Vancouver All-Staff Forum: October 19 – Register now!

Medical Assistance in Dying: a thoughtful and respectful approach

Medical assistance in dying is now in place throughout Vancouver Coastal Health, after being passed as federal legislation on June 17, 2016. This law came to be related to the “Carter decision” made by the Supreme Court of Canada, and includes criteria for eligibility and other safeguards.

How will you respond?

If you were approached by a client or patient asking about medical assistance in dying, would you know how to respond? Come to the next All-Staff Forum, Wednesday, October 19 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., and learn about the process and practices around medical assistance in dying. A staff question period will be included in the forum.

Our keynote speaker is Darren Kopetsky, Regional Director, Client Relations and Risk Management, and our panelists represent a range of expertise, from ethics to family perspective, including a physician with experience in the medical assistance in dying process.

“Talking together about medical assistance in dying is very important for us whether we work in acute care or community settings. October’s All-Staff Forum will give us an opportunity for open discussion about this topic that can touch on very personal emotions for many of us, with a focus on our VCH process for supporting staff in sensitively addressing requests by patients and clients for information about medical assistance in dying.”

– Darren Kopetsky, Regional Director, Client Relations and Risk Management

The in-person forum will be at VGH’s Paetzold Auditorium, but staff can also attended one of several facilitated sites or watch from a workstation. There will be a refreshment break from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. outside the Paetzold Auditorium, and EFAP representatives will be available for staff support.

The facilitated webcast sites are: Raven Song CHC, UBC Hospital, GF Strong, 520 West 6^th Avenue, Pender CHC and Robert and Lily Lee CHC.

CCRS Link: Register today to reserve your seat or webcast connection!