WORLD NEWS:

• Last month, the British Medical Association (BMA) adopted a neutral stance on the issue of assisted dying following a vote with a very narrow margin: 49% of the BMA’s representative body voted in favour of a motion for it to move to a position of neutrality on assisted dying, including physician assisted dying, with 48% against it and 3% abstaining. 
• Click here to read an insightful commentary of whether doctors can be neutral on assisted dying.
• In the UK, Assisted Dying Bill was being debated by peers in the House of Lords on Friday October 22nd. It proposes changing the law so that individuals who are terminally ill, with less than six months to live can request assistance in the form of lethal drugs to end their lives.
• In an open letter to Health Secretary Sajid Javid 1,689 signatories, including current and retired doctors, nurses, pharmacists and medical students, voiced their ‘great concern’ over the proposed Assisted Dying Bill  and warn that any change to the law will leave the vulnerable at risk of “abuse”, and undermine the patient-doctor relationship.

CANADIAN NEWS:

• Last week, on October 20th, the 2020–2021 annual activity report of the Select Committee on the Evolution of the Act respecting end-of-life care was tabled by Health Minister Christian Dubé on the website of the Quebec National Assembly, without an official announcement.

The report (available in French only) includes many important issues that deserve the attention of physicians and the general public.

It indicates that deaths due to euthanasia are increasing and now account for 3.3% of deaths in Quebec: MAiD in hospital (48%), home (39%), CHSLD (8%) and palliative care homes (5%).

• Deadline Looms to Save Hospice Society

Friday October 22^nd was the deadline for the Delta Hospice society to rally members across North America to protect its vision of MAiD-free end-of-life care.

• Letter from the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops to the Special Commission on the evolution of the law concerning end-of-life care (available in French only: Lettre de l’AECQ adressée à la Commission spéciale sur l’évolution de la Loi concernant les soins de fin de vie)

The letter expresses their opinion on the fundamental issues of human dignity, palliative care, the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying for persons suffering from mental disorders, and the possibility that a request may be made in the context of an advance medical directive.

Dr’s VOICES:

• Deromanticizing medical assistance in dying
• The mentally ill should not be euthanized
• An Open Letter to the House of Lords from a Canadian Physician: Assisted Dying Destroys Hope
   

COMMENTARIES:

• Canadians await study of assisted-dying law, legislators say
   
• The complexity of addressing mental health and capacity
   

EVENT:

• Symposium: Research related to medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for people with mental illness 
  Oct. 27, 2021, 1p.m. to 3p.m.
  Click here to register.
• Free webinar offered by the Collège des médecins du Québec (in French): Faut-il élargir l’AMM? (Should MAiD accessibility be expanded?)
  This free event is open to all physicians registered with the Collège as well as medical residents. The registration form is available in the secure section on the website of the Collège des médecins.
  
  Tuesday, November 2, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. 

RESOURCE:

• The Treasure of Palliative Care

Launched internationally on September 9, 2021 and available in English and French, The Treasure of Palliative Care is a 10-minute video that answers six essential questions to help you learn more about palliative care before you make end-of-life choices. A production from the Living with Dignity citizen network.

IN THE LITERATURE:

• Palliative Care and Social Practice. January 2021. How does Medical Assistance in Dying affect end-of-life care planning discussions? Experiences of Canadian multidisciplinary palliative care providers. Ho A, Norman JS, Joolaee S, Serota K, Twells L, William L. 
  
  doi : 10.1177/26323524211045996