On Thursday December 15, the federal government declared it needs more time before expanding Canada’s controversial medical assistance in dying (MAID) policy to include mentally ill people.
An update to Canada’s medical assistance in dying legislation passed in spring 2021. It included a provision to temporarily exclude those whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder from eligibility. Clinicians say there is concern that the country’s healthcare system is inadequate to protect most vulnerable.
An expert panel studying the issue has heard concerns from clinicians, researchers and academics who questioned whether the proper safeguards are in place to expand the eligibility criteria without putting people with mental disorders or those living in poverty at risk. In July, the Canadian Ministers of Health highlighted their progress in reaction to the recommendations.
Now, Justice Minister David Lametti said that the government has heard concerns that the health-care system might not be prepared to handle those complicated cases. “Some provinces, territories and those working in the health-care system say that more time is needed,” he said during a news conference.
The federal government has announced it will be negotiating an “extension” to the March 17 2023 deadline. A new deadline is not mentioned.
Read more
- CPAC.ca | Headline Politics | Justice Minister David Lametti Announces Delay to Assisted Dying Changes
- Liberals say they will heed calls to delay MAID | National Post
- Canada delays right to physician-assisted death for mentally ill people | Canada | The Guardian
- Canada delays expanding medical assistance in dying to include mental illness (medicalxpress.com)
- Assisted dying: Feds seeking delay to expansion | CTV News
- MAiD expansion possibly on hold as feds seek delay | CTV News
- Canada will soon allow medically assisted dying for mental illness. Has there been enough time to get it right? – The Globe and Mail
- ‘He’s actively trying to facilitate suicide’: Date for medical assistance in dying to include mental illness to be negotiated after holiday break | SaltWire
- Canada delays assisted-suicide for mentally ill people | The Iona Institute
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