Canada NewsWire
OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2020
OTTAWA, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a complex and deeply personal issue.
Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced the introduction of a bill, which proposes changes to Canada's Criminal Code provisions on MAID.
The Bill would:
The introduction of this Bill would respond to the Superior Court of Québec's September 2019 Truchon decision by allowing individuals who are not nearing the end of their lives to be eligible to receive MAID. The amended procedural safeguards would require practitioners to take appropriate steps to ensure that, in non-end-of-life cases, the request for MAID is fully informed and considered, and that individuals making the request have given serious consideration to reasonable and available treatment options.
The Bill also reflects emerging societal consensus and was informed by views and concerns raised by Canadians, experts, practitioners, stakeholders, Indigenous groups, as well as provinces and territories during the January and February 2020 consultations. It is also informed by the past four years of experience with MAID in Canada.
The Government of Canada would continue to work closely with provinces and territories, health system partners, and health practice regulatory bodies to support the implementation of the proposed changes to the legislation, if passed by Parliament. This includes the development of monitoring, reporting, best practices, and guidance for the MAID regime. In addition, the federal government will work with provincial and territorial partners to enhance disability support.
Other important questions relating to MAID in Canada—such as advance requests for persons newly diagnosed with a condition that could affect their decision-making capacity in the future, eligibility for persons suffering solely from mental illness and eligibility for mature minors—could be considered during a broader parliamentary review of MAID legislation expected to begin by June 2020.
Quotes
"Medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal issue that touches real people and real families. Canadians have shown us during the consultations just how important this issue is to them. We are proud to announce proposed changes that have been informed by their views as well as by Canada's experiences to date in implementing the 2016 medical assistance in dying regime. The proposed amendments aim to reduce suffering, while also supporting individual autonomy and freedom of choice."
The Honourable David Lametti, P.C., Q.C., M.P.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
"I want to sincerely thank all Canadians who participated in the consultations. We heard many personal stories from individuals, experts, advocacy groups, health professionals and other key stakeholders. Their feedback helped us shape the changes we are proposing today. Protecting vulnerable people, while respecting the autonomy of Canadians, remains our central objective. We will continue to work with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders at all levels as we move forward on the implementation of the proposed changes."
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
"The Government of Canada fully respects the equality rights of persons with disabilities. We also recognize that disability inclusion requires more than legislation and are working with the disability community and other stakeholders to address stigma and bias. It is important to bring about a culture change to ensure that the important contributions made to Canada by persons with disabilities are recognized and valued on the same basis as those of other Canadians."
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
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SOURCE Department of Justice Canada
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2020/24/c4744.html