Catholic Health Association of Canada Statement on Social Affairs, Science and Technology Report "Quality End-of-Life Care:The Right of Every Canadian"
2nd Session, 36th Parliament,
Volume 138, Issue 63
Wednesday, June 7, 2000
The Honourable Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Speaker pro tempore
SENATOR'S STATEMENT
Hon. Douglas Roche: Honourable senators, yesterday Senator Carstairs tabled a report entitled "Quality End-of-Life Care: The Right of Every Canadian" and today the Catholic Health Association of Canada issued a statement with regard to it.
The Catholic Health Association of Canada is a national Christian association supportive of health care in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. As the national voice for Catholic health care, the CHAC acts to promote health in all its aspects - physical, emotional, spiritual and social. Its membership includes eight provincial associations, 34 sponsors and owners of health care organizations, 127 hospitals and homes, health care professionals, and affiliated organizations and individuals.
Honourable senators, with that background, I will now tell you what the Catholic Health Association of Canada said about the report. The statement issued by the chairperson, Sister Annette No‘l, reads:
We are pleased to see that the Subcommittee report reflects many of the recommendations we presented. We commend in particular the emphasis the report gives to the inherent dignity and worth of the individual as a basis for end-of-life care. The inherent worth and dignity of every individual is the fundamental value that should underlie our health care system.
The press release goes on to make several complimentary and entirely supportive comments about the report tabled yesterday. This is a great credit to Senator Carstairs, who led the committee and presented such an outstanding report, which was widely commented upon in the news media across Canada today.
This report commends itself to immediate adoption by the Senate so that the Government of Canada will get the message conveyed by the report, which said unanimously that palliative care resources and activities must be greatly strengthened on behalf of all Canadians.