Maid in Canada: Controversies, guidelines, and the role of psychologists in relation to Bill C-14.

Abstract

Canada's legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAID) brought new challenges, responsibilities, and implications for psychologists in Canada. With increasing numbers of MAID deaths since the passing of Bill C-14 in 2016, psychologists are likely to find themselves encountering MAID-related conversations among patients and colleagues, even if they choose not to be directly involved in MAID care. As a result, all Canadian psychologists must have a general understanding of the historical and legal contexts of MAID, the role of psychologists therein, and the potential issues and controversies that may be at play in MAID work. In this overview article, we discuss some of MAID's controversial history to provide insight into the current state of MAID in society. We then review the MAID-related documents and guidelines available to Canadian psychologists, including task force reports and guidelines published by the Canadian Psychological Association and provincial regulatory bodies. Finally, we discuss the implications of the evolving landscape of MAID for psychologists in the area of personal stance and conscientious objection, capacity assessment, and emotional impacts of MAID on practitioners. Public Significance StatementSince the passage of Bill C-14 in 2016 that legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada, psychologists are faced with new challenges and responsibilities, and their role is expected to expand as MAID practices are established and evolve. The article (a) provide an overview of broad topics relevant for psychologists to understand the landscape of MAID, (b) reviews MAID-related guidelines and documents for Canadian psychologists, and (c) discusses the emerging role of psychologists in MAID.

An Educator’s Reflection on the exploration of the ethical issues of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) with Nursing and Healthcare Students

“…As stipulated in the text of Canada's MAiD legislation, eligibility criteria for termination of life with medical assistance include intolerable suffering, an irremediable medical condition, foreseeable death, mental competence, and age of at least 18 years (Nicol & Tiedemann, 2018;CNA, 2022). Of these, foreseeable death, age restrictions, and mental competence continue to be raised as areas of concern (Buote et al, 2022;Charland et al, 2016;Patton & Dobson, 2020;Variath et al, 2022).…”

The Ethics of Dying: Deciphering Pandemic-Resultant Pressures That Influence Elderly Patients’ Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) Decisions

“…In Canada, the procedure is available to adults only, near death, suffering from a non-mental illness, with no recovery possible. However, in other countries, such as Belgium and the Netherlands, the procedure is available to minors and those suffering from an incurable mental illness [7]. Perception of whether one's faculties have degraded to a point that warrants eligibility for MAiD is driven by worldview, perception, and stereotypes of ability [8].…”