Dying with Dignity | It's your life. It's your choice. - Take action (Ontario)

Dying with Dignity 

Toolkit for Submissions on CPSO's Draft Policy on End-of-Life Care

Looking to provide feedback on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario's draft policy of end-of-life care? We've put together a toolkit to help you craft a forceful appeal.

• Related: Ontario Residents: Share Your Two Cents

As we've said, the CPSO has made it easy to provide feedback on its proposed end-of-life care policies. You can submit your thoughts in the following ways:

• By posting to the CPSO's end-of-life care discussion forum;
• By firing off an e-mail to ;
• By filling out a quick and easy online survey (there are text boxes in which you can elaborate on your responses);
• By sending a letter through the mail. (To: College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 80 College St., Toronto, Ont., M5G 2E2)

Just remember: the deadline to submit is February 20, so don't delay!

Toolkit for written submissions to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

1) Read the CPSO’s draft policy, “Planning for and Providing Quality of End-of-Life Care.” It’s not long — only 15-pages, and the font is large. Knowing what’s in the document will help you respond to, and expand upon, the organization’s new policies.
2) Include a forceful opening statement. In clear, concise language, tell committee members why the CPSO needs to play a strong role in developing a legal and regulatory framework for assisted dying in Ontario. This can take the form of a short introductory paragraph or a list of bullet points.
3) Stress the importance of timing. With the Supreme Court set to weigh in on the future of the Criminal Code ban on assisted dying, and with end-of-life bills on the table in Parliament, Canadian doctors face the very real possibility that the practice could become legal this year.
4) Bring up Quebec. Physicians were instrumental in the crafting of Bill 52, an end-of-life care bill that passed through Quebec’s National Assembly last year. Set to come into force at the end of 2015, the law ensconces palliative care as a right and grants Quebecers the option to choose medically assisted dying so long as they fulfill certain criteria.
4) Use personal experience. If possible, include a personal anecdote to illustrate why it’s important for the CPSO to take a stand. Have you encountered physicians who were ill-equipped or simply unwilling to discuss a wide range of end-of-life care options, including assisted dying, with you or members of your family? Are you worried that the orders you’ve made in your Advance Care Plan won’t be respected? It is our experience personal stories carry a lot of weight in consultations like these.
5) Include your professional qualifications/background, if appropriate. Do you have a background in the healthcare profession? If so, note it. In addition, state how your work has shaped your perspective on end-of-life care. If you don’t work in health field, feel free to state your professional background affects your point of view, too. The CPSO is asking for the input from people from all walks of life — not just medical practitioners