As of March 17, 2024, the temporary exclusion of eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) where a person’s sole medical condition is a mental illness (Bill C-39) will come to an end. This means that persons suffering solely from a mental illness will be eligible for MAiD. In light of this upcoming change, the ºÚÁÏÉç is currently reviewing its Medical Assistance in Dying practice standard and working with other health-care regulators to promote consistency.
The ºÚÁÏÉç will be consulting with registrants on a revised draft of the practice standard over the coming months and will also be reviewing the results from Health Canada’s Engagement on Indigenous Perspectives on Medical Assistance in Dying, which aims to gather perspectives from Indigenous Peoples on MAiD. This opportunity is currently open, with feedback being accepted until November 17, 2023. More information on the engagement opportunity, including how to participate, can be found on the Government of Canada’s . Questions regarding the engagement opportunity can be directed to ieloc.sfva@hc-sc.gc.ca.
Registrants should also know that the has been launched by the Canadian Association of MAiD Assessors and Providers (CAMAP), which will help achieve a standardized approach to care across the country and ensure access to high-quality MAiD training. The curriculum was soft launched in late August 2023 and includes several training models. The full program will launch before the end of 2023. CAMAP will make the modules available to all clinicians at no cost until 2026.
