How far will we go? Highlights from new Report on MAID
MAiD with minors and pre-approved assisted suicide
UnMAiD is a special project of Unveil.
Learn more about the new documentary series at maidincanada.org where you can watch for free, support the story and join a conversation about life.
We’re kicking off this special project just one day after a significant document was released to the Canadian public. And as Canadian MPs decide to delay implementing the expansion of medically assisted death to include mental health for one year.
What was the document revealed yesterday? It was the 2nd Report of Canada’s Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, entitled “Choices for Canadians”.
As Canada pauses to consider the implications of allowing MAiD on mental health grounds, we were sobered by the words of Dr. Sonu Gaind, Chief of Psychiatry/Medical Director of Mental Health at Humber River Hospital and Co-Director of Adult Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Gaind stated on camera that the expansion of MAiD to include mental health as a sole condition is not based on scientific evidence.
“If not based on evidence,” notes Dr. Sonu Gaind, then MAiD for mental health “is based on ideology.”
The clear assertion of the leading psychiatrist is notable. Politics, not psychiatry, is informing the expansion. This should cause great concern!
While we haven’t yet made our way through the entire report (we were busy filming), a few things stood out, so we thought we’d highlight them here for you:
In the future you could pre-approve your doctor to end your life based on a list of conditions like dementia, terminal illness or, if MAiD expands next year, mental health. The committee highlights “significant support among Canadians to be able to make an advanced request for MAiD” (see pg. 3).
Kids could very well request MAiD and be granted it, against the will or intervention of their parents. The committee suggests the Government of Canada “amend the eligibility criteria for MAiD set out in the Criminal Code to include minors deemed to have the requisite decision-making capacity upon assessment” (see Recommendations 16 and 19 on pgs. 8-9).
You can download the full report below:
If you’re looking for analysis of the report or more context here’s a few helpful resources:
POLL: Majority of Canadians Oppose MAiD for Mental Illness (ANGUS REID)
Advocates for individuals living with disability responding to the Special Joint Committee (VIDEO)
Watch the trailer for Maid In Canada: