Evidence of meeting #21 for Medical Assistance in Dying in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was disease.
A video is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Senator, Saskatchewan, CSG
It's to have the patient's list of criteria—be it three, eight or 10—and have it match in advance with categories determined by the medical profession.
10:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you, Senator Wallin.
We'll now finish with Senator Martin for three minutes.
10:35 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
Thank you.
My colleagues have asked questions in the case of happy dementia. My mother suffered from dementia and recently passed away. I'm the eldest daughter. I feel like I'm just hearing my life described in all of the different possibilities. It's very individual. It's so complex.
You're right, Madame Guillemette. We need very good legal frameworks.
I know my mother's mother and her sister both suffered from dementia. I know that I'm at risk. This is a very important area of discussion for me.
I want to say that as policy-makers we need to find that fine balance between patient autonomy and managing the inherent risks that come with it. I want to ask the question of what we need to do to ensure that we find the right balance between autonomy and fully informed consent, given these inherent risks. I think many of you have touched on that in some of the responses.
Maybe I can start with Madame Guillemette first.
10:35 a.m.
Member for Roberval, Government of Quebec
In fact, I would say that it is a process that takes place over several years. The person who receives a diagnosis must not make a decision within the following two months. It is a process that takes place in collaboration with the doctor, the care team, the family, and the persons designated as mandataries. It is a serious process. I think it is possible to do it by putting guidelines in place and by the person having a safe environment around them.
I understand that it may affect you personally, given what you have experienced, but I am convinced that we can create a process that will respect people's values and their right to self-determination, while protecting vulnerable individuals. It is very important not to lose sight of that aspect.
10:35 a.m.
Emeritus Professor, As an Individual
I think my colleague, Madame Guillemette, said it very well.
The dialogue we started today should be continued. We need more than three minutes and five minutes to talk about this, but we've had a good start.
Thank you for being there.
10:35 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
If there's time, Dr. Buchman, do you have any comments related to my question?
10:35 a.m.
Chair and Medical Director, Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care, North York General Hospital, and Past President, Canadian Medical Association, As an Individual
I would just say, “ditto”. I echo Ms. Guillemette's comments. I think it was said very well.
Most of the time as we approach decisions about the end of life, we do it in a collaborative fashion. I don't think an advance request is really any different. It's ultimately going to be one of our end-of-life options. We do it now with MAID. Ultimately, it's the person's decision for himself or herself. That's the autonomy and dignity that we're trying to protect.
The challenge I see is that sometimes individuals don't have that relationship with loved ones or other substitute decision-makers. That's a whole area of further discussion that we need to assess.
10:40 a.m.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
That's a very good point that you made. In fact, with language barriers as well, this is so complex. If the patient doesn't have the ability to fully communicate in ways that are effective, we'll have to make sure that there are supports for people with language barriers.
Thank you very much for your comments.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Thank you, Senator Martin.
This concludes our second panel.
Thank you very much, Dr. Sandy Buchman.
Thank you as well, Dr. Gauthier and Ms. Guillemette.
I want to thank all the witnesses for appearing today before our committee on a very difficult and very complex subject and for providing answers to our questions. We are very grateful to them.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.