Medical Assistance in Dying

On June 17, 2016, Bill C-14, Medical Assistance in Dying, received royal assent after the Senate voted in favour of the bill. The bill is now law in Canada.

As the details regarding a physician's role and responsibility in medical assistance in dying becomes available, it will be posted on this page of the SMA website.

Medical Assistance in Dying Information for the Public (Saskatchewan government website)

Forms for providing Medical Assistance In Dying (eHealthSask website)

End-of-life Care (Government of Canada website)

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association  (CHPCA website)

The Supreme Court of Canada had set a deadline of June 6, 2016, for the federal government to enact new legislation on assisted dying. Bill C-14 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying) - was introduced in the House of Commons on April 14, 2016, referred to the Senate and sent back to the House before it was passed by the Senate on June 17. 2016.

The Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Government of Saskatchewan, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, regional health authorities and other stakeholders in the province continue to work on establishing a framework for providing Medical Assistance in Dying.

 

New federal reporting requirements, effective Nov. 1, 2018

On Nov. 1, 2018, the federal government's Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying came into force. The objective of the monitoring system is to gather data in order to gain insight into the implementation of MAID legislation in Canada, while protecting the privacy of individuals. Requirements under the federal regulations for practitioners in Saskatchewan are set out in the eHealth website at the following link:

https://www.ehealthsask.ca/services/resources/Pages/MAID.aspx

This website includes information such as

  • Who needs to report?
  • What type of scenarios trigger the requirement to report (for physicians and nurse practitioners)?
  • How do physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists report?
  • Who should I contact if I have questions about reporting requirements?

 

Previous resources

CMA welcomes medical assisted-dying legislation’s passage through Parliament (CMA news release, issued June 17, 2016)

 
Statement on medical assistance in dying (SMA news release #16-09, issued June 9, 2016)
 
For physicians - Q & A on medical assistance in dying (from Government of Saskatchewan, June 7, 2016)
 
For the public - Q & A on medical assistance in dying (from Government of Saskatchewan, June 7, 2016)
 
MAID Update - May 2016 (from Government of Saskatchewan, May 25, 2016)
 
CMA Submission: Supporting the enactment of Bill C-14, Medical Assistance in Dying (to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, May 2, 2016)
 
 
CPSS letter to physicians (from College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan, April 14, 2016)
 
 
CPSS Policy - Physican-Assisted Dying (approved by CPSS Council, November 2015)
 
 
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Susan Hayton, SMA director of physician leadership and advocacy. Her email is susan.hayton@sma.sk.ca.

 

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