Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Before I start my three minutes, I'm asking you if you would mind asking one of the witnesses for more information. There was a statement made by Dr. Cohen-Almagor that advance requests are often made without fully informed consent. I would like you to ask him to provide the data to support that statement, please.
Senator Cowan, it's nice to see you again. Thank you for being here with us. My questions will be for you.
We have the Ipsos 2021 research that looks at advance directives and at mental illness as a sole condition, with the vast majority of Canadians supporting MAID for both of those. I wonder if the evidence of that study could be put into the evidence record, please.
We also, however, hear ideological, philosophical and theological arguments against allowing competent people to make decisions about their own body. What's your opinion on the disconnect between what a substantial majority of Canadians report and arguments that are made by other people, not the competent person who is suffering, that they and not the competent person should make the decision about MAID?
The second question is this. Many physicians are well trained to determine if a patient does or does not have the capacity to give informed consent. Indeed, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons identifies capacity assessment as a core competency for psychiatrists. I would ask the committee to enter into evidence that document, which I can provide you.
Given your legal experience, would you say that properly trained physicians can provide capacity assessments that might be required by the courts to determine if a person has the competency to give consent for MAID?