Sunday, January 9, 2000 - North Shore News ~ 25 HEALTH —— Aging population ignites euthanasia Anna-Louise Pentland Contributing Writer WHEN Wendy Wolji heard from the presi- dent of the B.C. Medical Association that euthanasia would become legal within a few years if nothing is done about it, she decided to take action. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of B.C., based in North Vancouver, was formed five years ago. Former BCMA president Dr. Jim Lane was alarmed by discussions in the medical community about euthanasia or “compassionate killing.” “It's not really compassion to kill someone, but to help them,” Wolji, membership director for the coalitiun, said. “To them {the public], the word means “good death,” but when they get the idea it could be an imposed death or against their will then people like to look at it more clearly.” One of the goals of the group is to lobby politicians to put more money into hospice care for the dying and into research for pain control med- ication. Wolji said some doctors are saying there are days when some patients say they want to die, but when they're given good pain relief that changes, We are living longer on the North Shore "THE life expectancy of people living in the North — : Shore Health Region (NSHR) is longer than the provincial average. _. According to rhe latest annual report of the NSHR, the life expectancy at birth for women who live here is 82.3 years. The provincial average is 81.6 years. Men live 78.1 years on the North Shore and 75.8 years is the provincial average. The NSHR has more than 14% of its Population older than age 65 which is among the highest num ers in any health region in the province. The number of residents older than age “85 is expected grow by up to 50% during the next 10 years, according to the NSHR’s 1998-1999 annual report. The num- ber of residents under age 19 is expected to decrease over 10 years. The demographic shift means that the demand for health care services for seniors will increase. aa Moves is: a “studio, specially constructed for yoga asses.” “tts (a very comfortable and says owner tranklin Schryer, who) is also an Instructor. The meticulously: clean: studio has heated §# “, péaceful . setting,” often within a matter of hours. With an aging population, euthanasia is becoming a larg- er issue for health care policy makers. Wolji said her mother is in an excellent nursing home, but if euthanasia was legal, she would have second thoughts about putting her mother in an institution. Senator Sharon Carstairs introduced a bill to tevalize a right to refuse weatment or niedication. The bill also states that the decision can be made by a proxy or legal representative if the patient is deemed incom- petent. The bill underwent second reading in November. “the economics of health care go on, we might all find ourselves wondering if we go in hospital,” Wollji said. 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The group brings in speak- ers, produces various publica- tions and goes out to speak to interested groups. They have also just produced a video aimed to getting discussions about euthanasia started. The video will soon be available in public libraries, For more information about the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition of B.C. call 986-0543. — GailNEWS for: - Weight Loss. - Various Pains. - Facial Paralysis. Our cure rate is up to 99% for Weight Loss, Usually 3 -7 Ib s per tweek, No side effect. The cure rate is up to 88% for Facial Paraiysis. The cure rate is up to 90% for Various Pains. Testimonials: © | would encourage anyone seriously wanting-to lose weight to participate in the program at the Wang Acupuncture Clinic. I’ve reduced 44.5 Ibs. 1 teel this plan is successful because the doctors are trcating the root cause of the weight problem. + Heather f. 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