The MUHC is changing its policy to allow medically-assisted death in its palliative care unit.

The McGill University Hospital Centre was criticized recently over its policy to transfer patients to another unit to receive it, but said they had already been working on a review of the policy.

They wanted to transfer patients out of palliative care to receive medical aid to die due to the notions patients and their families have of the palliative care unit: the MUHC wanted to reinforce that it is not there to hasten death.

In April, the palliative care unit had its first request and the patient was transferred out to receive the service within three days.

The family was grateful and there were no complaints.

Dr. Manuel Borod, director of supportive and palliative care programs at the MUHC, said he was quite frustrated by the criticism over the policy and the accusations that the MUHC and his unit were not respecting the spirit of the law.

Still, it is changing its policy based on its first case and the impact it had on the staff within that unit.
       
“It's the only case we've had, so it was specifically about the fact the team looked after the patient and when the patient was transferred, there was some sense that we are not accompanying the patient until the end of his journey,” said Borod.     

Health Minister Gaetan Barrette said he's pleased the MUHC is looking at changing its policy, but he still feels that it isn't making it easy for patients requesting medical aid to die to get it. For instance, patients have to be seen by the MUHC within the last 18 months of filing their request.

“Clearly it is an obstacle that is put in front of the patients who want to go in that direction, so I fail to see how they can argue with the fact that they are not putting obstacles when they are putting in place a rule within their policy,” he said.

The MUHC is also reviewing that policy. Since Bill 52 came into effect six months ago, the hospital centre has received five requests for medical aid in dying. Two were administered; the other three didn't fit the criteria of the law.

It could take some time before the new MUHC policy is approved and comes into effect.