Canada’s delay on including mental health in MAiD faces constitutional fight

Canada’s delay on including mental health in MAiD faces constitutional fight

A man who says he suffers from chronic and worsening mental health issues is among those launching a court challenge of the federal government’s assisted dying law, which excludes people suffering solely from a mental disorder. An application filed by Dying with Dignity in Ontario Superior Court on Monday argues that it is discriminatory to … Read more

Quebec to allow early requests for MAID, won’t wait for Ottawa to change law

Canada’s delay on including mental health in MAiD faces constitutional fight

Quebec says that starting this fall it will authorize early requests for medical assistance in dying from certain patients before their condition renders them incapable of giving consent. The province has been calling on the federal government to modify the Criminal Code to allow people to make such requests, but Quebec says it won’t wait … Read more

Quadriplegic man’s MAID death from severe bedsore results in public inquiry ordered

Quadriplegic man’s MAID death from severe bedsore results in public inquiry ordered

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Quebec’s chief coroner has ordered a public inquiry into the medically assisted death of a quadriplegic man after he developed a severe bedsore during a hospital stay. The decision announced Tuesday comes after Quebec’s public security minister demanded an investigation into Normand Meunier’s death. The 66-year-old man … Read more

Woman who overcame addiction now dying of cancer: ‘I’ve got one last fight’

Woman who overcame addiction now dying of cancer: ‘I’ve got one last fight’

Deb Surine’s life will likely end right where it started. The 42-year-old Calgary woman has moved back to the family farm she spent much of her childhood on in Saskatchewan. “I’m on the farm and I’m surrounded by baby animals. I couldn’t think of a better way to go out: springtime on the farm,” Surine … Read more

Woman with ‘unmanageable’ pain from Lyme disease chooses to die. She wasn’t always believed

Woman with ‘unmanageable’ pain from Lyme disease chooses to die. She wasn’t always believed

After she chose doctor-assisted death because she was in agony with no end in sight, the family of a Quebec woman with Lyme disease is calling for change on how the medical system handles cases of the infectious illness. Stéphanie Lavoie was only 30 years old when she died on May 17. She spent most of … Read more

Assisted dying expansion delay not based on mental health stereotypes: minister – National

Assisted dying expansion delay not based on mental health stereotypes: minister – National

Canada’s justice minister is rejecting charges that the federal government is perpetuating mental-illness stereotypes by delaying a planned expansion of medical assistance in dying. Arif Virani says allowing access to an assisted death solely on the basis of a mental disorder is a complex endeavour — and that’s the only reason for the delay. The … Read more

Poilievre vows no MAID mental illness expansion if he wins next election – National

Poilievre vows no MAID mental illness expansion if he wins next election – National

The Liberals have delayed expanding medical assistance in dying for mental illness until after the next election. But if Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wins, he says he will scrap the plan altogether. “We will revoke (an expansion) entirely,” Poilievre said at a news conference Thursday in Vancouver after the Trudeau government punted the move until … Read more

MAiD expansion delay to allow ‘deeper conversation’ on assisted dying: Holland – National

MAiD expansion delay to allow ‘deeper conversation’ on assisted dying: Holland – National

Thirteen years ago, in the throes of a major political loss and personal crisis, Mark Holland experienced the darkest period of his life. Since his return to federal politics, he’s been candid about his suicide attempt, and the mental-health struggle that took him “to the doorstep of my own oblivion.” Now, as the federal health … Read more

Medically assisted death for mental illness delayed until 2027: minister

Medically assisted death for mental illness delayed until 2027: minister

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Liberal government is delaying the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for people solely suffering from a mental illness until 2027. Health Minister Mark Holland and Justice Minister Arif Virani made the announcement on Thursday morning, while discussing new legislation to formalize the delay. This … Read more

Bill coming in ‘days’ on plans for assisted dying expansion delay: minister – National

Bill coming in ‘days’ on plans for assisted dying expansion delay: minister – National

Health Minister Mark Holland says he plans to table legislation “in a couple days time” that will lay out more clearly the federal government’s plans on the timing of the expansion for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to cover people whose sole condition is mental illness. That comes as provinces and territories have asked the … Read more