The following letter was sent to Health Minister Adrian Dix and copied to the Delta Optimist.
Dear Minister Dix:
I am dismayed at what is occurring at the Irene Thomas Society and the adjacent Delta Hospice Supportive Care Centre.
I refer to Delta Optimist article of Jan. 21, 2021 in which Mr. Jim Sinclair says, “Delta Hospice Society must vacate entire facility.” I fail to understand why the beds at the Irene Thomas Hospice cannot remain open as Victoria takes over the operations. No person deserves to have to be removed.
Opposite the above article is a paid communication from the Board of Directors of Delta Hospice in which the board states it will evacuate the Irene Thomas Hospice facility so there will be no disruption in patient care. Also in that communication I read that the Society still exists and remains committed to the purposes set out in its Constitution (and therefore its bylaws).
Speaking of bylaws, in the Nov. 13/2020 Delta Optimist an article stated that a judge reaffirmed its finding that the Society’s board had acted contrary to its bylaws “which gave no discretion to reject applications for membership based on their apparent views towards MAID.” And yet we have the government of B.C. telling Delta Hospice it must go against its Constitution and bylaws by offering MAID. A glance at the Society’s constitution states that the purpose of Society is not to prolong life nor to hasten death (which MAID clearly is designed for).
I think all residents of Delta (and particular those residing in Ladner and Tsawwassen) deserve to know what will happen on Feb. 25. I would also like to understand what the Take Back Delta Hospice group is advocating for. Why is this group accepting ‘memberships’ from this community and for what purpose is the money collected being put?
We are talking about 10 beds. Surely these beds can remain open for those who wish to die in this wonderful facility and staff can quickly be rehired.
I look forward to a peaceful solution to what has been a very emotional and disturbing as well as a political issue for some time now. This province has enough to deal with during COVID-19 and also during a serious drug overdose issue.
Jean Wightman
