The federal government has tabled legislation that would allow Canadians to make advance requests for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), while also barring access for those suffering solely from a mental illness.
The MAID Safeguards Act would establish guidelines that allow Canadian adults to provide advance consent for euthanasia after receiving a diagnosis of an incurable illness that is expected to impair their future decision-making ability. The legislation, also known as Bill C-41, is a framework for Canadians who develop serious degenerative neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
“MAID is not currently permitted on the basis of advance requests in Canada, and we seek to change that with the bill that we put in place today,” Justice Minister Sean Fraser told reporters on Oct. 27….