NATURAL HOLISTIC MEDICINE BLOG - A Canadian man with a severe neurological disorder claims hospital staff repeatedly suggested medically assisted death (MAID) as he fought for the home care services he believes are necessary for his survival. Roger Foley, who has spinocerebellar ataxia, detailed his multi-year struggle in an interview with Fox News Digital, recounting how these discussions began as early as 2016 at Victoria Hospital, a facility within the London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario.
A Prolonged Hospitalization and a Push for Independence
Foley has been hospitalized for years at Victoria Hospital, awaiting the establishment of a self-directed home-care arrangement.
He asserts that his condition, while debilitating, does not diminish his will to live.
His fight is not for prolonged hospitalization, but for the autonomy to receive care in his own apartment with a team of caregivers he can select and manage.
Documentation obtained by Fox News Digital supports Foley's assertion that his discharge from the hospital is feasible under the right conditions.
A letter dated July 7, 2026, from his attending physician, Dr.
George K.
Dresser, an internal medicine specialist at London Health Sciences Centre, stated that Foley could be safely discharged if the Ontario government approved an individualized home-care plan.
Dr.
Dresser noted that Foley has been medically stable for the majority of his extended hospital stay, despite contracting hospital-acquired infections.
Physician's Assessment: A Mismatch in Care Models
Dr.
Dresser's letter highlighted the inadequacy of existing community care programs to meet Foley's unique and complex medical requirements.
"You have been at London Health Sciences Centre because the unique needs that you have cannot be met by existing programs in the community," the physician wrote, characterizing Foley as "a square peg in a round hole." This analogy underscores how the hospital's standardized care protocols are ill-suited for a patient who requires consistent, highly individualized support from familiar caregivers.
Furthermore, Dr.
Dresser suggested that continuing Foley's hospitalization imposes a significant financial burden on Ontario's healthcare system.
"A community-based, self-directed arrangement would in all likelihood cost substantially less than continued acute admission, while delivering far better-matched care," the letter explained.
He urged the Ontario Ministry of Health to authorize funding that would empower Foley to recruit, train, and manage his own personal support workers, potentially paving the way for his long-awaited discharge.
Allegations of Coercion and Environmental Hurdles
Foley’s allegations extend beyond the repeated suggestions of MAID.
He claims that during a contentious discharge process in 2017, he was threatened with substantial daily hospital charges, approximately $1,500, if he did not accept the care arrangements presented by the hospital.
"I don't want to die," Foley stated emphatically, reiterating his determination to return to his own apartment with a chosen care team.
Adding to his difficulties, Foley alleges that in May 2025, the hospital removed specialized lighting accommodations crucial for his neurological condition.
For years, the hospital had utilized amber-spectrum lighting, which allowed caregivers to assist him without triggering his sensitivity to certain light wavelengths, particularly fluorescent fixtures.
The withdrawal of this accommodation, Foley claims, has made routine care, including eating and drinking, significantly more challenging.
He is now required to wear heavy protective goggles, which he states put additional strain on his compromised neck.
Disputed Lighting and Renewed MAID Discussions
Foley reports relying on external personal support workers for assistance with basic needs like fluid intake, but financial constraints limit his ability to arrange sufficient outside help.
He further alleges that some hospital staff have been instructed to avoid providing care unless fluorescent lights are on, despite other staff members successfully assisting him with the amber lighting.
Around the time these lighting accommodations were rescinded, Foley claims hospital personnel began inquiring about his suicidal thoughts again.
He refused to engage in these conversations, citing a loss of trust in the hospital's intentions due to past experiences where MAID was raised as an option.
While Foley is open to discussing his mental health and receiving appropriate support, his previous encounters have instilled a wariness, particularly given the context in which MAID was previously suggested.
These experiences mark a critical phase in what Foley describes as a nearly decade-long effort to secure the necessary care to transition from hospital to home.
Advocacy for Self-Directed Care and a Vision for the Future
Throughout his lengthy hospitalization, Foley has maintained his own apartment, which he describes as accessible and equipped with a ceiling lift to aid his mobility.
"I have my own apartment.
I still pay all my bills," he stated.
He expressed confidence that his existing community support workers are ready to begin assisting him immediately upon securing self-directed funding.
Self-directed funding, as explained by Foley, refers to models like the Direct Funding (DF) Program, which grants individuals with disabilities greater control over selecting and managing their care providers, diverging from traditional agency-led provincial home-care systems.
He believes this approach offers more consistent and safer care, especially for individuals with complex medical needs requiring specialized knowledge from their caregivers.
Foley's physicians have reportedly supported his pursuit of alternative home-care arrangements, but he has faced obstacles in obtaining the required funding.
The current system, he contends, leaves him in a precarious position: either indefinite hospitalization or acceptance of community care arrangements that he fears could compromise his health.
"I'm not giving up," he declared.
"I don't want to die, my daughters know I don't want to die, my physicians have always been very explicit and direct that it's not safe to put me in that type of close model that I need direct funding." Dr.
Dresser's letter further reinforces this, explicitly advocating for the Ministry to consider an individualized, self-directed funding arrangement to facilitate Foley's discharge and community-based care.
Before his illness progressed, Foley led a multifaceted life, having worked in banking, hosted television shows, performed as a comedian, and trained as a professional wrestler.
Despite his current physical limitations, he remains committed to contributing to society.
He is involved in a project named "Bring Roger Home," collaborating with a nonprofit organization to raise funds for his home care needs.
The initiative also includes releasing previously recorded music, with proceeds directed towards his care and assisting others facing similar challenges.
One of his songs, "Limitless with Limitations," encapsulates his philosophy on living with his condition: "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." He encourages others with disabilities to maintain hope and self-belief.
Foley's ultimate objective remains steadfast: to return to his home, reconnect with loved ones, and live as independently as his condition allows.
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