Building Community Support for People Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying and Their Families
Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) has become an increasingly common part of end-of-life care in Canada. Today, approximately one in ten deaths within the Island Health region are MAiD-related, raising important questions about how we support people who request MAiD and their families. Working in partnership with people with lived and living experience of MAiD, the Island Health MAiD Program, and community organizations, Dr. Caroline Variath’s research has identified important gaps in the health and social supports available to MAiD patients and families. These gaps are often experienced by people who are socially isolated, lack access to primary care providers or other healthcare services, or are unaware of community resources that could address their needs.
In this presentation, Dr. Variath will share key findings from her research and discuss plans to develop a community-based support and navigation program that helps people connect with health and social services, strengthens support for families, and help reduce pressures on healthcare teams. The overall goal is to improve access to health and social supports and enhance quality of life of those who have requested MAiD.
Dr. Caroline Variath is an Assistant Professor at Vancouver Island University and a coordinator with Island Health’s Palliative and End-of-Life Care Program, supporting patients who seek Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). She is the recipient of a Health Professional Investigator Award from Michael Smith Health Research BC, that provides protected time over five years (2025-2030) to advance her research program. Dr. Variath holds a PhD in Nursing from the University of Toronto, with a collaborative specialization in Bioethics. Her program of research focuses on the intersections of ethics, health equity, and end-of-life care.