Desperate woman approved for death in Canada gets treatment in US

A Canadian woman struggling with a rare parathyroid disease was approved for Medical Aid in dying (MAiD), which she applied for solely due to the inability to access the treatment she needs. Now, she has been able to receive that treatment in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

• Jolene Van Alstine needed treatment for a rare parathyroid disease, but there was no surgeon able to treat her in her home province of Saskatchewan.

• She needed a referral from an endocrinologist to receive the surgery out-of-province, but none of the doctors in Saskatchewan were taking new patients, so a referral could not be made.

• She applied for 'medical assistance in dying' (MAiD) and was approved.

• Political commentator Glenn Beck promised to help her get treatment in the United States, and she received care at the Norman Parathyroid Center near Tampa.

The Backstory:

Von Alstine was known to be suffering from parathyroid disease, which caused "abdominal pain, extreme bone pain and fractures caused by normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. The rare form of parathyroid disease also causes daily nausea and vomiting, overheating, and anxiety and depression caused by social isolation."

She was so sick, she said she wasn't able to leave her home except to go to medical appointments. And while treatment (including surgery) is available, she has not been able to access that care in Canada.

Unable to get a referral from an endocrinologist for an out-of-province surgery, she and her husband, Miles Sundeen, became so desperate that she applied for MAiD. She was approved to die on January 7th.

Commentator Glenn Beck then intervened, saying if any American surgeon was available, he would cover the cost of the treatment.

"She wants to live," Sundeen said in an appearance on Beck's show. "But when life is absolutely stolen from you for eight years and you suffer so much pain, depression, and anxiety — I love her with all my heart, and I will do anything to get her the help she needs if it's out there and available."

The Details:

With Beck's help, the Norman Parathyroid Center heard about her case and offered to help, free of charge; Beck paid for the couple's airfare. The Toronto Sun reported that Von Alstine was able to return home to Regina after receiving treatment in Tampa, and she is still being monitored, in hopes of determining the best way to continue to help her. She has already had several surgeries, and doctors now believe it may not be what she needed.

“I have been taking high doses of calcium and vitamin D. This was recommended by the specialist from Toronto and the surgeon in Florida agreed that this should be tried first," she said. "If it brings my parathyroid levels down to low normal, then I don’t need another surgery, I need an endocrinologist who deals with patients who need monitoring of their calcium, vitamin D and magnesium levels and can adjust them as needed. [I]f it does not bring my levels down then there is still another gland inside me somewhere that is overactive.”

She is still in pain, but for the first time in a long time, she has hope.

“I never wanted to go through with MAID but I lost hope,” she said. “I’m Roman Catholic. Suicide is a sin, but I just couldn’t stand the pain and nausea and vomiting and overheating 24/7.”

The Bottom Line:

It is beyond disturbing to know that someone could apply for MAiD and be approved simply because they cannot access the necessary health care needed to survive. People who are desperate need help — not a prescription for death.