Access to MAID, abortions raises questions about the limits of B.C. faith-based health care [Video]

Questions are being raised about the services provided or not provided by B.C.’s faith-based health-care facilities.

Hospitals such as St. Paul’s in Vancouver do not allow medical assistance in dying, or MAID, forcing patients at the end of their life to be moved to other facilities for the process.

Catholic-affiliated hospitals also do not perform abortions or even offer contraceptives.

Religion plays a big role in British Columbia’s health-care system due to a master agreement signed in 1995 between the province and a group of faith-affiliated health-care providers.

“As long as they have it documented in their mission statement that they do not believe in it, they do not have to provide it,” Alex Muir, a spokesperson with Dying with Dignity, the Vancouver chapter, told Global News.

“That’s why, for example, at St. Paul’s, women cannot get an abortion and people cannot be provided with MAID.”

Patient advocacy groups are now coming together …