Reviewer, Medical Assistance in Dying Brochure – Northern Health

When patients and loved ones face the difficult decision of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), they need support with a compassionate hand and a kind heart. Northern Health would like to work with patient partners to adapt and revise a brochure that informs the public about MAID.

Open to: Patient partners from Northern Region

Lead Organization or Department

Northern Health - Quality & Innovation

Aim

• To create an accurate and relevant source of information about MAID for individuals and families in the Northern Health, in partnership with patient partners • Patient partners will share their experience-based insights that will help make the materials as accurate and relevant as possible.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will listen to and acknowledge your ideas and concerns, and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility

• Comfort sharing their experience and story in a small group setting (2-3 people) • Experience with the loss of a family member through the MAID experience in Northern Health If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Volunteer Agreement, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Cathy Almost

Logistics

• Vacancies: 1-2 • Date and Time: To be determined, 1.5 hours • Location: Video conference - Zoom • Commitment: One Time

Reimbursement

No expenses anticipated.

Background

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is now a lawful service in Canada. Northern Health (NH) recognizes that this is an important, sensitive, and emotional topic. We are working hard to make sure people within northern communities have access to the highest standard of compassionate and respectful care, while ensuring staff and physicians offer services within the law. More information is available on our website. We are also committed to embedding a Person- and Family-Centred Care (PFCC) approach to health care in NH. A key component of PFCC is to work in partnership with individuals and their families. This engagement is an opportunity to work in partnership with NH’s Lead, Person and Community Engagement to review and revise a brochure about MAID for individuals and families. Due to the sensitive nature of discussions, the facilitator will check-in with participants at the beginning, throughout discussions, at the end about their well-being. Discussion will proceed at the pace as dictated you. You will be offered an opportunity to debrief with the facilitator, and will also be provided with contact information for mental health support services.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cathy Almost
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Northern Region
250.615.9932
calmost@bcpsqc.ca