Northern Health now has a formal policy in place for those who want to exercise their right to a medically-assisted death.
The service has been provided since July 2016, when the legislation came into effect, but "the final pieces of the puzzle came together just recently where we got our final versions of our formal policies approved," Kirsten Thomson, Northern Health's regional director of risk and compliance said in an interview this week.
Four people in northern B.C. and one from outside the agency's territory have used the service provided by Northern Health.
"It's still early stages but we're reaching a bit of a point of maturity in how we're approaching this and some degree of normalization is starting to happen," Thomson said.
The service is provided to those with chronic and untreatable medical conditions that have reduced their quality of life to the point where they can no longer go on.
Steps for those interested begin with a conversation with their physician or nurse practitioner. For those who don't have one or have one who is a conscientious objector and reluctant to provide the service, Thomson is the next point of contact.
"I have had calls directly from clients or their families looking for information," Thomson said. "Sometimes they're just looking for information theoretically or for the future and sometime they're just looking for immediate support."
Part of Thomson's job is to find a provider who can help.
According to a Northern Health information sheet, criteria for qualifying include being at least 18 years old, in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability and intolerable suffering with no available treatments considered acceptable. A natural death must also be reasonably forseeable.
There is also a 10-day waiting period, or "period of reflection," which can be shortened in certain circumstances.
And one of the physicians or nurse practitioners who assessed the patient's eligibility will prescribe and administer the drugs to end the life.
Provisions are in place for those living in rural areas. They include a list of providers willing to travel to the patient's community and, without providing specifics, Thomson said there is a "good availability" of them.
"Likewise, for the supporting roles, like nursing and pharmacy, we have means to identify willing providers and ensure services move to the patient," Thomson said.
The measures are similar in all health authorities, she said.
