Medical Assistance in Dying: A Review of Canadian Health Authority Policy Documents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe policies developed by English-speaking Canadian health authorities to guide multi-disciplinary healthcare practice in the context of MAID. Seventeen policies from 9 provinces and 3 territories were identified and analyzed thematically. Themes developed from these documents related to ensuring a team approach to care, supporting informed patient choice, creating region-specific guidance on eligibility criteria and safeguards, accommodating conscientious objection, and making explicit organizational responsibilities. Ethical language concerned vulnerability, non-judgmental care, dignity, non-abandonment, confidentiality, moral conscience, and diverse cultural values. Overall, these policies addressed important risk mitigation strategies, acknowledged important social contracts, and supported ethical practice. Collectively, these policies outline important considerations in the evolving Canadian context for other jurisdictions seeking to create policy around assisted death.

Practitioners’ experiences with 2021 amendments to Canada’s medical assistance in dying law: a qualitative analysis

“…External validity is also demonstrated by strong coherence with previous anticipatory/early studies on Bill C-7 18–20 and on the calibration required post-Bill C-14. 27–29…”

“…22 In Canada, while the Criminal Code is the responsibility of the federal Parliament, healthcare delivery is the responsibility of the provinces and territories and the mode of service delivery and regulatory context varies by jurisdiction. 23 For feasibility, the study selected three target provinces: British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia. These provinces vary in geography, population and frequency, and delivery of MAiD.…”

Naturalizing dying at home for older adults: A critical analysis of policy texts

“…Public policies covered in the present research span across federal and provincial/territorial levels of government as well as across program areas such as home and community care (including palliative care), aging, and family care. Moreover, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation may have differentially shaped palliative care policy at different times in different provinces (Gerson et al, 2020;Thomas et al, 2023), with Québec often at the forefront of public attention in this regard.…”

What medical conditions lead to a request for euthanasia? A rapid scoping review

“…7 The literal meaning of euthanasia is good death or easy death 8 , 9 and it has been defined as “the termination of the life of the terminally ill patients at their request”. 10 According to this definition, euthanasia should only be received by patients who suffer from end‐stage diseases, but in a few countries, such as Belgium, Netherlands, and Canada people may also request euthanasia even though they are not terminally ill. 11 , 12 , 13 …”