Media Releases

Caring for the Disabled at the Time of Death

Submitted by admin on Mon, 2009/02/02 - 2:01am

Joys, Challenges, Sorrows at End of Life

Three speakers emphasized to a full house both the joys and sorrows that accompany the caregiver as they journey with the dying. The event was “Compassionate End-of-Life Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities”, an evening co-sponsored by the deVeber Institute and L'Arche Toronto, and held at the L'Arche Gathering Place in Toronto on January 29. 

Susan Morgan, a chaplain, spoke about her personal experiences in ministering to the dying, and expressed her concern about when people “retreat” from those who are dying. She insisted on the importance of “presence”, reminding her listeners that their role is not only to be doing when attending to a dying person, but also just to be with them, sometimes even in silence.

Prenatal Genetic Testing - Are We Ready?

Submitted by admin on Fri, 2008/10/31 - 1:03pm

Greater Support Needed for Families Facing a Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis

Toronto, Canada (October 31, 2008) - A new non-invasive blood test for Down Syndrome, as described this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and calls from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada to increase genetic screening before birth demand public and professional scrutiny for the practice of prenatal diagnosis.
Is Canada ready for these new tests?

New Evidence in Prenatal Development Ignored

Submitted by admin on Thu, 2008/10/02 - 2:50pm

Pain Experience of a Fetus Might Be Even Worse Than Adult Pain

Toronto, Canada (October 2, 2008) – The politics of abortion have distorted the science of fetal pain, causing a potential conflict with modern pediatric medicine, according to neurologist and University of Toronto lecturer Dr. Paul Ranalli last night. He was speaking to a gathering of 100 people for the deVeber Institute's Annual General Meeting at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto.