End-of-life care shouldn’t depend on the hospital you’re in
People in British Columbia are being denied access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) at publicly funded health care facilities across the country.
This letter-writing tool is for residents of British Columbia. Not in BC? Click here.
On Friday, April 17, 2026, the Supreme Court of British Columbia (BC) heard closing arguments in a constitutional challenge to end forced transfers of patients seeking access to medical assistance in dying (MAID), in publicly funded, faith-based hospitals. DWDC is acting as the public interest litigant in this case, alongside plaintiffs Gaye O’Neill and Dr. Jyothi Jayaraman. We anticipate that Chief Justice Skoolrood will release his decision sometime this fall.
Religious institutions obstruct access to medical assistance in dying (MAID) by forcing patients to undergo grueling transfers away from the facility, refusing to provide information about MAID upon request, not allowing MAID assessments on-site, and/or denying admission to hospice or palliative care because the patient wishes to access MAID at a later point.
The most grievous example of an Institutional Religious Obstruction (IRO) comes in the form of forced transfers. A forced transfer away from an institution for MAID forces already suffering, often frail, people to endure grueling transfers, separates them from their community of care, delays and even denies their access to MAID, and stigmatizes them based on their personal end-of-life wishes. Obstructions also occur when patients are denied information or access to other health care services that are legally available in Canada.
A 2023 poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of DWDC shows:
- 73% of people across Canada believe that publicly funded health care facilities should be required to provide the full range of health care services, including MAID, if they have the proper equipment and staff to do so.
Provincial and territorial governments must step in to protect access to health care services such as MAID that are legally available within our health care system but are being denied by some health care facilities. In Canada, everyone should have the right to make informed choices about their end-of-life care, and to have those wishes respected at any health care facility funded by tax dollars.
Take action today
We are encouraging people across Canada to write to their local representative and tell them they believe all publicly funded health care facilities, faith-based or not, must allow all legally available health care services, including MAID, onsite.
This letter-writing tool is designed for residents of British Columbia. Not in BC? Click here.
The letter to your local representative is fully customizable. Let them know if you or a loved one have a personal experience with an Institutional Religious Obstructions and any other details that may strengthen your letter. We strongly encourage you to personalize the letter for the best impact.
NOTE: If the postal code you enter does not yield any results, your letter will be sent to advocacy@dyingwithdignity.ca to help you contact the appropriate representative.