Elderly man offered euthanasia twice following hip fracture

A 79-year-old man in Canada has told of his shock at being offered euthanasia twice, while recovering from a hip fracture in hospital.

Roman Catholic priest Larry Holland explained that a doctor first informed him of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in case his condition deteriorated. Despite explaining his moral opposition to euthanasia, a nurse raised the subject again some weeks later.

Introduced in 2016, MAID was expanded in 2021 to include people with serious or incurable conditions but who do not have a terminal diagnosis. Euthanasia now accounts for five per cent of all deaths in Canada.

Coercive

Holland, who was hospitalised in Vancouver General Hospital, explained that he was “very shocked” due to the “sensitive” nature of the topic.

The 79-year-old admitted he felt tempted to agree to MAID due to his pain, but added: “I went through it; you can go through it, too.” He hoped that his story would help others in similar circumstances.

A spokesman for Vancouver Coastal Health stated that “staff may consider bringing up MAID based on their clinical judgment, provided they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to do so”.

But Catherine Robinson of Right To Life UK observed: “Offering euthanasia to a vulnerable person like Holland, who was known to be opposed to the practice, is an appalling abuse of the relationship between patient and doctor. It is highly coercive”.

‘First words’

In March, an 84-year-old woman spoke of her horror at being offered euthanasia during her first conversation with a doctor at the same hospital.

Miriam Lancaster, who was diagnosed with a fractured bone at the base of her spine, recalled: “Off I went to the Vancouver General Hospital, and I was approached by a young lady doctor. The very first words out of her mouth [were]: ‘We would like to offer you MAID.’

“I was taken aback—that was the last thing on my mind! I just wanted to find out why I was in pain! I did not want to die!”

Six weeks later, following successful treatment, she was able to walk her daughter down the aisle at her wedding.