Palliative Care <br/><br/>

Recently, a man from Ottawa openly committed suicide in the presence of family members and the media. His purpose was to challenge the law banning assistance to suicide. Since 1972, suicide has been decriminalized in Canadian law, although assisting others in committing suicide is still illegal.<br/><br/>

Alex Schadenbery, Executive Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, believed that an urgent need is to develop palliative care. Sharon Carstairs, Member of Parliament, acknowledged that there are much room for improvement in aspects of the Canadian medical education system. For instance, she pointed out that throughout the four years of medical studies, the training on alleviating pain is less than one hour.<br/><br/>

Even though it is possible to medically lessen the pain of the sick, there are still limits. If one understands the value of pain, then pain becomes more bearable. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.”<br/><br/>

Faith tells us that when God gives us our crosses, He is indeed inviting us to participate in Christ’s work of salvation of mankind. Our sufferings, especially the pain in sickness, is never without cause.