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Delay of Eligibility for Medical Assistance In Dying for Persons Suffering Solely from Mental Illness Proposed by Ministers of Justice and Health

From: Department of Justice Canada
February 2, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Government of Canada

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a complex and deeply personal issue. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians’ needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and freedom of choice.

Under Canada’s current MAID law, persons suffering solely from a mental illness who meet all eligibility criteria and for whom all applicable safeguards are met would be eligible for MAID as of March 17, 2023. However, today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, introduced legislation to extend the temporary exclusion of eligibility for MAID where a person’s sole medical condition is a mental illness until March 17, 2024.

Delay of Eligibility for Medical Assistance In Dying for Persons Suffering Solely from Mental Illness Proposed by Ministers of Justice and Health full article

Study: Even With Fivefold Increase, Autism Likely Undercounted

by Shaun Heasley | January 26, 2023

New research suggests that autism prevalence rose as much as 500% in recent decades, but it still may be underdiagnosed.

In an analysis of data on 8-year-olds in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area between 2000 and 2016, researchers found that the number of children with autism and intellectual disability doubled over the time period. Among those without intellectual disability, however, the increase was fivefold.

Still, the study published online Thursday in the journal Pediatrics finds that disparities in diagnosis persist and many kids may remain overlooked. Children from affluent areas were 80% more likely than those from underserved areas to be flagged as having autism with no intellectual disability while Black children in this category were 30% less likely to be identified as compared to white kids.

Study: Even With Fivefold Increase, Autism Likely Undercounted full article

McDonald’s Fired Man Who Worked There 37 Years In Violation Of ADA, Lawsuit Says

by Julia Marnin, McClatchy News/TNS | January 27, 2023

A man who received awards and accolades for his work as a McDonald’s grill cook was fired after 37 years of working for the fast food giant, federal officials said.

Two months after a different franchisee became the new owner of the McDonald’s in Deptford, N.J., it fired him because he has autism, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

But firing the grill cook violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal agency said.

Now the McDonald’s franchisee, JDKD Enterprises, L.P., has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle the disability discrimination lawsuit, the EEOC announced.

McDonald’s Fired Man Who Worked There 37 Years In Violation Of ADA, Lawsuit Says full article

Denied Long-Term Disability for Mental Health Issues: Your Rights

December 16, 2022

In Canada, long-term disability (LTD) claims for mental health issues make up the lion’s share of claims filed each year.

Despite mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, being recognized as conditions that can affect your ability to do your job, many insurance companies still turn down legitimate claims.

By refusing to provide you with disability benefits, insurers are able to bolster their bottom line.

Not only does this prevent you from accessing crucial financial support, but it can add to the mental and emotional distress you are already dealing with before applying for disability benefits.

Denied Long-Term Disability for Mental Health Issues: Your Rights full article

International Para Athletes Flocking to Cutting-Edge Accessible Program in Cochrane

Timm Bruch
CTV News Calgary Video Journalist
Published Dec. 3, 2022

It’s only a few months old, but a para snow program in Cochrane is already gaining international attention.

The Canadian Para Snow Sport Training Centre officially launched in September. Based out of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, it offers wheelchair and visually-impaired athletes training in multiple disciplines, both on and off the slopes.

“For me, it means a lot,” para alpine skier Hanna Chilson said. “Every day we are out training and learning new things and improving our abilities. Everything we need is in this building.”

The centre offers an accessible gym, swimming pool, arena and physio facility.

International Para Athletes Flocking to Cutting-Edge Accessible Program in Cochrane full article

Local Diabetic With Vision Loss Pushing for Legislated Accessibility on All Medical Equipment

Author of the article:Dave Battagello
Publishing date:Nov 22, 2022

Slowly making progress on getting changes secured with manufacturers on insulin pumps to accommodate those with vision loss, a local man is among those now focused on seeing new federal legislation put in place so all medical equipment must pass accessibility tests.

Ryan Hooey, 36, of Tecumseh has been dealing with diabetes since childhood and lost his eyesight almost overnight because of the disease roughly 10 years ago due to diabetic retinopathy.

Canada has one of the highest rates of retinopathy – 25.1 per cent of people living with diabetes – which is the leading cause of sight loss in working-age adults. An estimated 750,000 Canadians live with the condition.

Local Diabetic With Vision Loss Pushing for Legislated Accessibility on All Medical Equipment full article

Program Aims to Make Treatment More Accessible for Diabetes Patients

By: Keely McCormick
Posted Nov 23, 2022

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A Clearwater man with diabetes is spreading the word about a program that is making life easier for him: an at-home patient monitoring system powered by CopilotIQ.

David Coarsen has been living with diabetes for two years. He said the shift to virtual care saves him time and effort.

“It was just more convenient having things coming to me all the time rather than me going out somewhere to see a doctor,” Coarsen said.

CopilotIQ ships all the tools needed to test blood sugar levels to the patient’s doorstep. They then use a cellular-powered device that sends the patient’s readings back to the medical team.

Program Aims to Make Treatment More Accessible for Diabetes Patients full article

Canadian Man Claims Assisted Suicide is Being Pushed on Him by Hospital

By Michael Kaplan
November 8, 2022

Roger Foley alleges in a lawsuit that health-care workers at the government-affiliated Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, Canada, encouraged him to end his life rather than rack up a costly medical bill.

Roger Foley does not want to die yet – but he claims that the Canadian government is encouraging him to end it all.

“I’ve been pressured to do an assisted suicide,” he told The Post, alleging this happened with caretakers at Victoria Hospital, a primarily government-funded center in London, Ontario.

Canadian Man Claims Assisted Suicide is Being Pushed on Him by Hospital full article

Pet Ownership Brings ‘Huge Benefits’ To Adults With Autism, Study Finds

by Shaun Heasley | November 4, 2022

Pet ownership leads to better mental health outcomes in adults with autism, new research suggests, and the gains exist no matter what type of companion animal an individual has.

In a study of 735 adults, 326 of whom had autism, researchers found that pets helped people with the developmental disorder better manage their mood and socialize.

“We looked at loneliness, social isolation, social anxiety, social support and overall satisfaction with life,” said Liam Cross of Edge Hill University in England who worked on the study published recently in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. “Pet ownership led to a higher quality of life, less anxiety and a wide range of other benefits.”

Pet Ownership Brings ‘Huge Benefits’ To Adults With Autism, Study Finds full article

Some Doctors are Reluctant to Care for Patients With Disabilities, Study Finds

Details of three focus groups offer disturbing details about the challenges individuals with disabilities face when seeking care By Jessica Bartlett Globe Staff,Updated October 6, 2022

Clinicians participating in focus groups said they experienced many barriers to caring for people with disabilities, with some suggesting they avoided caring for them as a result.

Dr. Lisa Iezzoni pulled her wheelchair up to the screen and asked the physicians on the video call about their experiences and attitudes caring for people with disabilities.

Some Doctors are Reluctant to Care for Patients With Disabilities, Study Finds full article