BlackburnNews.com file photo of Windsor-West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky, June 24, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)BlackburnNews.com file photo of Windsor-West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky, June 24, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Windsor

Dan's Law Would Extend Home Care To Terminal Repatriates

The story of Windsor man Dan Duma is a tragic tale, but Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky hopes it saves other repatriated Ontarians the heartache of finding out they can't have a dignified death at home.

When Duma was laid off from his job at the GM Transmission Plant, he travelled to Fort McMurray to pursue new employment in the oil sands.

Three years later, he learned he had liver cancer. While he worked as long as he could, eventually he was admitted to hospital in Fort McMurray.

During his stay in hospital there, wildfires swept across the oil patch, and he was evacuated to Edmonton where he got the news his cancer was terminal. His doctors advised him to return to Ontario so he could live out his days among family and friends.

Unfortunately, when he returned home, he discovered he didn't qualify for end of life care at home or in hospice. He had to re-apply for OHIP coverage if he didn't want to die in hospital.

Gretzky says Duma is not alone. She says she's heard from doctors and nurses that many repatriated Ontarians find their choices for end of life care are very limited and while the Ontario government advocates for home care, it doesn't translate into coverage for those who return home to die.

"It is about dignity," says Gretzky. "Dan did want to die in hospital, and he shouldn't have had to die in hospital. He should've been given the home care that he needed."

Thanks to the help of Dr Darren Cargill, Duma was admitted to hospice, but he didn't qualify for OHIP coverage until three days before his death.

Anticipating the arguments against extending universal home care and hospice care to repatriates, Gretzky says it's not even cost-effective.

"It's actually less expensive for them to receive care in their homes, or in a setting like a hospice than it is for them to be in the hospital," says Gretzky.

Dan's Law is a private members bill, which only rarely passes through the Ontario Legislature and becomes law. However, Gretzky is confident the bill will beat the odds.

"The Ontario Medical Association, the [Ontario Nurses Association], the palliative care network, CUPE Ontario that has health care workers, there's many health organizations that support this bill because they recognize it's not only about the care of care, it's about compassionate care," says Gretzky.

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