Understanding the Policy Landscape Surrounding Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada's Federal Prison System

Driftmier, Peter; Shaw, Jessica

doi:10.1089/jchc.20.05.0043

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Any request from a patient to remain in place for MAiD provision requires approval from senior officials. For a detailed overview of our analysis of Guideline 800-9 , we direct the reader to Driftmier & Shaw, (in press) .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The CSC MAiD guidelines appear to present significant barriers to remain in a CSC institution if that were the patients’ preference. It appears that decisions about release or staying in place for MAiD rest with parole bodies and executives rather than health providers determining release on the basis of medical grounds ( Driftmier & Shaw, in press ). The practice of forced transfers is a common institutional barrier to patient-centered MAiD access, “when a healthcare facility requires a person who requests assisted dying to go off-site to receive—or even be assessed for—(MAID),” ( Dying With Dignity Canada, n.d. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Dying with a Smile, Just Knowing that Somebody’s Listened to Me”: End-Of-Life Care and Medical Assistance in Dying in Canadian Prisons

Shaw

Driftmier

2021

Omega (Westport)

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Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) has been legal in Canada since 2016 and some incarcerated patients who are at the end of their lives are eligible for the procedure. Interviews with nine incarcerated men at a federal penitentiary in Canada provide insight into some of the ways that people who are navigating aging and end-of-life in prison think about MAiD. Interview themes are organized around: experience with death and dying; possibilities and barriers related to applications for release from prison at end-of-life; experiences of peer-caregiving in a prison palliative care program; support for MAiD and the expansion of eligibility criteria; what a good death looks like. Themes are contextualized alongside federal guidelines related to end-of-life care (EOLC) and MAiD for prisoners, highlighting that sound policy requires both generalizable principles and attention to nuance. MAiD rests on patient voluntariness, and thus autonomy over EOLC decisions is paramount for prisoners.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Dying with a Smile, Just Knowing that Somebody’s Listened to Me”: End-Of-Life Care and Medical Assistance in Dying in Canadian Prisons

Shaw

Driftmier

2021

Omega (Westport)

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“…In Canada, assisted dying is legally permitted for people who are incarcerated, but the prison system rejects the possibility of assisted dying (or indeed palliative and end-of-life care) taking place in prison [30], despite the fact that some people may have spent years in prison and may see it as their home [6]. In a qualitative study of incarcerated people in Canada, access to assisted dying was seen as a compassionate and appropriate intervention for those who were suffering [31].…”

Section: Medically Assisted Dyingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caring for people in prison with palliative and end-of-life care needs

McParland

Johnston

Ouwehand

2023

Current Opinion in Supportive &Amp; Palliative Care

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Purpose of review The prison population is growing and ageing, and many people will die from natural causes while incarcerated. This article provides a contemporary review of key issues related to palliative and end-of-life care in prisons. Recent findings Few countries have integrated prison hospices. Palliative care needs may go unrecognised in prison. Older offenders may not trust the prison to care for them and may benefit from segregation. Cancer remains a major cause of death. Training staff remains a priority, and technology can help facilitate this. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had a significant impact on prisons, less is known about its impact on palliative care. Compassionate release is underutilised, and the issue of medically assisted dying adds complexity to decisions around end-of-life care. Peer carers can provide reliable symptom assessment. Family members are often absent when someone dies in prison. Summary Palliative and end-of-life care in prisons requires a joined-up approach, and staff must understand the challenges of both this and custodial care in general. The relational network both inside and outside of the prison should be involved, and when possible and appropriate, we should consider alternatives to dying whilst incarcerated, such as compassionate release.

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Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal among people incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons

et al. 2022

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Background Vaccine uptake rates have been historically low in correctional settings. To better understand vaccine hesitancy in these high-risk settings, we explored reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal among people in federal prisons. Methods Three maximum security all-male federal prisons in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (Canada) were chosen, representing prisons with the highest proportions of COVID-19 vaccine refusal. Using a qualitative descriptive design and purposive sampling, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with incarcerated people who had previously refused at least one COVID-19 vaccine until data saturation was achieved. An inductive–deductive thematic analysis of audio-recorded interview transcripts was conducted using the Conceptual Model of Vaccine Hesitancy. Results Between May 19-July 8, 2021, 14 participants were interviewed (median age: 30 years; n = 7 Indigenous, n = 4 visible minority, n = 3 White). Individual-, interpersonal-, and system-level factors were identified. Three were particularly relevant to the correctional setting: 1) Risk perception: participants perceived that they were at lower risk of COVID-19 due to restricted visits and interactions; 2) Health care services in prison: participants reported feeling “punished” and stigmatized due to strict COVID-19 restrictions, and failed to identify personal benefits of vaccination due to the lack of incentives; 3) Universal distrust: participants expressed distrust in prison employees, including health care providers. Interpretation Reasons for vaccine refusal among people in prison are multifaceted. Educational interventions could seek to address COVID-19 risk misconceptions in prison settings. However, impact may be limited if trust is not fostered and if incentives are not considered in vaccine promotion.

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Understanding the Policy Landscape Surrounding Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada's Federal Prison System

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

“Dying with a Smile, Just Knowing that Somebody’s Listened to Me”: End-Of-Life Care and Medical Assistance in Dying in Canadian Prisons

“Dying with a Smile, Just Knowing that Somebody’s Listened to Me”: End-Of-Life Care and Medical Assistance in Dying in Canadian Prisons

Caring for people in prison with palliative and end-of-life care needs

Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine refusal among people incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons

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