By Sharon Kaasalainen and Tamara Sussman comfort care, End of life, End of life care, health initiative, healthcare, long-term care, measure of health, measure of special needs, seniors
Many people have been faced with having to make critical decisions for family and friends who were at the end of their lives. This can create a great deal of stress and burden as family members try to navigate the social and health care systems and succumb to their own impending loss and grief. A […]
By John Muscedere advanced care planning, End of life, End of life care, frailty, seniors
Kicking off the New Year is a good time to put the task of making your end-of-life wishes at the top of your to-do list.
By Harvey Chochinov advance directive, Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, dementia, End of life care, health, medically assisted suicide, palliative care, Right to die, supreme court decision
On June 6, the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision making physician-hastened death legal will come into effect. A parliamentary committee asked to help the government plot how that would roll out in Canada has made some far-reaching recommendations, well beyond what was contemplated by the court in Carter v. Canada.
By Harvey Chochinov advance directive, Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, dementia, End of life care, health, medically assisted suicide, palliative care, Right to die, supreme court decision
The moment we are born, our lives take flight; and the longer we are airborne, the greater the chance of encountering turbulence along the way. While every flight is destined to land, some landings are harder to contemplate than others.
By Harvey Max Chochinov Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, End of life care, health, medically assisted suicide, mental illness, Right to die, suicide, supreme court decision
Who but those who have experienced it can appreciate the soul crushing anguish of mental illness? Afflictions of the mind can be paralyzing and fundamentally change the way we perceive ourselves (I am worthless), anticipate the future (my prospects are hopeless), and experience the world (life is unfair and unforgiving). The combination of self-loathing, hopelessness and despair can tragically lead to suicide.
By Michelle Howard advanced directive, Canada's healthcare sytem, Canadian healthcare system, dépression, Doctor, Elderly, End of life, End of life care, family, health
Canadians likely had many important conversations with their loved ones over the holidays, but probably most didn’t talk about what should happen in the event they could no longer speak or make medical decisions for themselves.
By James Downar and John Muscedere cancer, chronic illness, elderly patients, End of life, End of life care, Health care in Canada, medication, Pharmaceutical, seniors, terminally ill patients, unpaid caregivers
Our healthcare system remains focused on acute – emergency — care and the “therapeutic imperative” to fix everything we can fix when a patient is ill. But when someone is approaching the end of life, this approach may no longer be what the patient and their families need or want most.
By Harvey Chochinov advance directive, Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, End of life care, health, hospital, medically assisted suicide, pain management, palliative care, Right to die, supreme court decision
A few days after the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the prohibition against medical aid in dying, I received a note from a wonderful colleague of mine saying that her closest friend’s 53 year old son had just died of spinal cancer.
By advanced directive, Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, cardio pulmonary resuscitation, chronic illness, CPR, DNR, do not resuscitate, Docotr, End of life care, health, heart attack, hospital, Podcasts, power of attorney, resuscitation, seniors
Will the cost of senior care in Canada one day break the bank? Probably not, contrary to common perceptions.
By Charles J. Wright advance directive, Canada, Canada Health Act, Canada’s healthcare system, CPR, DNR, do not resuscitate, Doctor, End of life care, health, heart attack, hospital, power of attorney, resuscitation
The long overdue public, medical, legal and political debate on end-of-life care is now well underway in Canada. Medical journals and the general press are commenting regularly on the subject…