MENTALHEALTH.INFOLABMED.COM - Roger Foley, a Canadian man diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia, has come forward with serious allegations against staff at Victoria Hospital, part of the London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario. Foley claims that over several years, hospital personnel repeatedly suggested medically assisted death as an option while he was actively advocating for the home-care services he asserts are vital for his survival. These discussions, he states, began as early as 2016, during his prolonged hospitalization as he sought a self-directed care arrangement.
Physician Acknowledges Need for Individualized Care
Compounding Foley's concerns, a letter dated July 7, 2026, from his attending physician, Dr.
George K.
Dresser, an internal medicine specialist at London Health Sciences Centre, offers a different perspective on Foley's situation.
The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, states that Foley could be safely discharged from the hospital if the Ontario government were to authorize a personalized home-care plan.
Dr.
Dresser highlighted that Foley has remained medically stable for a significant portion of his extended stay, despite acquiring infections within the hospital.
He further argued that standard community home-care programs have proven insufficient for Foley's 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,” Dr.
Dresser wrote in the letter.
He described Foley as akin to “a square peg in a round hole,” suggesting that the hospital's one-size-fits-all approach to patient care is ill-suited for individuals requiring consistent, highly specialized assistance.
The physician also pointed out the potential financial burden of Foley's prolonged hospitalization on the Ontario healthcare system, noting that a self-directed, community-based arrangement would likely be less expensive and provide more appropriate care.
Allegations of Pressure and Challenging Accommodations
Foley's account includes further distressing allegations.
He claims that in 2017, during a contentious discharge process, assisted dying was again brought up.
At that time, he alleges he was threatened with daily hospital charges of approximately $1,500 if he did not accept the care arrangements the hospital was proposing.
"I don't want to die," Foley emphatically told Fox News Digital, expressing his strong desire to return to his own apartment with caregivers of his own selection.
Adding to his difficulties, Foley stated that in May 2025, the hospital allegedly removed specific lighting accommodations previously in place for his neurological condition.
This change, he asserts, has significantly hampered his ability to receive necessary care, including assistance with eating and drinking.
Foley's condition makes him sensitive to certain light wavelengths, particularly those emitted by fluorescent fixtures.
For years, amber-spectrum lighting had been utilized to facilitate care without triggering his symptoms.
However, the withdrawal of this accommodation, he claims, forced him to wear heavy protective goggles, causing strain on his neck.
Concerns Over Mental Health Discussions and Lighting Changes
Foley also reported that around the same time his lighting accommodations were altered, hospital personnel began inquiring about suicidal thoughts.
He states he refused to engage in these conversations due to a lack of trust in the hospital's intentions, particularly given the previous mentions of medical assistance in dying (MAID).
While Foley affirmed he does not avoid discussing his mental health generally or undergoing assessments, his past experiences have made him cautious, especially when MAID has been presented as an option.
These allegations represent a significant point in what Foley describes as an almost decade-long struggle to secure the necessary care that would enable him to leave the hospital and return to his independent living situation.
He has maintained his apartment throughout this period, describing it as accessible and equipped with assistive technology like a ceiling lift.
"I have my own apartment.
I still pay all my bills," he stated.
Foley added that he has community personal support workers ready to begin working with him as soon as he receives self-directed funding.
Advocacy for Self-Directed Care Funding
Self-directed funding models, such as the Direct Funding (DF) Program for adults with physical disabilities and Family-Managed Home Care, aim to give individuals with disabilities more control over selecting and managing their caregivers.
Foley believes this approach would offer more consistent and safer care, particularly for those with complex needs.
While his physicians have supported his pursuit of alternative home-care arrangements, he has faced significant hurdles in securing the necessary funding.
The current system, he feels, leaves him in a precarious position between indefinite hospitalization and accepting community care that he fears could compromise his health.
"I'm not giving up," Foley 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 reiterates his advocacy for the Ministry to consider an individualized, self-directed funding arrangement to facilitate Foley's discharge and community-based care.
A Life Beyond Illness and a Vision for the Future
Before his health declined, Foley enjoyed a varied career, including roles in banking, television hosting, comedy, and even professional wrestling.
Despite the physical limitations imposed by his illness, he continues to seek ways to contribute.
He is currently involved in a project called "Bring Roger Home," collaborating with a nonprofit to raise funds for his transition back to community living.
This initiative also includes releasing his previously recorded music, with proceeds directed towards his care needs and assisting others in similar situations.
One of his songs, "Limitless with Limitations," reflects his philosophy on adapting to his condition.
He offers a message of hope to others facing disabilities or chronic illnesses, encouraging them to maintain their core identity and self-belief.
Foley’s ultimate aspiration remains to return home, reconnect with loved ones, and live as independently as his condition permits.
