Physician-Assisted Dying committee  With great respect, there are a number of errors in your hypothesis here.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Doctors don't pay premiums to us. We are not an insurance company. We are a not-for-profit mutual liability protection system. They pay fees each year, and they're not based on their individual risk. They're based on their risk as a physician. An obstetrician, who is at higher risk of getting into a civil matter, would pay a higher fee than a dermatologist or a family doctor.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Just to be very clear on the impact of this legislation, there will be no impact on what physicians pay us in the way of fees.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  It's been three years since I left Quebec, and there are some specifics of the implementation of this that I am not current with. When we read Quebec's act, we felt that it offered a very elegant solution to a very complex problem for physicians, and that is that for those who truly have an inability on the basis of conscience to consider referring directly to another physician who would be willing to provide this, Quebec provides for an opportunity to refer the patient to the authority.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  We, like everyone else who has appeared before you, have wrestled with this most complex issue of conscience. I know very well that in the Carter decision the Supreme Court specifically said that it is improper or unacceptable to compel a physician to participate in assisted dying.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  You have asked several questions. I want to make sure that I understand them more clearly. You talked about oversight, and I assume you mean oversight at the end of the process. I think you also alluded to the issue of review prior to the decision-making. I think—if I understand your question correctly, and please correct me if I misunderstood you—you also talked about who should be involved and whether the process for determining eligibility should include other practitioners, such as nurses, or should be under the jurisdiction of the legal system.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  I think I've narrowed it down to two questions here, and I don't mean that in anything other than a.... There's no insult intended. I really am trying to make sure I answer your questions appropriately. With respect to the number of physicians or the specialist versus family practitioner roles, there is no physician in Canada right now who has any specific expertise.

Physician-Assisted Dying committee  Good evening. My name is Dr. Hartley Stern. I am the executive director and CEO of the Canadian Medical Protective Association, CMPA. Honourable senators and members of Parliament, thank you for this opportunity to appear before you. In the time available to me I will touch upon each of the questions you have asked of us.