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TWU School of Nursing hosts Health Ethics Forum on Medical Assistance in Dying for Bioethics Week

Coinciding with the Canadian Bioethics Society’s National Health Ethics Week, the School of Nursing hosted a panel discussion on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) on April 5, 2017.  The purpose behind the panel discussion was to raise awareness about the ethical considerations related to MAID and create a public space for dialogue in relation to these ethical considerations.

Unique to the panel were perspectives from four TWU scholars representing the disciplines of philosophy (Dr. Paul Chamberlain), psychology (Dr. Marvin McDonald), theology (Dr. Gloria Woodland), and nursing (Prof. Lynn Musto).  To date, much of the public dialogue on Medical Assistance in Dying has focused on access and dignity, and much of the professional discourse has focused on procedural matters.  The interdisciplinary panel allowed for deeper consideration of questions that pertain to MAiD beyond a focus on autonomy and an individual right to choose. 

Dr. Paul Chamberlain exemplified how the method of philosophic inquiry guides consideration of MAiD. He discussed concerns related to preserving dignity and respecting autonomy in the context of fear of “being a burden”, and the need to make every effort to communicate to those who are suffering that they are not a burden but are loved, and that their lives carry intrinsic value.

Dr. Marvin McDonald reflected on current psychology research that shows that decisions for MAiD are not individualistic but are relational, best made in the context of caring community.  In facing death, people’s primary fears usually have to do with loss of control, which in turn relates to concerns about a lack of relationship and who will be there to support their choices as they move towards death.

Dr. Gloria Woodland spoke to the relevance of theology in a lived sense when addressing concerns so directly related to life and death.  She posed the question: “how do we show compassion to those who are suffering and considering MAiD?”  She reminded us of Jesus’ example of showing absolute attention while journeying with and caring for people who were sick and hurting. 

Prof. Lynn Musto, drawing on nursing and health ethics, reminded us how nurses engage with lives during health and illness in a way that requires presence, competence, and bringing the whole self to the nurse-patient relationship to support meaning making.  She explained how the regulatory and professional body’s response to MAiD legislation has raised new tensions for nurses by separating the clinical, procedural aspects of being involved with MAiD from the values of the profession.

The presentation is available here.