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Ontario plans to change privacy laws to shield health-care institutions that provide assisted dying from being identified, something patient advocates say will make it more difficult to determine whether barriers exist.

“Public health-care facilities have no right to hide their policies from Ontarians, especially those who are navigating difficult choices at end of life,” said Shanaaz Gokool, CEO of Dying with Dignity Canada. “These institutions have a duty to be accountable to community members they serve.”

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The move is part of the proposed Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act announced by the province this week.

Dying With Dignity has been a vocal opponent of hospitals and other health institutions banning assisted death in their organizations, saying it makes access difficult for vulnerable patients and that publicly-funded institutions have a responsibility to offer medically-assisted death. The organization earlier found that the province was not keeping track of which health facilities were opting out of assisted death.