Update on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)

I've recently come across an article by Ontario lawyer Margaret Sullivan that discusses updates to the law surrounding medical assistance in dying as it applies to us here in Canada. It contains a very good summary of the current situation for those of you who'd like to know more but don't like getting bogged down in legalese.

The article mentions that a criticism of the current legislation is that it does not allow a person to include a request for MAID in his or her advance healthcare directive. I can personally attest to the fact that a number of people bring up the topic at the time they make their wills and healthcare directives. I've had dozens of conversations with clients about why they cannot currently include these instructions in their advance documents.

It is going to take some very careful drafting by legislators if we are to have a law that allows us to choose MAID in advance but protects vulnerable people against over-eager or abusive family members.

To read Ms. Sullivan's article, click here.