It may be that conscientious objection exercised by practitioners does not prioritize the reflexive wishes of patients. But it may prioritize the goal of medicine, the best care possible. Often patients may seek MAiD after a serious injury or in fear of a progressive illness where those who object to providing the service will instead seek to mitigate those fears and assure proper care. And the final value of patients is their care. Where the system is limited in the access to care in general, the answer isn't to deny conscientious objection by practitioners but ... increase services in the system. MAid isn't 'working great' and those in palliative care who object do so in the belief their goal is, and should be the care of the person, maximizing his or her life quality, and not its ending.
It may be that conscientious objection exercised by practitioners does not prioritize the reflexive wishes of patients. But it may prioritize the goal of medicine, the best care possible. Often patients may seek MAiD after a serious injury or in fear of a progressive illness where those who object to providing the service will instead seek to mitigate those fears and assure proper care. And the final value of patients is their care. Where the system is limited in the access to care in general, the answer isn't to deny conscientious objection by practitioners but ... increase services in the system. MAid isn't 'working great' and those in palliative care who object do so in the belief their goal is, and should be the care of the person, maximizing his or her life quality, and not its ending.
Tom Koch
http://kochworks.com