become legal.

MAiD Death Review Committee and Needless Deaths

The MAID Death Review Committee (Ontario) stated in a recent report, 2024-2, that some MAID procedures are allowed because of lack of social supports. The report said:

Practice considerations and recommendations may have varying levels of transferability to broader MAID practice and policy. Some practice considerations raised by the Committee should be considered by care teams integral to the delivery of healthcare, more generally (e.g., primary care, mental health services, specialty care teams). Moreover, all persons experiencing profound suffering would likely benefit from improved access to comprehensive care which may require investments in health and social systems to meet the rising expectations of MAID practices.

Reading more into the last sentence than is explicitly stated, ‘benefits’ from access could mean that some of those who now see MAID as their only choice would see their future in a brighter light. Dr Ramona Coelho published an article in The Globe and Mail on this topic. As a member of the Committee she brings a wealth of knowledge and practice to its conclusions. Dr Coelho writes:

The federal government legalized MAID in 2016 as a last resort for suffering individuals facing a “reasonably foreseeable death,” now called “track one″ deaths. It expanded that in 2021 to include Canadians with disabilities who are not dying but are “suffering intolerably” and “in an advanced state of irreversible decline of capability,” or “track two″ deaths. Of the 4,644 MAID deaths recorded in 2023, 116 were track two.”

This language and categories are new to many of us, as is Dr Coelho’s statement, based on the Report, that “… MAID recipients lacked adequate mental health and disability supports before ending their lives. Only 8.6 per cent of Canadians who chose track-two deaths were first offered housing support, and 6 per cent were offered income support.” Given that, as she also reports, that “…Individuals who chose a track-two death were also more likely to reside in areas with higher levels of marginalization,” it is clear that more than a few people with disabilities and lack of social security are choosing to end their lives because of lack of provision for their social wellbeing and dignity. Catholic teaching tells us that each one of us has inherent dignity, and we have a responsibility to put that into practice. As Dr Coelho notes: some people are dying needlessly! The recent Report lists 116, but how many more have there been? How many more will there be unless advocacy for social benefits and proper palliative care is ramped up?

Trust and Congratulations

There are so many moral and ethical problems and questions! Nonetheless, we rely on our Catholic faith to bring us hope, remembering to trust in God while we ‘row for shore.’ He will steer the boat! The Archdiocese of Toronto (and beyond!) received wonderful news at the beginning of October that Archbishop Leo had been made Cardinal by Pope Francis. CCBI congratulates him on his rapid elevation and, on this feast of All Saints, wish him the multitude of blessings they impart. Ad multos annos!

Pope Francis’ intentions for November

For anyone who has lost a child
We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.

Sources

Survey in Canada: Religious hospitals should not be forced to provide MAiD | Catholic News Agency
Assisted dying: Senedd votes against call for new law to allow it
Hugely divisive vote to legalise assisted dying ‘could be held within weeks’ after Prime Minister backed plans to fast-track it through the Commons | Daily Mail Online  
MAiD Death Review Committee (MDRC) Report 2024 – 2
Opinion: Canadians with disabilities are dying needlessly – The Globe and Mail

Moira and Bambi