Crown prosecutors in New Brunswick have been issued a directive outlining the circumstances where a physician-assisted death would be legally allowed.
The New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services directive is effective immediately and comes one week after a Supreme Court deadline for new federal legislation on medically assisted dying expired – with a new bill still before the Senate.
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The directive says health professionals will not be prosecuted if they follow the criteria established by the Supreme Court that a patient be a clearly consenting, competent adult with an irremediable medical condition causing intolerable suffering.
The RCMP and municipal police forces will also be asked to consult with prosecution services prior to starting any investigation of health professionals taking part in a physician-assisted death.
READ MORE: Assisted dying in Canada: The clock has run out but what does that mean?