Dear friends,
There is a lot going on in issues of concern to us.
In Quebec, MAiD by advance request [4] is permitted as of October 30,
2024. That means that vulnerable seniors’ lives will be ended when they
are not asking for it and cannot consent to it because of a
neurocognitive disorder. It is controversial even among those who
promote MAiD.
Prominent MAiD provider Dr. Claude Rivard [5] and others have said
publicly that they are not at ease with ending the life of a person who
cannot currently request it or consent to it, and who would need to be
restrained or sedated in order to give the lethal injection.
MAiD without current consent remains prohibited by the Criminal Code of
Canada. Both the Collège des Médecins du Québec [6] and the Canadian
Medical Protective Association have warned their members about the
medicolegal implications of proceeding under the Quebec law.
However, the Government of Canada announced that they will not challenge
the law [7], and will launch a “national conversation” [8] on advance
requests for MAiD from November 2024 to January 2025. Two months, with
Christmas in the middle, for such a fraught discussion! It sounds like
the outcome is predetermined.
We have had several opportunities to share our concerns about this
development in English media, but have heard virtually no voices of
caution in French.
* Healthy Debate: Quebec’s move to allow advance requests for MAiD
‘the worst news imaginable’ [9] by Ferrukh Faruqui.
* CBC, Canada Tonight, October 30, 2024, Should advanced requests for
MAiD be allowed? This physician says no [10]
* CJAD radio, November 1, 2024. Quebec’s new MAiD rule misconstrues
the notion of informed consent [11]
**
In Ontario, the Office of the Chief Coroner “Medical Assistance in Dying
Death Review Committee” released several reports on October 16, 2024.
Among them, the report on Navigating Vulnerability in Non-Reasonably
Foreseeable Natural Deaths [12] reveals evidence of MAiD driven by
poverty, marginalization and lack of support [13] for mental illness and
disability.
See the excellent analysis by Dr. Karandeep Sonu Gaind [14] in The
Conversation.
Also the podcast The disturbing truth of Canada’s euthanasia program
[15] with Peter Copeland and Dr. Ramona Coelho, a member of the
committee.
On November 14 at 8:00 pm EST, Dr. Coelho and human rights lawyer David
Shannon, also a member of the committee, will give an online lecture
entitled Are Safeguards Safe: Grave Concerns Regarding MAiD [16],
organized by the deVeber Institute. Registration is required.
**
We will continue to keep you informed. Please do likewise, and continue
to share your concerns with the media and with your Federal and
Provincial members of Parliament.
Best regards,
Catherine Ferrier