Full Breakdown
Disabled Canadian Man Claims Hospital Pressured Him Toward Assisted Death While Seeking Home-Care Funding
By Drooid · · How we work
Hospital Discharge Dispute and Assisted-Death Allegations
Roger Foley, a patient with spinocerebellar ataxia, has been hospitalized at Victoria Hospital, part of the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) in Ontario, for several years while he pursues a self-directed home-care arrangement. Foley says hospital staff repeatedly raised the option of medically assisted death (MAID) beginning in 2016 and again during a disputed discharge process in 2017. He alleges that, in 2025, the hospital removed amber-spectrum lighting accommodations required for his neurological condition, forcing him to use protective goggles and making routine care such as eating and drinking more difficult. Foley also claims he was threatened with daily hospital charges of roughly $1,500 if he did not accept the care plan offered at that time.
Background of Care Funding in Ontario
Ontario’s Direct Funding (DF) Program and Family-Managed Home Care model allow adults with physical disabilities to hire and manage their own personal support workers, rather than relying on agency-assigned staff. Foley argues that such self-directed funding would let him leave acute care safely and at lower cost. He notes that he has retained ownership of his accessible apartment and continues to pay his own bills.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr. George K. Dresser, Foley’s attending internal-medicine physician at LHSC, wrote in a July 7, 2026 letter that Foley was medically stable and could be discharged if the Ontario Ministry of Health authorized individualized home-care funding. LHSC, Ontario Health at Home, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the nonprofit Cheshire Independent Living Services were contacted for comment but did not respond at the time of publication.
Verbatim Quotes
- “By any reasonable clinical standard, you could be discharged from our hospital if you had adequate support at home,” — Dr. George K. Dresser, the physician
- “A community-based, self-directed arrangement would in all likelihood cost substantially less than continued acute admission, while delivering far better-matched care,” — Dr. George K. Dresser, the physician
- “The last 10 years I haven't given up my apartment and I have wonderful community [personal support workers] that are ready to start working for me as soon as I get the self-directed funding,” — Roger Foley
- “Just because you're not the person that you were doesn't mean that the person you are can't be limitless and achieve positive things and goals,” — Roger Foley
What’s Next
Foley is leading a fundraising effort called “Bring Roger Home,” partnering with a nonprofit to raise money for the home-care support he says he needs. He hopes the project will finance the self-directed funding arrangement and assist other patients facing similar barriers. The Ontario Ministry of Health has not announced a decision on his request, and no further timeline has been provided.
