Centre of attention. The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has launched a letter-writing campaign in a bid to stop what it says is the unjust treatment of a disabled patient at Brampton Civic Hospital.
Posted on 08/27/2010 4:48:30 PM PDT by wagglebee
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) has launched a letter-writing campaign in a bid to stop what it says is the unjust treatment of a disabled patient at Brampton Civic Hospital.
EPC is urging residents to file letters en masse after the Consent and Capacity Board, an independent provincial tribunal whose mandate, in part, is to determine a person’s capacity to consent to or refuse medical treatment, gave a public guardian power of attorney over Kulendran (Joshua) Mayandy, a 48-year-old pastor who acquired a cognitive disability after suffering a heart attack in May.
Doctors have determined there is no hope of recovery and suggested all life-sustaining treatment be removed. But without family members or appointed legal guardian in Canada, the Consent and Capacity Board placed the fate of the Sri Lankan native, a Pentecostal pastor at Humberlea Worship Centre in Etobicoke, in the hands of a Substitute Decision Maker (SDM).
This SDM, in turn, agreed with authorities that no special efforts should be made to prolong Mayandy’s life and on Aug. 17 gave doctors at Brampton the go-ahead to withdraw intravenous hydration and nutrition to speed up his death.
However, EPC members have condemned the decision on the basis that it contradicts Mayandy’s Christian beliefs. Christians are generally opposed to the idea of interfering with the natural process of death. “Other than the fact that Joshua is cognitively disabled, he is otherwise healthy and could possibly live many years in this condition,” states Alex Schadenberg, executive director of EPC-Canada. “This is not a case when hydration and nutrition need to be withdrawn because he is actually dying and nearing death, but rather the decision appears to have been made to intentionally cause his death by withdrawing IV hydration and nutrition because he is unlikely to recover from his disability.”
“Society cannot condone intentionally dehydrating a person to death because of their disability or the potential cost of long-term care,” he said. Hospital officials have refrained from offering up specific details on the matter, stating patient confidentially limits them on what they can disclose publicly.
However, William Osler Health System, which runs Brampton Civic Hospital stressed everyone “involved in the patient’s care is in agreement with his treatment plan.”
“The treatment plan being followed for him has been determined to be medically in the best interests of Pastor Mayandy,” reads a statement prepared by William Osler on the matter. “It was developed according to Ontario law and with the input and oversight of the patient’s Substitute Decision Maker and their lawyer, as well as the patient’s independent lawyer. The course of care is clearly described in an Order of the Ontario government’s Consent and Capacity Board.”
Mayandy’s family, who live in Sri Lanka, and his supporters here, reject that notion, Schadenberg said. “The fact that Joshua did not write down his personal wishes or assign a person to make legal and health care decisions on his behalf in these circumstances, does not negate the fact based on his religious convictions it is unlikely that he would have agreed to death by dehydration,” writes Schadenberg in a blog post at http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com.
The EPC says Mayandy, who has been living with a Brampton family for the last 10 years, was admitted to Brampton Civic after collapsing in front of the emergency department on May 29.
He was revived, but sustained a significant brain injury and fell into a coma.
He was placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) and remained there until regaining the ability to breathe on his own, at which time he was transferred to the respiratory ward— where he still remains, according to EPC.
The group says Mayandy emerged from the coma and regained some ability to communicate.
“He (Mayandy) has the ability to recognize his closest friends and respond with one-word answers and sometimes with multi-word responses. He is able to move his body and appears to be physiologically stable,” Schadenberg states.
However, if Mayandy were physiologically stable, the order issued by the consent board states the attending physician must feed and hydrate Mayandy in the event he makes "a capable request for food or water."
Schadenberg told to The Guardian that EPC has consulted lawyers and is considering legal action. In the meantime, the EPC is encouraging people to send in letters to William Osler to express disapproval.
Thank you to everyone who has done something to help Pastor Joshua (Kulendran Mayandy). If you have not followed the story closely, the article that was printed in the Brampton Guardian is included with this email.
After meetings yesteday with our legal counsel, several doctors and a lawyer from the Christian Legal Fellowship, a major breakthrough happened today. The court appointed Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) has given permission for a nurse, who is a member of the Church, to feed Joshua orally.
Today Joshua was fed orally and I was told it went very well.
We thank the SDM for this wise decision but we remain cautious. This is incredible news but we recognize that an opposite decision may be made at any time.
The decision on August 13, 2010 by the Consent and Capacity Board stated:
"If the attending physician determines that his condition sufficiently improves to the point that aggressive care becomes appropriate, and proposes such treatments, nothing precludes (the SDM) from consenting to same."
Now that Joshua has proven that he is capable of swallowing while being orally fed, how can anyone deny him this basic necessity of life?
The final hope is that Joshua will get the opportunity to recover.
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May God change the hearts of those who would do such evil.
Thank God!!!!
BTTT.
I don’t know if I got pinged to this or just can’t find it.
Thank God he is being fed and may that continue.
You should have gotten the MA Ping.
Probably just missed clicking that one.
I will tell DH as soon as he comes home.
Good news is rare and it’s amazing what a lift this gives my heart.
Update. God spare this man and bring him back to testify.
This is ridiculous. I will be sending emails to all of my friends at church to write letters and will be sent to the hospital. I knew Pastor Joshua and he is an amazing man that the Lord has been using. In Jeremiah 1:17 - “They will fight against you (pastor Joshua) but will not overcome you (pastor) for I am with you and will rescue you (pastor Joshua) declares the Lord”. signed Dawn Miller
Thank you so much for your post!
We have been following this case very closely for fhe past ten days. Please let the pastor know that he is in our prayers and let us know if you hear anything.
Thanks so much for the update.
I hope the story of this man’s illness will become known all across Canada, and remembered as what can happen when government powers go mad.
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