Manitoba, Saskatchewan raise concerns about upcoming expansion in assisted-dying eligibility – CBC

Safeguards sought for those seeking assistance based solely on mental illness

Jan 25, 2024

The governments of Manitoba and Saskatchewan say they are concerned about the potential risks of allowing Canadians to seek medical assistance in dying solely on the basis of a mental illness.

Provinces have expressed fears that the country may not yet be ready for the change to take effect in March, federal Health Minister Mark Holland recently acknowledged.

The federal Liberal government passed legislation last year to delay the expansion for 12 months, and will soon have to decide whether to do so a second time.

Liberal ministers say they are waiting to hear from a parliamentary committee that held hearings last fall about whether Canada is ready for the expansion. The witnesses who appeared offered a range of opinions, giving parliamentarians an up-close look at the divisions that persist within the legal and medical communities.

Providers currently trained to administer medically assisted deaths say they are ready and that guidelines and practice standards have been developed. People with mental illness should also be able to access the same care as those with debilitating physical conditions, advocates argue.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-saskatchewan-assisted-dying-concerns-1.7094916