OTTAWA,
ON, Oct. 28, 2024 /CNW/ - Medical assistance
in dying (MAID) is a deeply personal and complex topic.
Canada's federal framework
governing MAID has been carefully designed with stringent
safeguards to affirm and protect the inherent and equal value and
dignity of every person's life. Given the significant life-or-death
implications, the Government of Canada has always chosen a cautious approach
to expanding MAID eligibility. This approach emphasizes the
importance of open dialogue with provinces and territories, medical
professionals, expert stakeholders and Canadians.
MAID is a matter of shared jurisdiction with provinces and
territories. As a health service, MAID is administered by
provincial and territorial health systems as part of end-of-life or
complex care. However, since MAID involves ending a person's life,
it includes important legal considerations under the Criminal
Code that is the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.
The Government of Canada
acknowledges the work the Government of Quebec has conducted on the implementation of
advance requests and their interest in having the Criminal
Code amended so that advance requests can be permitted for
residents of Quebec. As the
Criminal Code applies uniformly across Canada and does not permit the provision of
MAID based on an advance request, providing MAID pursuant to an
advance request remains an offence under the Criminal
Code.
On the complex and serious topic of advance requests, it is
important to hear the full range of perspectives. That is why the
Government of Canada will launch a
national conversation in November
2024 on the topic of advance requests. The consultations
will consist of discussions with all provinces and territories,
roundtables and online surveys, and will be completed by the end of
January 2025. A report on the key
themes and findings will be published in Spring 2025. As a first
step in conducting this national conversation, the Minister of
Health has written to his provincial and territorial counterparts
on this important issue.
We are launching a national conversation and will not be
initiating a challenge of Quebec's
Bill 11. We recognize the importance of collaboration between
levels of government to ensure that the needs of patients and
healthcare professionals are met.
This national conversation is another step to ensure that the
framework for MAID in Canada
reflects the evolving needs of Canadians, protects those who may be
vulnerable, and supports the autonomy and freedom of choice of
Canadians.
Related Links:
Medical assistance in dying: National conversation on
advance requests
SOURCE Health Canada (HC)