A new reality for Canadian hospice

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospice and assisted dying both aim to provide end-of-life patients with a good death. The two have historically sat in tension as hospice has asserted that its conceptualization of a good death provides patients and families with benefits at the end-of-life, while avoiding the harms of assisted dying. As such, hospice has rejected attempts to integrate the two, often citing conflict with its commitment to neither hasten nor prolong death. However, hospice and assisted dying have the common aim of providing patients with control over the dying process, and are committed to the values of patient dignity, and the relief of suffering. Proponents of assisted dying and some end-of-life scholars have argued that given these common aims and values, some form of co-operation between hospice and assisted dying could improve patient access to end-of-life choices. 

In Canada, the 2016 legalization of medical aid or assistance in dying (MAID)…