FORUM PARTICIPANTS SPEAK AGAINST MAiD
‘Church has been silent too long’ on assisted death, Rev. Bachiu says
In June of 2016, the Canadian government passed legislation that legalized euthanasia, or as it is more euphemistically referred to, medically assisted death (MAiD).
By June of 2018, 3,700 people had taken advantage of the legislation, choosing to orchestrate their own death, most by lethal injection. With each six-month report since then, the number has risen dramatically.
The minimum age to legally request medically assisted death is 18, but a push is on for mature minors to be allowed the choice as well.
Rev. Len Bachiu, minister to seniors at Cornerstone Church in Saskatoon, is strongly opposed to medically assisted death.
“I believe the church has to be the conscience of the nation in this matter,” he says. “I also believe there is a critical need for people to be better informed about the subject.”
There are many reasons people choose medically assisted death. One is the subtle pressure often brought to bear on people who are aging and feel they are a burden to their family and the medical system.
“If they’re vulnerable, and they’re told repeatedly they can choose medically assisted death,” Bachiu says, “they may come to the conclusion that that’s their only option.”
Other people might be tempted to opt for medically assisted death because they don’t want to lose their dignity as they age. Bachiu says we need to be reminded that our dignity comes not from our state of health, but from the fact that we are created by God.
Most requests for medically assisted death have to do with fear of losing autonomy, the desire to avoid physical suffering, or unwillingness to accept the changes that are inevitable in later life. One Ontario couple gathered their family and, with medical assistance, were put to death together because neither wanted to outlive the other.
Dr. Sheila Harding is a physician and professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. She also is president of the Christian Medical and Dental Society of Canada.
“We see assisted death as abandonment,” she says. “Assisted death prevents the relationship restoration and healing that often comes at the end of life. It also denies the growth that comes to people through caring for another.
“We in the church believe we have a better response. But I believe the church’s response must be clear, and it must help alleviate loneliness during existential suffering. The church must be present to help those dealing with end-oflife issues.”
Bachiu adds: “Individuals within the church may have had conversations over coffee about how wrong this path is, but conversation is as far as it’s gone. The church has been silent for too long.”
In order to raise awareness on this critical subject of medically assisted death and all its ramifications and alternatives, Cornerstone Church is hosting a MAiD Conference on March 30. The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m., and is open to everyone. The cost is $5 per person. The program features three main speakers:
Len Bachiu will provide biblical ■ teaching on suicide and the sanctity of human life.
Dr. Sheila Harding will present ■ an overview of the situation and debunk the myth that assisted death is only done for patients with uncontrolled symptoms or severe physical suffering. She says the vast majority of requests and completed deaths are due to existential factors.
Dr. Margaret Cottle is a palliative-care ■ physician in Vancouver and also teaches at the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Cottle speaks internationally about end-of-life issues and palliative care. She also has served for many years on the board of Euthanasia Prevention of Canada.
Harding says people need to be informed.
“Many are unclear about the difference between choosing to decline interventions and medically assisted death. As a result, they may choose medically assisted death because they wish to avoid burdensome interventions that are of little value to them.”
She says people may also be unaware of the legalities and the enormous culture change that medically assisted death represents. Many health care professionals do not want to be involved, but are under pressure to co-operate.
The Christian Medical and Dental Society, a partner in the Coalition for Health Care and Conscience, is involved in a campaign for legislation that would protect health care professionals from being involved in any way in medically administered death.
“There is also concern that future medical students may be disqualified for admittance to medical schools during the initial screening process if they do not agree with medically assisted death. Part of my concern is that many of the best and brightest will self-exclude for this very reason.”