A Regina woman approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) is drawing international attention as her family continues searching for a way to access surgery for a rare parathyroid disease. Jolene Van Alstine is currently being treated at Regina General Hospital. Her family says she has lived in severe pain for years and has been unable to obtain the surgery she needs. She was recently approved for MAID. Miles Sundeen, Van Alstine’s partner, said the situation has taken an unexpected turn after U.S. political commentator Glenn Beck reached out offering help. “Very unexpected but possibly very promising too, so that’s good news for Jolene and I,” Sundeen said. Beck has posted updates about Van Alstine on X, reaching more than a million users. He criticized Canada’s health-care system and said he is working to arrange surgical care for her in the United States. He also said he has been in contact with officials in U.S. President Donald Trump’s State Department to expedite her entry, if needed. Sundeen said those conversations have given the family hope. “The lady that I have been talking to has been very optimistic and said it’s a very good news situation … so hopefully it will,” he said. The family recently met with Saskatchewan’s health minister and says they were offered an out-of-province referral, which is also being explored. Premier Scott Moe responded to the situation on Thursday. Speaking to reporters following his government’s announced cabinet shuffle, he acknowledged that the Ministry of Health has reached out to assist Van Alstine, but said it is ultimately up to the individual to choose where to seek treatment. “If there’s a difference between what a specialist can do in the U.S. versus what a specialist can do in Canada, I don’t know the answer to that,” he said. “What I do know that there has been specialists that have been made available and appointments made available for this individual, and I would hope that she’d continue to work with the Ministry of Health, because I think there’s work going on to see even additional specialists at this moment.” RELATED STORIES
