As we posted about previously, there is a great deal of ongoing discussion surrounding the recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down the ban that prohibited physician-assisted death (PAD). At the Canadian Psychiatric Association, health reporter Andre Picard moderated a discussion among the psychiatry and palliative care communities and asked "Are We Ready?"
Key points of the talks included:
Key points of the talks included:
- 29% of Canadian doctors would participate in PAD.
- 50% of patients in palliative care have a mental health disorder
- Evidence showed that PAD actually leads to increased utilization of palliative care.
- Some argued that there is no slippery slope, and in countries/states already employing PAD, the right to dying with dignity has not been abused
- Many psychiatrists are concerned about finding the right balance between enabling death with dignity, while protecting patients from suicide and self-harm.
- Most palliative care physicians do not want to be involved in PAD.
- In Oregon, 1/3 of patients requesting PAD, never use the prescribed medication, but patients want to have the option of having control over their final days.
- Language is crucial, not only for setting guidelines or criteria for who has the right to die, but also in how we describe and refer to PAD as. Is a term such as "physician hastened death" preferable to "physician assisted suicide"?
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