Lack of palliative care pushing Quebecers toward medically assisted death, College of Physicians says

Patients … could have had no other choice but to ask for medical aid in dying to end their days in dignity.

A lack of palliative care services in parts of Quebec may be forcing patients to choose medical aid in dying as a way to end their lives with dignity, says Quebec’s College of Physicians.

In a letter sent to Quebec Health Minister Gaétan Barrette this week, the group said Quebec is suffering from a lack of specialized, palliative care doctors and uneven levels of service are being offered across the province.

“Patients, failing to benefit from such care, could have had no other choice but to ask for medical aid in dying to end their days in dignity,” the letter reads.