Suddenly hospital transfers are an issue? – BC Catholic – Multimedia … – The B.C. Catholic

Second of two parts

The current controversy over euthanasia in faith-based hospitals brings back memories from decades ago when I needed jaw surgery. Despite the operation being for a functional, not cosmetic, purpose, it wasnt covered by B.C.s Medical Services Plan.

The other thing I recall is that it took place at the old St. Marys Hospital in New Westminster. The surgery and care were excellent, but I lived nowhere near New Westminster, which meant making transportation arrangements home.

The question of where health-care services are provided is now an issue because a particular service euthanasia is not being provided in a Catholic hospital, St. Pauls in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, countless other unavailable procedures and treatments are ignored, despite the actual health implications.

When Mission Memorial Hospital lost its maternity department more than a decade ago, forcing hundreds of women in labour to go to Abbotsford to have their babies, it wasnt even news outside of those communities.

Today, the widespread unavailability of certain procedures at particular hospitals is not of interest to the media, unless the procedure is euthanasia.

Several doctors have told me theyre similarly perplexed at the current controversy, which exists because family members were upset that a loved one couldnt have her death take place at St. Pauls. All the doctors I contacted said the unavailability of procedures and treatments and the consequent transferring of patients from one hospital to another is a routine part of health care in B.C.

Every facility has its unique set of capabilities in terms of resources, facilities, equipment, staff, specialists, etc., one doctor said.

Cancer patients, for example, are sent from one hospital to another because not all B.C. Cancer Agency sites are equipped to treat all types of cancer.

A doctor told me that at BC Womens Hospital, where high-risk obstetrics are managed, maternal acute life-threatening medical emergencies need to be transferred to St. Pauls which can serve both mother and baby because there is no adult ICU at BC Womens.

Doctors shared stories of patients who could be best cared for at one hospital for one condition, but who ultimately went to a different hospital for a competing issue.

Physicians tell of patients being moved routinely because of the unavailability of everything from vascular surgery to neurosurgery to dialysis. Nursing home patients who have psychiatric conditions that cant be managed are transferred to an acute care hospital or a psychiatric facility. Families and loved ones suffer along with them as seriously ill patients are shuttled from one facility to another.

What a ridiculous waste of energy to quibble about euthanasia when there are real medical problems to deal with, a doctor said. Another said that those pushing the MAiD agenda are threatening an already imperfect system for the satisfaction of a few. We had a preview in Quebec, which allowed euthanasia years before it was legal in Canada. Quebec palliative care facilities that didnt want to provide euthanasia were threatened with loss of funding. Non-compliant doctors were warned they would lose their hospital privileges.

The result was increased stress among hospice workers, vulnerable patients, and family members who watched as euthanasia activists tried to push suicide into every corner of the health-care system, one doctor said.

The limited availability of health-care services is undoubtedly costing lives. Ironically, agitators are pushing for the universal provision of a medical service that does nothing but take more lives.

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Suddenly hospital transfers are an issue? - BC Catholic - Multimedia ... - The B.C. Catholic