End-of-Life Planning in British Columbia

I thought I should probably talk about an upbeat topic for once, so thought I might share a couple of thoughts about planning for end-of-life care.....

Doggone it.  You know, there are just so many things in the world that need addressing, I most often find it hard to ignore them.

I am at the stage of life where, if one is paying attention, one realizes that there is much less time ahead than has gone before.  So, I have been nosing around end-of-life plans, and in particular, I am concerned about issues around the absence in Canada for explicit policies supporting the right to die.

Frankly, I am mostly filled with self-interest in this regard.  To me, this is a case in which, in the absence of clear public policy (other than the default position that nobody has the right to be facilitated to terminate one's life), I need to think clearly about what I want and how to achieve my preferred exit -- one without undue pain or what can be very nasty complications.  As one friend said, while many people can pass in calmness and with minimal discomfort, the fact is that some dying can be very, very messy.

So, I found myself writing about the matter to the new British Columbia Minister of Health.

In a fairly timely fashion, I received back a response from a fellow in the Ministry of Health, with the title "Executive Director", although I know not of what.  His response was response number "987259". The content was comprehensive about current government policy and legislation, although none of it addressed my specific concern about a "right-to-die.  Nor was there any promise to address this issue.

The note, however, does include several links to BC Government policies and services, one of which is a link to "new fee incentives for family physicians and specialists ... to support medical practice in end-of-life care."  The document is about four pages long (  http://www.gpscbc.ca/system/files/GPSC%20Palliative%20Care%20Initiative%20Billing%20Guide-2010-revised_Nov_2010_0.pdf  )

I am heartened (excuse the pun) to learn that if I am considered to be terminal and should I choose to die in the community -- as opposed to in a palliative care facility -- the BC government will compensate my physician to the extent of a maximum of $465, to provide me and my family support care specific to this need.  This includes an initial 45-minute planning consultation, including filling out the paper work for the plan.

Oh, I am SO much looking forward to this next stage of my life......

I cannot help but recall that when our dog was euthanized very peacefully recently, after a one-day turn for the worse, the bill from the veterinarian was about $500.

Both my wife and  I wondered how we might find a source for the medication used by the vet.