Criteria for Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada

The Canadian government has released new criteria for those seeking medical assistance in dying. Here’s what you need to know.

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Introduction

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is an act of compassion that allows a terminally ill patient to die with dignity. In Canada, MAID is available to any competent adult who is suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition, and who has made a voluntary request for MAID.

In order to be eligible for MAID, patients must meet the following criteria:

-They must be at least 18 years of age;
-They must be suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition;
-They must be competent and able to make their own decisions;
-They must make a voluntary request for MAID; and
-They must undergo an assessment by two independent practitioners.

If you are considering MAID, it is important to speak to your doctor or another healthcare professional about all of your options.

What is Medical Assistance in dying?

Medical Assistance in dying (MAID) is a term used to describe the act of providing assistance to someone who wants to die by means of a medical procedure. The person must be eligible under the law, and must be able to give their informed consent.

In Canada, MAID is regulated by the Criminal Code. It is available to any Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years of age or older, and who has a grievous and irremediable medical condition that causes them enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them.

The criteria for MAID are set out in the Criminal Code. To be eligible for MAID, a person must:

1. Be eligible under the law;
2. Be competent and capable of making an informed decision;
3. Make a voluntary request for MAID;
4. Suffer from a grievous and irremediable medical condition;
5. Experience enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them; and
6. Have been declared ineligible for palliative care by two independent practitioners

Who is eligible for Medical assistance in dying?

In order to be eligible for Medical Assistance in dying, a person must:

-be eighteen years of age or older and mentally competent to provide informed consent;

-have a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or her life;

-make a voluntary request for Medical Assistance in dying; and

-give informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying.

What are the requirements for medical assistance in dying?

In order to be eligible for medical assistance in dying, a person must:

-be at least 18 years old and competent to make their own decisions;

-have a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to them; and

-make a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying.

What are the consequences of medical assistance in dying?

Medical assistance in dying is a subject that raises many complex legal, moral, ethical, and religious issues. The consequences of medical assistance in dying are complex and far-reaching. There is no one right or wrong answer to the question of whether medical assistance in dying should be allowed. The answer depends on individual values and beliefs.

There are several potential consequences of medical assistance in dying that need to be considered. These include the impact on the doctor-patient relationship, the slippery slope argument, euthanasia becoming more acceptable, and laws and public policy being changed as a result of medical assistance in dying.

The impact on the doctor-patient relationship is perhaps the most significant consequence of medical assistance in dying. This is because medical assistance in dying changes the nature of the doctor-patient relationship from one of healing to one of killing. Medical assistance in dying also has the potential to erode trust between patients and doctors and make it more difficult for patients to feel comfortable confiding in their doctors about sensitive health issues.

The slippery slope argument is another consequential consideration when debating medical assistance in dying. This argument states that allowing medical assistance in dying will lead to more widespread acceptance of euthanasia and eventually lead to non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia becoming acceptable. If this were to happen, it would have a negative impact on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill who may feel pressured into requesting assisted death even if they do not truly want it.

Allowing medical assistance in dying may also result in changes to laws and public policy surrounding end-of-life care. For example, if assisted death becomes more accepted, there may be pressure to change laws surrounding organ donation so that organs can be harvested from individuals who have died by assisted suicide or euthanasia. This could have far-reaching consequences for transplant patients and for our understanding of what it means to die with dignity.

How is medical assistance in dying regulated in Canada?

Medical assistance in dying is regulated by the federal government in Canada. It is legal for a doctor or nurse practitioner to help a person who is terminally ill and suffering to die. However, there are strict criteria that must be met in order for this to happen.

The person must be:
-18 years of age or older
-Of sound mind and able to give informed consent
-Suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition
-Experiencing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved under any other circumstances
-Making the request voluntarily, without coercion from anyone else

If all of these criteria are met, the person can request medical assistance in dying from their doctor or nurse practitioner. The request must be made in writing and must be witnessed by two people who are not related to the person making the request.

