Information needs of francophone health care professionals and the public with regard to medical assistance in dying in Quebec: a qualitative study

Abstract

I n 2014, the province of Quebec adopted the Act Respecting End-of-life Care, 1 which allows competent adults with terminal illness to request medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Medical assistance in dying is defined as "care consisting in the administration by a physician of medications or substances to an end-of-life patient, at the patient's request, in order to relieve their suffering by hastening death." 1 At the federal level, the Supreme Court of Canada, in Carter v. Canada, declared that Criminal Code prohibition of MAiD was in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 2 In June 2016, the Canadian government passed federal legislation (Bill C-14) amending the Criminal Code to allow MAiD across the country. 3 Patients' preferences toward end-of-life care have been studied abundantly. 4-6 However, an important degree of confusion regarding MAiD has been noted among members of the public and professionals. 7-9 A recent study showed that Quebec health care professionals confuse MAiD with other end-of-life practices, such as treatment withdrawal and the use of drugs for symptom management. 10 Yet the literature addressing information needs about MAiD remains scarce and rarely focuses on the respective needs of patients and professionals. 11-17 This knowledge gap is a barrier for the development of relevant and effective public information strategies on MAiD. This study aimed to explore the information needs of health care professionals and members of the public regarding MAiD.

Learning about psychiatric aspects of medical assistance in dying: a pilot survey of self-perceived educational needs among assessors in a Canadian academic hospital

“…However, our results also indicate that most participants had not received formal education on psychiatric aspects of MAiD before practicing it and showed a strong interest to be better trained in those topics. This finding is consistent with recent data indicating that significant informational needs have been found among health care professionals, and members of the public as well, on the relational, emotional and symbolic aspects, which go beyond medical and legal aspects of this practice (34).…”

Medications and dosages used in medical assistance in dying: a cross-sectional study

“…Having knowledge about the medications, time until death and potential complications of MAiD may enable them to make more informed choices. 24…”

Improving Palliative Care and Medical Assistance in Dying Practice in Canada: How Patients-Partners Could Contribute to Continuing Medical Education

“…Health care professionals must then continuously adjust to changes in legal requirements and would like to be better informed about its relational, symbolic, psychological, and even spiritual aspects. 9 Continuous medical education (CME) efforts must persist in addressing these gaps.…”