CMAJ News

Parliament to vote on palliative care bill

vote on a private member of Parliament’s bill urging the A government to develop and implement a framework for improving Canadians’ access to palliative care within a year is slated for the end of September. Bill C-277, introduced in the House of Commons in May by (Conservative, Sarnia-Lambton), was endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) at its recent Gen- eral Council in Vancouver. The framework would include defi- nitions of palliative care services in a variety of hospital and community set- tings, the required training for provid- ers of those services and regular evalu-

ation of the plan’s effectiveness. Cathy Yeulet/iStock Gladu told CMAJ that although her The Canadian Medical Association has endorsed a private member of Parliament’s bill to riding is well served with five pallia- improve palliative care. tive care specialist physicians, 20 beds and “extensive” home care, fewer than Dr. Pamela Liao who put forward the development of Canada’s MAID leg- 30% of Canadians have access to pal- motion at the CMA meeting says “No islation, so “if there’s ever going to be liative care. Without it, Canadians one in medicine questions palliative care a time [for a palliative care bill to don’t have true choice in end of life as the cornerstone to managing patients pass], it’s going to be now,” he added. care under the new medical assistance who have terminal disease.” Liao, who Henderson put forward a related in dying (MAID) legislation. The lim- is a fellow at the Freeman Centre for the motion to General Council calling for ited availability of palliative care ser- Advancement of Palliative Care at North the CMA to acknowledge that palliative vices in Canada was outlined in a York General Hospital, says it’s likely and end-of-life care have public health recent article published in CMAJ. that no action was taken by Parliament implications. It, too, was endorsed. This is the second attempt from on the previous motion because the gov- “This is such a complex issue that within Parliament to foster palliative ernment was otherwise occupied. “They touches on so many people and care in Canada. Charlie Angus MP really just wanted to push MAID throughout our lives that it needs to be (NDP, -James Bay) intro- through. But we need to make sure that everybody’s responsibility,” Henderson duced a motion in 2014 calling for a palliative care remains in the dialogue.” says. The promotion of palliative and pan-Canadian palliative and end-of-life The Canadian Society of Palliative end-of-life care needs to be addressed care strategy. It received all-party sup- Care Physicians also backs Gladu’s even in schools and businesses in order port but no action was taken on it, bill. “It’s the first of its kind that’s to create “compassionate communities.” Gladu says. calling for the same thing that we’ve “There are not so many true commu- Health Minister Dr. Jane Philpott been calling for,” said Dr. J. David nities anymore, so we’re trying to bring has often mentioned the federal govern- Henderson, society president. “There’s some of that back. ‘It takes a village to ment’s commitment of $3-billion been talk about doing something for raise a child.’ Well, where’s that village toward palliative and home care, but years and years — lots of talk about it when we’re at the end of our lives?” — the 2016 federal budget did not contain but never much in the way of action.” Terry Murray, , Ont. this specific provision as a line item, The public awareness of end-of-life Gladu adds. issues has increased because of the CMAJ 2016. DOI:10.1503/cmaj.109-5328

CMAJ, November 1, 2016, 188(16) E397