With regard to the administration of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada: (a) what is the current national standardized protocol for administering MAID; (b) if the answer to (a) is that there is no standardized protocol, why not; (c) how is the government evaluating the MAID protocols with regard to (i) their effectiveness, especially with regard to minimizing pain, (ii) procedure complications, (iii) procedure risks; (d) since 2016, what independent medical research has the government either commissioned or collected that (i) evaluates MAID clinical practice and studies the evidence with regard to the medical risks and complications in MAID deaths carried out to date, particularly as they pertain to the medications used and dosages given, (ii) analyzes the totality of patients’ physical experiences and impacts; (e) if the answer to (d) is none, what are the reasons; (f) how many autopsy reports have been done on MAID patients; (g) if the answer to (f) is none or unknown, what are the reasons; (h) are any of the medications used to administer MAID in Canada used in executions in other countries; (i) are any of the medications used to administer MAID illegal or prohibited in other countries; (j) if the answers to (h) or (i) are in the affirmative, what are the details, including the (i) medication name, (ii) countries where it is used, (iii) method of use for execution or reasons the medication is illegal or prohibited; (k) is the government aware of concerns from some medical professionals that the use of Midazolam and Propofol in MAID has the potential of causing a painful death even if it appears outwardly peaceful, and, if so, what is the government’s response; (l) what is the government doing to investigate the concerns in (k); (m) why does Statistics Canada not classify MAID as a cause of death; and (n) when will the government resolve the death reporting incongruence between Statistics Canada and Health Canada?
In the House of Commons on November 4th, 2024. See this statement in context.