Once the request is made, the doctor or nurse practitioner will assess the person to make sure that they meet all of the criteria. If they do, they will provide them with information about their options and refer them to another doctor or nurse practitioner for a second opinion. The second opinion must also confirm that all of the criteria are met.

Once both doctors or nurse practitioners have confirmed that all of the criteria are met, they will provide the person with information about how medical assistance in dying works and what their options are. The person can then decide whether or not they want to proceed with medical assistance in dying. If they do, they will need to make another request in writing, which must be witnessed by two people who are not related to them.

At this point, a doctor or nurse practitioner will assess the person again to make sure that they still meet all of the criteria and that they have not changed their mind about wanting medical assistance in dying. If both of these things are confirmed, the doctor or nurse practitioner can then help the person to die.

What are the ethical considerations surrounding medical assistance in dying?

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a controversial and complex issue with ethical considerations for both patients and healthcare providers. In Canada, MAID is currently only available to adults who are suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition and who are in an advanced state of irreversible decline in capability. Some of the ethical considerations surrounding MAID include:

-The autonomy of the patient: MAID is only available to competent adults who have the capacity to give free and informed consent. This means that patients must be able to understand the nature and consequences of MAID, and be able to make a decision without coercion from others.

-The dignity of the patient: Many proponents of MAID argue that it is a dignified way for patients to end their lives when they are suffering from an incurable illness. Opponents argue that MAID violates the intrinsic dignity of human life.

-The relief of suffering: One of the main goals of MAID is to alleviate suffering for patients who are experiencing intolerable pain or suffering. However, some argue that palliative care can achieve this goal without resorting to lethal means.

-The role of healthcare providers: Healthcare providers must balance their duty to respect patient autonomy with their duty to do no harm. In cases where there is disagreement between the patient and healthcare team about whether or not MAID is appropriate, providers must seek resolution through discussion and negotiation.

What are the practical considerations surrounding medical assistance in dying?

Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a process whereby a qualified medical practitioner provides a person with life-ending medication at their request, in order to relieve their suffering. In order for MAID to be carried out, specific legal requirements must be met and certain safeguards followed.

In Canada, the criteria for MAID are as follows:

1. The individual must be eighteen years of age or older and mentally competent to make their own decisions;
2. The individual must have a grievous and irremediable medical condition that causes suffering that they find intolerable;
3. The individual must request MAID voluntarily, without coercion from anyone;
4. Two independent medical practitioners must confirm the above three criteria have been met;
5. The individual must be informed of all available means to relieve their suffering, including palliative care; and
6. A waiting period of at least ten days must lapse between the request for MAID and its administration, in order to allow for reflection and to ensure the request is made voluntarily.

It should be noted that these criteria are subject to change, as MAID is a relatively new phenomenon and the law surrounding it is still evolving.

What are the public attitudes towards medical assistance in dying?

There is broad public support for medical assistance in dying in Canada. A 2016 Ipsos poll found that 74% of Canadians surveyed were in favour of allowing people to voluntarily end their lives with medical help, while 23% were opposed. This level of support has remained relatively stable since the issue began receiving widespread attention in 2014.

There is also broad support for specific criteria that would need to be met in order for medical assistance in dying to be legal. The same Ipsos poll found that 80% of Canadians agree that a person should be eligible for medical assistance in dying if they are suffering from an incurable disease and their death is reasonably foreseeable. A majority (69%) also agree that a person should be eligible if they are suffering from an incurable disease and their quality of life is intolerable.

These attitudes are mirrored in public opinion polls conducted elsewhere. A 2016 Gallup poll found that 70% of Americans surveyed believe that doctor-assisted suicide should be legal, while 28% believe it should be illegal. In the United Kingdom, a 2015 YouGov poll found that 63% of respondents believe that terminally ill patients should have the right to end their lives with medical help, while 25% did not.

Conclusion

In order for a patient to be eligible for medical assistance in dying in Canada, they must be an adult who is mentally competent and have a grievous and irremediable medical condition. The condition must be causing the patient to experience intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved under any other circumstances. Two independent witnesses must also attest to the fact that the patient is making a free and informed decision.