Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As you mentioned, I'm Dr. Cindy Forbes, president of the Canadian Medical Association. I'm also a family physician from Nova Scotia. I'm joined today by Dr. Jeff Blackmer, vice-president of medical professionalism. Dr. Blackmer has led the CMA's work on medical assistance in dying.
As the national organization representing over 83,000 Canadian physicians, the CMA has played an instrumental role in the public dialogue on what should be the framework to govern assisted dying. Let me recap our role. It was the CMA's position that making medical assistance in dying legal was for society to decide. We did not take a position on that question.
Following the Supreme Court's landmark decision last year, the CMA has focused its considerable efforts, consulting with physicians and the public on what the framework should be. In the course of our work, CMA has consulted directly with tens of thousands of members. Our position and remarks today are informed by these extensive consultations. Today, we are here on behalf of Canada's doctors to convey one overarching message: the CMA recommends that parliamentarians support the enactment of Bill C-14 as proposed and without amendment.
As the national professional association representing Canada's physicians, the CMA has played an important role in leading the public dialogue on end-of-life care. This in-depth consultation was instrumental to the development of the CMA's “Principles-based Recommendations for a Canadian Approach to Assisted Dying”. The CMA's core recommendations address four areas: patient eligibility, procedural safeguards, the roles and responsibilities of physicians, and ensuring effective patient access. The CMA's recommendations on these issues form our position on the overall framework to govern medical assistance in dying in Canada.
Before turning the floor over to my colleague, Dr. Blackmer, who will review CMA's response on the core elements of the legislation, I will provide our response on the overall approach.
Put simply, the CMA strongly supports the government's overall response to the Carter decision. This includes legislative and non-legislative measures. Of particular importance are the commitments to develop a pan-Canadian end-of-life care coordinating system and to support the full range of end-of-life care options, including expanding palliative care.
Finally, the CMA recognizes that there's been significant public discussion regarding the approach for the “Carter plus” issues. These include eligibility for mature minors, advance care directives, and mental health as a sole condition.
The CMA supports the approach proposed by the federal government not to include these issues in Bill C-14 and to study them in greater detail prior to advancing legislative proposals. This approach aligns with the approach taken by other jurisdictions, for example, Belgium.
I'll now turn the microphone over to my colleague, Dr. Blackmer.