What role do funeral experts play in the preparation for medical aid in dying? And above all, how does this role fit into the concept of dignity after death, which is central to the values of Urgel Bourgie / Athos?
Interview with Mitchel Fortin, General Manager of Urgel Bourgie / Athos.
End-of-life care: a matter of choice
Regulations surrounding end-of-life care have changed significantly in recent years, both in Quebec and across Canada. Not so long ago, when a person was faced with an incurable illness or degenerative condition, they had no choice but to wait for the time to come.
Today, access to end-of-life care allows everyone to choose how they want to live their lives—and, above all, to choose when it is time to say goodbye. For Mr. Fortin, this freedom of choice is directly linked to the idea of dignity of the deceased, which Urgel Bourgie/Athos considers a fundamental right to which everyone should have access:
“We spend our lives making choices. We choose what we want to do for work, where we want to travel, what we want to eat, how we want to dress. So why, at the final stage of the transition from life to death, should we not have a choice? Human beings belong to no one.”
Mitchel Fortin emphasizes, with a strong nuance, that “we now have the ‘opportunity’ to choose,” echoing the law on end-of-life care that governs medical aid in dying in Quebec, before adding that “the law has finally given us the power and dignity to choose for ourselves.”
As presented by the Quebec government, the Act Respecting End-of-Life Care consists of a “comprehensive and integrated approach” of the care surrounding a person’s final moments. Its objective is to promote access to quality care in order to “prevent and alleviate the suffering” that the person may experience. End-of-life care includes palliative care, medical aid in dying, and advance medical directives.
|
The evolution of funeral services in light of medical aid in dying
Access to medical aid in dying has definitely had an impact on the role of Urgel Bourgie / Athos funeral experts. But the team has adapted to offer everyone the support they need. As Mr. Fortin explains, the support is aimed not only at the person planning their final departure, but also at their loved ones:
“We are facing a different reality today. In the context of medical aid in dying, we support the person at the end of their life, but we also support their entire family. Our teams are trained to accompany the person and their loved ones in this process.”
When someone chooses to seek medical aid in dying, this decision can be a sensitive subject for their loved ones. “It’s a choice that the person has made, but it may not be the choice of their family,” Mitchel points out.
“Let’s not forget that it’s the person who chooses the date of their departure, he adds. It’s a choice that belongs to the person themselves, but it still affects their loved ones, who in some cases have difficulty accepting this decision.”
The Urgel Bourgie / Athos team is fully trained and has the appropriate resources to guide those planning their final arrangements, as well as to support their loved ones.
Support from Urgel Bourgie / Athos: from the final moments to the final resting place
When faced with a loss, whether expected or unexpected, Mitchel Fortin and his team are ready to guide you through every step of the process. “We support families before, during, and after,” says the general manager.
However, when it comes to planned end-of-life care, they know how to adapt their support to offer the person and their loved ones a final moment filled with love and warmth. In addition to organizing funeral ceremonies and celebrations of life, Urgel Bourgie / Athos can also take care of the final farewell for a person seeking medical aid in dying. Mr. Fortin adds:
“We are here to support you and help you create a moment that reflects who you are. Depending on your wishes, we can arrange personalized tributes, show photos or videos, or set up the chosen venue with the necessary resources. If you would like to travel to a meaningful location, such as a lakefront or a specific establishment, we have the equipment and qualified staff to assist you.”
“That’s where our role continues to make sense,” he adds, referring to the role of funeral services in providing support related to medical aid in dying. “We are at the service of the living.”
The Urgel Bourgie / Athos team is also able to support loved ones after a passing through its psychological support and estate assistance services, in addition to helping them choose a dignified resting place for their loved one.
“Our mission is to keep memories alive and offer everyone a dignified departure.”