Thank you.
Saying something false repeatedly doesn't make it true, and evidence shows they can't make the distinctions they claim. The CAMAP curriculum dangerously doesn't teach assessors how to distinguish suicidality from psychiatric MAID requests, but convinces them that they can, leading to remarkable statements like Dr. Gubitz asking “whether the patient is suicidal or actually has a reason to wish to die, which is not the same thing.”
This highlights a key problem with psychiatric MAID assessments; namely, it's the hubris of the assessor thinking they can determine irremediability and distinguish suicidality from psychiatric MAID requests, when evidence shows they can do neither.
Remarkably, the CAMAP suicide module neglects mentioning known risks to marginalized populations. European data shows a gender gap of twice as many women as men getting psychiatric euthanasia, and of unresolved social suffering. Dr. Gupta stunningly dismissed this, saying this gender gap doesn't concern her since nobody really knows what it means. Signals of a gender gap are already emerging in Canada on track two.
An echo chamber has driven expansion with reassurances but no safeguards—it's reassurance theatre.
In recent weeks, I've worked with over 200 colleagues on debunking a slew of disinformation shaping our policies. You can see today's piece at impactethics.ca. Check the new Society of Canadian Psychiatry site, socpsych.org, for other links.
CPA chair Dr. Freeland reluctantly acknowledged she couldn't say all the readiness is there. The lead for CAMAP's curriculum, Dr. Li, wrote she has grave concerns about our preparedness. Dr. Gupta testified that one to two patients in her practice would qualify. I can't speak to the severity of illness she sees, but Scott Kim, a researcher at NIH, estimated we'd have well over 2,000 patients yearly getting psychiatric euthanasia.
This expansion is not so much a slippery slope as a runaway train, like the Lac-Mégantic disaster. The government has plenty of signs we should not be proceeding. You can choose to go ahead, but you can't pretend you weren't warned.
We are not ready. You'll have to decide whether you stick with an arbitrary deadline or you responsibly stop this train.
Thank you.