Alberta’s guidelines for assisted dying
Posted Jun 7, 2016 7:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons is recommending a 14 day reflection period before a request for assisted dying can go forward in our province.
It’s one of several guidelines put in place, as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) becomes legal in Canada.
Each jurisdiction has come up with its own rules, as the federal government remains in limbo passing a bill on the issue.
In Alberta:
- Two doctors must independently approve the patient, based on criteria put out by the Supreme Court of Canada.
- MAID is not available to patients who have lost capacity to consent, and patients cannot put an advance request in place.
- Doctors must consider whether a patient is suffering from a psychiatric or psychological condition that could have an impact on their decision-making capacity
- Requests must be written and signed by the patient, and two witnesses, one of whom cannot be related to the patient, and who does not have a stake in the patient’s estate
- “Mature minors” are recognized as adults capable of making a decision, but the college recommends a “careful and conservative approach”
- Doctors can refuse to perform assisted death, but must make a timely referral to someone who is willing to provide the service, and a resource that shows all their medical options.
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