B.C. premier speaks about lawsuit challenging religious exemptions for providing MAID

A day after a lawsuit was filed against the B.C. government, arguing the province's policy of allowing health-care facilities with religious affiliations to opt out of providing medical assistance in dying, the premier was asked about the legal action.

A day after a lawsuit was filed against the B.C. government, arguing the province's policy of allowing health-care facilities with religious affiliations to opt out of providing medical assistance in dying, the premier was asked about the legal action.

The civil suit was filed Monday by the mother of Sam O’Neill, a Vancouver woman who endured a forced transfer from her palliative care room at St. Paul's Hospital to another facility.

“This family’s choice to go to court, I respect 100 per cent to get clarity from the court about rights and obligations of the health-care system to them, and to all British Columbians,” said Premier David Eby.

He added he has compassion for terminally ill British Columbians who choose to undergo MAID.

“People who have access to MAID, who have made that decision to end their lives in this way have our government's full support around the care that they deserve, to ensure their wishes are carried out in a way that is respectful,” said Eby.

But Scott Harrison, whose partner Christina Bates also endured a forced transfer from St. Paul's in order to undergo MAID in late 2021, said allowing the practice to continue is not respectful.

“I think it’s shameful,” Harrison said. “I think the lawsuit is about time. I think religion has no place in delivery of public services in Canada, and certainly around health care. We don’t have any options, we can’t go somewhere else for health care.”