Our view is that the issue of minors is something that's addressed regularly by people who are practising in the health care field. These decisions about who is a mature minor, and who can make treatment decisions, are decisions that health care providers make on a regular basis.
I think it's reasonable to assume, and it's important to understand, the mature minor decision is not a stamp you get at a certain age or at a certain point in time. The mature minor assessment is generally made in relation to a particular treatment decision. Someone would be assessed in relation to this particular treatment decision. Are they capable of making a decision to request assistance in dying?
I think it's reasonable to assume that physicians who are charged with making those decisions are likely going to have a higher bar than they would for other types of treatment decisions, such as can you consent to a blood transfusion, or can you consent to surgery or to emergency treatment.
The idea behind a mature minor assessment is you're someone who can make a decision with the same capacity as an adult, and there isn't, in our view, a principle basis for distinguishing.
I appreciate there are concerns. I guess I have confidence our medical professionals are not going to view this decision lightly. They are going to take this responsibility very seriously. I think that's implicit in the fact the legislation does vest so much power and influence in the assessments of medical professionals. We think that's how you would address it.
I appreciate it's a complicated issue, people are concerned about it, and it certainly makes people uncomfortable to think about young people choosing to end their lives. To the extent the committee does decide this is something that requires further study, then I certainly agree with Ms. Gokool from Dying with Dignity that there should be a timeline put on this consideration, so we don't wait and have people suffering because Parliament is unable to act.