Roger Foley, a severely disabled Canadian man living with a rare neurological disease, says he is fighting for his life against a healthcare system that has repeatedly encouraged him to consider assisted dying while failing to provide the basic support he needs to survive. His allegations have attracted renewed international attention and raise difficult ethical questions about disability care, patient autonomy and the safeguards surrounding Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) programme
INR Report: Based on reporting by Frank Bergman for Slay News HERE: https://slaynews.com/disabled-canadian-begs-help-doctors-push-euthanize-him/
Roger Foley has spent approximately a decade receiving care at London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario after developing Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 14, a rare progressive neurological disorder that has left him severely disabled and living with chronic pain. According to the Slay News report, Foley says he has repeatedly rejected Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) programme but continues to face pressure from hospital staff to consider assisted death.
The allegations come as Canada's assisted dying legislation continues to generate international debate, particularly regarding protections for people living with disabilities and chronic illness.
A Plea for Help
Foley says he has become effectively trapped inside hospital because publicly funded authorities have not provided the self-directed home care he requires to live safely in the community.
He alleges that rather than receiving the support necessary to return home, staff have repeatedly raised the option of assisted dying.
According to Foley:
"Hospital staff have repeatedly offered and pressured me to consider Canada's... Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) while simultaneously obstructing the very services and supports I need to live safely."
He maintains that his objective has always been to continue living independently with appropriate disability support.
Removal of Disability Accommodations
A significant part of Foley's complaint concerns specialised medical accommodations that he says had previously allowed him to function safely.
Foley suffers from severe neurological photosensitivity and says he requires low-intensity amber lighting in order to eat, drink and take medication safely.
He alleges those accommodations were removed despite being medically necessary.
Foley stated:
"Last year, the hospital abruptly and callously removed the specialized lighting accommodations that I had relied on for years."
According to Foley, without those lighting conditions he is unable to safely swallow food or medication because of the way his neurological condition affects his vision and muscle control.
Allegations of Neglect
Foley also makes a series of serious allegations regarding his treatment while in hospital.
He claims he has experienced dehydration, malnutrition, repeated IV insertions after his veins collapsed, sleep deprivation and ongoing pain because appropriate care has not been provided.
In a statement published alongside a fundraising appeal, Foley wrote:
"I remain dehydrated and in increasing neck pain..."
He also stated:
"I am unable to eat solid food or take oral medications."
Foley further alleges that he has been subjected to treatment he describes as abusive while continuing to refuse euthanasia.
These allegations represent Foley's account of his experience as reported by Slay News. The article does not include responses from London Health Sciences Centre or other health authorities regarding the specific claims.
Independent Caregivers Step In
According to the report, an independent nonprofit organisation, Life Care Network Inc., has begun providing personal support workers to assist Foley inside the hospital.
The organisation is helping him access food, drinking water, medications, hygiene assistance and other daily needs that Foley says he was previously unable to obtain consistently.
However, the organisation's resources are limited, and Foley has launched a public fundraising campaign to help finance ongoing care.
He warned:
"Without this, I remain completely dependent on a hospital that refuses to meet even my most basic needs, while continuing to actively try to just end my life."
Foley says every donation will be directed towards funding independent caregivers through Life Care Network while he continues pursuing legal and administrative avenues to improve his situation.
Canada's Assisted Dying Debate
Canada introduced Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016, with eligibility expanding over subsequent years.
Supporters argue the legislation provides compassionate options for competent adults experiencing intolerable suffering under carefully regulated safeguards.
Critics, however, have questioned whether vulnerable people—including those living with disabilities, chronic illness or limited access to care—may feel pressured toward assisted death when adequate support services are unavailable.
Foley's case has become one of the most widely discussed examples cited by critics of Canada's assisted dying framework.
The allegations reported in this article have not been adjudicated within the report itself, and readers should distinguish between Foley's allegations, the reporting by Slay News, and any findings that may emerge through official investigations or legal proceedings.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
Although this case originates in Canada, the ethical questions extend well beyond its borders.
New Zealand legalised assisted dying following the End of Life Choice Act 2019, which came into force after the 2020 referendum. As the law continues to operate, debates surrounding patient autonomy, informed consent and the protection of vulnerable people remain matters of public interest.
Roger Foley's allegations raise a broader question that reaches beyond the particulars of his individual case.
If a person with a severe disability believes they are being denied the practical support needed to live while being offered assistance to die, how should society respond?
Supporters of assisted dying emphasise that the legislation exists to relieve unbearable suffering through voluntary and informed choice. Critics argue that genuine choice can only exist when patients have equal access to quality healthcare, disability support, housing and community services.
Whether or not Foley's allegations are ultimately substantiated through official processes, the case highlights the importance of maintaining robust safeguards, transparency and independent oversight wherever assisted dying is legal.
For New Zealand, the debate is not simply about legislation—it is about ensuring that every vulnerable person is first offered every reasonable opportunity to live with dignity before being asked whether they wish to die.
Source
Frank Bergman, Disabled Canadian Begs for Help as Doctors Push to Euthanize Him, Slay News, published 17 July 2026.
Independent reporting. Original context. Credited sources.