CPhA Highlights Key Pharmacy Considerations Before Assisted Dying Committee

January 27, 2016 (Ottawa): In an appearance before the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying (PDAM), Carlo Berardi, Chair of the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), told the Committee that regardless of the legislative framework that is put in place, one of the key elements that must be addressed to guarantee the best care possible is ensuring the appropriateness and accessibility of drug therapies.

“There is no single drug that exists for the purpose of ending someone’s life and so, like any other medication, we believe that the federal government must ensure that the prescribers and pharmacists have access to the necessary drugs in order to provide the best possible care, including for assisted dying,” he says.

Berardi pointed out that since the Supreme Court ruling last year, much of the public debate has focused on the role of physicians in assisted dying. However, physicians do not work in isolation – they are part of a larger system that relies on nurses, pharmacists, social workers and other health care providers, each with their own scope of expertise and responsibility. Berardi also noted to the Committee that there are a number of different approaches to regulating assisted dying and, under certain approaches, the role of pharmacists and other health professionals could expand significantly.    

Over the past several months, CPhA has been consulting extensively with members and experts in order to develop a policy position and framework to help inform governments as they grapple with this issue. Consultations included a national survey of pharmacists and pharmacy stakeholders, an extensive review of existing literature and experience from other jurisdictions that have legalized assisted dying.

While CPhA has not yet finalized its policy recommendation or proposed framework for the role of pharmacists in assisted dying, its presentation before PDAM highlighted some of the areas that have been consistently raised; including ensuring the appropriateness and accessibility of drug therapies; protection of conscience; liability of health care professionals; and ensuring pharmacists have access to appropriate information, support and resources.

“In our consultations we’ve heard that pharmacists care first and foremost about the health and well-being of their patients and that having access to both high quality palliative care, effective pain management and assisted dying is essential.” said Berardi. “While this may be new territory for all health care professionals, pharmacists have the expertise to play an integral role in ensuring quality end-of-life care.”  

As assisted dying is a new and evolving practice, CPhA believes that it will be critical to monitor and review the implementation of both federal and provincial legislation for years to come, and recommend this be done through a national advisory panel of interdisciplinary health professions, which would include pharmacists.

Pharmacists are consistently rated as one of the most trusted professionals in Canada; their accessibility and visibility within their communities also means that pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients who are looking for timely, informed health information.  

Regardless of how assisted dying is regulated in Canada, pharmacists will have a role to play.  As the national voice of the profession, CPhA is committed to working with the government to ensure that  pharmacists’ perspectives and concerns are addressed in the development and implementation of assisted dying legislation.

About the Canadian Pharmacists Association

The Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA) is the uniting national voice of pharmacy and the pharmacist profession in Canada. As pharmacists undertake an enhanced role in the delivery of health care services, CPhA ensures that the profession is recognized as a national leader in health care, influencing the policies, programs, budgets and initiatives affecting the profession and the health of Canadians. More information is available at www.pharmacists.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Mark McCondach
Director of Communications
Canadian Pharmacists Association
mmccondach@pharmacists.ca
(613) 523-7877 Ext. 285