Below are the results from constituents of Elgin-Middlesex-London on my MAiD Householder.
Do you think the current safeguards would prevent abuse, pressure or other kinds of misuse of MAID after eligibility is broadened to people whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable?
Should anyone under the age of 18 (often referred to as "mature minors" be eligible to receive MAID?
Should mature minors wishing to receive MAID be required to obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian in order to access MAID?
Should MAID be available to people whose primary underlying medical condition is a mental illness?
Should individuals who are ineligible to receive MAID be allowed to prepare advance requests to receive MAID if they will be unable to consent at the time when they become eligible?
The following list contain potential safeguards that are not currently in place in Canada, as well as potential revisions to some existing safeguards. These are safeguards that apply under MAID laws of other countries.
Should there be a different reflection between the submission of a person's written request for MAID and receiving MAID (currently there is a 10-day reflection period)?
Should MAID be available only when the practitioner and the patient both agree that reasonable treatments and options to relieve the person's suffering have been tried without significantly improving the person's situation?
Should there be a mandatory psychological or psychiatric assessment to evaluate the person's capacity to consent to receiving MAID?
Should it be required to make sure the person requesting MAID is aware of all the means available to potentially relieve their suffering, including health and social support services (for example counselling, disability support, palliative care?
Should there be a retrospective review of MAID cases by a committee to verify that the eligibility criteria and safeguards were satisfied and in place?
Should there be a mandatory consultation with an expert in the person's medical condition and circumstances (for example a gerontologist, psychiatrist, or social worker), in addition to the already mandatory two medical assessments?
Should there be special training and tools to assist physicians and nurse practitioners to assess areas of potential vulnerability (for example mental health issues, or potential outside pressures or influences)?
Should physicians and nurse practitioners have an obligation to offer to discuss their patient's situation with their family members or loved ones with the patient's consent?
