Pass Dan’s Law before election
As the organizations representing over 100,000 health professionals we want to express our support for Dan’s Law — Bill 5 — and ask that you join us in this support. The bill was the joint effort of MPP Lisa Gretzky (NDP — Windsor West) and Dr. Darren Cargill, a Windsorbased palliative care doctor. Dan’s Law would provide much needed support for patients and their families. The bill seeks to remove the three-month waiting period for access to OHIP funded palliative care and home care for Canadian residents who move to or return to Ontario.
The issue came to light for Dr. Cargill, when a patient of his, Dan Duma, was denied home care services upon returning to Ontario from Alberta. Dan was dying of cancer with a life expectancy of less than three months. Dan’s Law would prevent future patients, families and caregivers from experiencing unnecessary hardship.
As health-care professionals we know that there is no medical justification for the wait period and believe that, especially in these circumstances, Canadians and permanent residents should be able to afford the right to die with dignity. The benefits of home and palliative care are not only medical — they serve to support family members and caregivers.
The benefits of timely care include avoiding potential medical complications of delayed care and the associated significant human and financial costs arising from these complications.
It is imperative that all three parties work together to ensure Dan’s Law is passed into law before the provincial election.
Dr. Shawn Whatley, president Ontario Medical Association; Dr. Darren Cargill, medical director, Hospice of Windsor & Essex County; Marnee Wilson, president Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario: Sharon Baxter, executive director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association; Vicki McKenna, president Ontario Nurses’ Association; Dr. J. David Henderson, president Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians; and Dr. Laurent Marcoux, president Canadian Medical Association.