Feds looking to delay expansion of assisted dying: ‘Need to get this right’

The federal government plans to renegotiate the March 17, 2023 date for medical assistance in dying (MAID) laws that would allow people with mental illness as their only underlying condition to seek a medically assisted death.

“We’re seeking to move that time period back,” federal Minister of Justice David Lametti said Thursday during a press conference, noting that “concerns” about the expansion have been heard from Canadians and experts.

“Many are concerned about how this will impact them and their loved ones,” he said.

Lametti noted that this legislation could be tabled as soon as the House returns.

1:31 Thoughts of suicide ‘not a reason’ to get medically-assisted dying: Lametti

“We know we need to get this right,” he said.

Medical assistance in dying was approved in 2016 for Canadians suffering from physical injuries and illness.

2:36 Concerns raised over changes to Canada’s assisted dying laws

In March of last year, the Senate passed a bill, known as Bill C-7, to allow more Canadians access to medical assistance in dying, including people suffering from mental illness.

It has since received a lot of criticism.

“We are not making this decision in a vacuum. We are listening to what we are hearing and being responsive to make sure we move forward in a prudent way,” Lametti said.

2:16 Life and death: what the MAID law expansion delay means for medically-assisted death

The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada, which includes heads of psychiatry departments of all 17 medical schools, issued a statement earlier in December calling for a delay to the change set to be implemented in mid-March.

Lack of public education on suicide prevention as well as an agreed-upon definition of irremediability, or at what point someone will not be able to recover, are also important, unresolved issues, the association had said in a statement.

“As a collective organization, we recognize that a lot of work is being done in Canada on this issue,” Dr. Valerie Taylor, who heads the group, said.

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“Further time is required to increase awareness of this change and establish guidelines and standards to which clinicians, patients and the public can turn to for more education and information,” said Taylor, who is also chair of the psychiatry department at the University of Calgary.

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Lametti did not give a specific timeline or a new date, but said this is a “top priority” for the government.

“We want to reassure Canadians that we are committed to ensuring that our laws protect everyone while supporting the autonomy and freedom of choice that are central to Canada’s MAID regime,” he said.

Following the announcement, Adrian Dix, British Columbia’s health minister and outgoing chair of the provincial and territorial health table, said he was “happy” with the news.

“They missed all their deadlines, so I’m happy they reflected on that,” Dix told reporters on Thursday.

However, Dix also had criticism for Ottawa.

“I also would note, because we hear from the federal government often on questions about health care, that this is a relatively discrete area of public policy — significantly important for the whole country — where they haven’t come through in a timely way,” said Dix.

“Of course, it’s the right decision to do as they’ve done, but the real challenge will be for the provinces.

“My wish for the federal government in 2023 is more action and less talk.”

A spokesperson for the Government of Saskatchewan said that the province recommends Ottawa to consider all available options.

In an email sent to Global News Friday, they suggested, “the federal government pursue all options available to delay its proposed expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying until there is sufficient readiness across the country.”

“The deferral that was announced yesterday was an important first step, and we await further details.”

However, the chair of a federal expert panel on medically assisted death is questioning what the Liberal government is hoping to accomplish by delaying the expansion of the assisted-dying regime.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Dr. Mona Gupta said in an interview.

She said the federal government has already followed through with its commitment to study the expansion, which will allow people whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder to seek a medically assisted death.

Gupta, who is a psychiatrist and associate professor at l’Universite de Montreal, said she does not know what will be accomplished by the delay.

“I do know that there are people who are opposed to this practice,” she said.

“I do not believe that anything that could possibly happen in three months, or a year or two years, or whatever the time period is going to be, is going to change their point of view.”

Dr. Jocelyn Downie, a law professor and medical ethics expert, also said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision because there has been a “massive campaign to put pressure on the government to do precisely this.”

“It’s been, I would say, very effective, not just in terms of the effectiveness of getting this result, but it’s been effective at creating a sense of public concern and expert concern about this.”

Downie added she does not think a delay is the right decision from a legal and clinical perspective.

— with files from The Canadian Press