Revelations that some Canadian veterans have been offered medical assistance in dying as they seek support from the federal government add to concerns about Ottawa’s willingness to allow the procedure on grounds of mental health issues.
Instead, veterans groups are calling on Ottawa to increase access to mental health services for veterans, including addressing the long wait times many are forced to endure when applying for ugly.
“Mental health injuries can only be terminal if they are untreated, unsupported and underfunded,” said Wounded Warriors general manager Scott Maxwell. The organization runs mental health support programs for veterans and first responders.
“That should be where our focus is: resources, funding and investing in timely access to mental health care. »
While medical assistance in dying was legalized in 2016 for Canadians with physical injuries and illnesses, the criteria are expected to be expanded in March to include people living with mental health issues.
Although the plan has already sparked fear among psychiatrists across the country, who say Canada is not ready for such a move, Maxwell and others are also sounding the alarm about the potential impact on sick or injured former soldiers.
Testimonial from a veteran
These concerns have crystallized in recent weeks, after allegations emerged that several former military personnel who have sought assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada over the past three years have instead received advice on assisted dying. .
These include retired corporal and Canadian Paralympian Christine Gauthier, who told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs last week that she had been offered an assisted death during her fight five years to get a wheelchair ramp in her home.
The federal government blamed a single Veterans Affairs employee, saying the manager was acting alone and her case had been referred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He also indicated that training and coaching have been provided to the rest of the department’s employees.
The issue has nevertheless raised fears about what will happen if the criteria for medical assistance in dying are expanded in March, especially as many veterans with mental and physical injuries continue to have to wait months. , even years, to obtain federal support.
These wait times have persisted for years despite frustration, anger and warnings from the veterans community as well as the office of the Veterans Ombudsman, the Auditor General of Canada and others about the negative impact of these waiting times.
“My fear is that we are offering people a way to end their lives when there are treatments, but these treatments are more difficult to access than medically assisted death,” Oliver Thorne of the Veterans Transition Network recently testified. before the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Despite government claims that a single employee was responsible for offering medical assistance in dying as an option, Royal Canadian Legion Deputy Director of Veterans Services Carolyn Hughes said the allegations have fueled anger and long-standing fears of the community.
“Many veterans have been angry and retraumatized by this situation,” she told the same committee. She cited the perception by some that the department’s strategy is to deny, delay services and wait for veterans to die.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday the government is trying to strike the right balance between access to medical assistance in dying and protecting vulnerable Canadians, including veterans.