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“At the end of the day, we are talking about some of the most physically compromised people in our province who cannot pick a phone, who cannot navigate on a website and may not have friends or family to advocate for them,” says Shanaaz Gokool, the CEO of the not-for-profit group Dying with Dignity Canada.

“If they can’t get referred, this is a real barrier.”

Other medical practitioners, meanwhile, are worried about the vagueness of wording in the act and whether they are exposing themselves to possible criminal prosecution.

Gokool also objects to the idea that seriously ill people, maybe living in remote areas, would be forced to uproot from a publicly funded facility to have an assisted death miles away in unfamiliar surroundings.

“They have a duty to the community they’re supposed to serve.”

Extendicare has an in-house policy on assisted dying. In an email response, administrator Sue MacGregor said the “overriding determinate” is the need for the resident to be “completely competent” at the time of the request and remain that way until the procedure occurs.

She briefly described parts of Jo Hopkins’s final day, providing a glimpse of how difficult this was for some staff, given they work in a caring profession and are dedicated to the wellbeing of residents.

Hopkins was insightful enough to know this would not be easy for them.

“On my last meeting with Jo, she expressed concern for a staff member who was on holidays and what he would feel like when he came back. She also asked the RN to reassign her primary PSW’s workload for the morning so that she could spend time with her and help comfort her.”

There was, too, a discussion of the agenda for her final day, her last meal, what message should be delivered to staff and when.

“Jo’s last morning was spent educating and comforting staff, participating in activities with her family and private moments with each one, her favourite meal and a minute each with a long line of staff,” she wrote.

“Then the circle closed to Jo, her family and the doctor.As challenging as this was for everyone involved, we at Extendicare Starwood are so pleased that we were able to help Jo with her last wish.”