Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Thank you, Senator. It is true that there are a few psychiatrists who express exactly those views. They are certainly not the majority. The working group of the Canadian Psychiatric Association did not express that. Psychiatrists make this determination every day of their pract

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Well, I think that statement echoes one that was also written, perhaps by the same person or groups of people who said that we're trying to fill our graveyards with mentally ill people through MAID. Those kinds of statements are extremely unhelpful and hyperbolic. That kind of mi

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  These currently exist. CAMAP, the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers, provides a forum for providers, and it's a very active forum where people talk about their difficulties and their feelings. People share suggestions. It's very powerful. I should point out th

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I agree with Madam Provencher. In general, mental patients have equal capacity, but a few don't. Of those who don't, they're the ones who end up as the voluntary patients.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I think I addressed that in my presentation. I think all of it, but the ones I specifically mentioned are especially important.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  First of all, I think there are educational curricula currently being developed by CAMAP. Certainly, the Canadian Psychiatric Association has been very involved in its working group around trying to develop some standards for practice. I think that all of these things need to pro

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I'm old enough that I will remember those abortion committees, having served on a few of them. I would hope that we don't replicate that. As an early step to make sure that these things are proceeding smoothly and that people are not getting physician-assisted deaths who should

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  With respect, I have named four categories.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Every day psychiatrists make decisions about suicidal patients. You see them in the emergency department, in the community and in the hospital. This is part of a psychiatrist's role, to sort out suicidality from a well-considered request for MAID after somebody has suffered for m

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I think I mentioned in my report that there are various mechanisms available to consider. We would hope that practice standards, guidance and education would be enough, but you know, there are people who feel that there need to be specific additions to the legislation. I do not p

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I think, as Professor Chandler said earlier, there will probably be a small group of people who talk with each other, experts who talk with each other about some of these issues. I think that, certainly, there is some anxiety about doing this, particularly until we know what the

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Dr. Fry, I completely agree with you. These do need to be looked at on a case-by-case decision. I think the A.B. decision in the Ontario Superior Court made it clear that, in fact, this was not a matter for the courts, that this was a matter for physicians to think about and make

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  No system is foolproof, but I would say it's very important that the various provincial, territorial and regulatory bodies co-operate to make sure that these are firmly established in the standards of practice. If that doesn't happen, then I think legislative safeguards would be

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  You raise a very important question. My reply is that that deadline is a very important motivator. I think the speed at which these things are being determined has picked up. Most of us worked during the summer, but not everyone. Hopefully, between now and the next few months som

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I think that's a very important issue. What I will say to people is this: “We have discussed your case very carefully. I have thought about this very carefully. I can see that you're trying to deal with this situation, which is incredibly difficult. I honestly don't feel at this