Public Consultation: DRAFT revised Standard of Practice – Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
This consultation closed on February 11. View the Practice Direction here.
As of March 17, 2024, federal legislation will expand Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) eligibility.
(Update: During the consultation period, a Bill was introduced in Parliament to postpone this provision coming into force until 2027.)
Patients whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness/disorder (MD-SUMC) will be eligible for MAiD, provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. This requires the current Standard of Practice to be amended to provide greater guidance on addressing complex cases and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for all patients eligible for MAiD as of March 17, 2024.
The proposed modifications have no impact on the existing requirements for the provision of MAiD to patients whose natural death is reasonably foreseeable.
We recognize that MAiD for patients with MD-SUMC is controversial. Please be mindful that this consultation does not re-open the debate as to whether MAiD should be accessible by patients with MD-SUMC. That decision has been made by Parliament.
Input from diverse opinions from the public, registrants, regulated health professions, and other stakeholders creates standards that are stronger, more comprehensive, and better reflect best practices for patient safety while balancing public concerns.
We thank you in advance for your time and input. You can find more information about our public consultation process here.
How to Submit Your Feedback
- Review the background information to the DRAFT revised Standard.
- Submit your comments by email to CPSMconsultation@cpsm.mb.ca.
The deadline for feedback is February 11, 2024.