2024-08-14 13:34:25
A 44-year-old man, who had been suffering from COVID-19 for more than three years, requested Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) because he was exhausted, tired of the pain, and considered himself a burden to his family.
The law states that to qualify for MAID, one must suffer from a serious and incurable illness, experience persistent and intolerable suffering, and make the request in a free and informed manner. In Canada, as of 2021, new measures allow people whose death from natural causes was not reasonably foreseeable to qualify.
Emmanuelle Marceau, associate professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Montreal, emphasized that quality of life is subjective to everyone. What is a life worth living? Is a life filled with physical pain and little hope for change no longer worth it?
Ms Marceau, associate research fellow at the Center for Research in Ethics (CRÉ), said that with the opening up of medical assistance in dying, there were concerns that people would feel they no longer had meaning. “They are no longer contributing to their loved ones, to their families; instead they find themselves holding them back. I think we have to ask those who need care such as medical assistance when they die due to these reasons. At this moment , we can ask ourselves as a society: ‘Aren’t we abandoning the most vulnerable?
In December 2020, Sébastien Verret’s life changed drastically when he contracted the coronavirus just days after starting his new job at CHSLD. Previously, he worked in sales and signed up for the Provincial Government’s “I Contribute” program set up when the health crisis began.
At the beginning of his illness, Mr. Verrett struggled with chronic fatigue and flashing lights caused him to have seizures accompanied by tremors. One night, he had a seizure and fell to the ground, his smart watch calling for help. “This was my first long-distance trip in an ambulance,” he said.
As time went on, he developed more seizures, fatigue and nausea. “The symptoms kept accumulating, and instead of getting better, they got worse,” he said.
home help, solutions
Mr. Verret is the father of two children, the eldest now 20 years old and the youngest 15 years old. Due to his illness, household chores were almost impossible to complete and he had to work hard to take care of his children.
“Every day I have to choose whether to cook, take a shower, do laundry or clean. I can’t have a routine at home where I do a little bit of everything,” he explains.
Although he received compensation from CNESST, the bills piled up. Mr. Verrett often orders food from restaurants because he doesn’t have the energy to cook. Even shopping online requires too much mental capacity. Occasionally, he would hire a housekeeper to clean the dusty areas of his home.
In February 2023, he was unable to pay for accommodation. He moved in with his parents, who took care of him. “I was in recovery. I was doing occupational therapy and I had hope — not to be cured, because I didn’t think I would ever be cured — but to be able to live with the disease and deal with it,” he said. .
There is a RAMQ scheme that provides home help in times of illness. However, Mr. Verrett claimed that his tax returns while working as a salesman were too high to qualify.
He lived with his parents for a few months, which allowed him to save money. Mr. Verrett was well enough financially and physically that he decided to rent a multi-generational apartment. His eldest son lives in one unit and Mr. Verrett and his youngest son live in another unit every other week.
“It was hell from there,” he said. Diagnosis of thrombosis, sepsis, cardiac arrest, inflammation, severe diarrhea, back pain, and collagenous colitis.
Things will only get worse. In January 2024, Mr. Verret became incontinent, which meant he had to wash his bed frequently. Household chores started to become a burden again. “For me, changing beds is like running 10 kilometers,” he explains.
His youngest child started cooking for him the week he was there. “In hindsight, it was very unusual for my 14-year-old to cook for me. He was my caregiver, and that was very unusual,” he said.
“I was so weak that I gave up housing for the second time in a year. I asked the children’s mother to take them back. This was very difficult for me,” he said emotionally.
final battle
In June 2024, he returned to the emergency room again, this time accompanied by his parents, who mentioned to staff that they wished to place their son in a resource. “It’s not normal for my son to take care of me, it’s not normal for my 44-year-old mother to change my bed that’s full of shit,” he said indignantly, without taboos.
Currently, he is still with his parents.
“I hope the government wakes up and helps us do our homework […] He relaxed the rules for home-help programs. This is the solution. This is rest and help. I spent six months with my parents and when I came back, I was full of hope. I’m almost ready to get back to work, in a job that fits my new reality.
Ms. Marceau highlighted the social injustices associated with the disease. She noted that in Quebec, health care plans are generally quite generous, but there are gaps in home care and housekeeping.
“If as a society we had the ability to promote greater autonomy, a greater social safety net, it might not exist. It has to challenge our circumstances,” she insisted.
A week ago, Sebastian Verre asked for medical help in his dying breath when he was once again told nothing could be done.
After being evaluated at the Université du Québec’s Institute of Mental Health, Mr. Verret is expected to have a follow-up appointment on his request for medical assistance in dying before the end of September. “But I’m going to get an appointment first because I’m not going to live this life anymore.” That was my last cry and my last fight.
“Based on what I read, (my request) was admissible, but it was clear to me that it would be difficult to get through,” he admitted.
He had no hope that a miracle drug would improve his lot. According to him, even if there is a cure for COVID-19, the damage caused to his body is irreparable.
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The Canadian Press’ health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial choices.
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