Medical Assistance in Dying committee  In fact, the third person who has been designated initiates the request for medical assistance in dying process, but the medical assessment is done by the team and the doctor. There actually have to be quite precise criteria to provide a framework for the expectations of the person with the illness regarding the point at which they want medical assistance in dying to be administered.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  In fact, I would say that it is a process that takes place over several years. The person who receives a diagnosis must not make a decision within the following two months. It is a process that takes place in collaboration with the doctor, the care team, the family, and the persons designated as mandataries.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  On the legal aspect, I am not really competent to answer, but I would say yes. Yes, it is important to properly define the time when the designated person can report that their family member seems to have reached the stage that meets the criteria the person themself set. This respects their right to self-determination and their pre-established choice.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  It will probably be clearly defined in the law, but as a committee, we did not go there. Because it is a bill, I cannot tell you what form it will ultimately take. On our part, we felt it necessary that the person have established criteria when they were capable of doing so. That does not prevent their criteria from being changed at any time when they are incapable.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Let us say it is to provide better guidelines, actually. Our intention was to avoid leaving the entire weight of the decision on the shoulders of the medical profession. It is really a heavy burden for them. By providing better guidelines for it, it is more efficient for the medical profession.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  I was mandated to appear here as a representative of the Government of Quebec. However, I was also the chair of the Select Committee on the Evolution of the Act respecting end-of-life care.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  What is important is individual self-determination. We spent a lot of time discussing individual self-determination and, as Dr. Gauthier was saying, it is possible at present to give advance directives. However, an advance directive for medical assistance in dying is another thing.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Thank you.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  No, there isn't one.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  In fact, the study of neuromotor disabilities was not part of our committee's mandate, so we did not study that issue. That is why the minister removed it from the legislation. I do not know whether there will be other proceedings that will make it possible to add that aspect back to the bill.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Regarding the technical aspect, I would note that we did consult 80 groups, organizations of health professionals and doctors. As we made clear, mental health is too important a subject for there not to be consensus in that regard. We did not perceive that there was a social consensus on moving in that direction.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  We are preparing to reintroduce our bill, which we hope to have passed in Quebec. The conclusions in the report we produced at the Select Committee on the Evolution of the Act respecting end-of-life care, which I chaired, were unanimous. We are therefore hopeful that Quebec will pass this bill.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  We shall see how the respective governments of Quebec and Canada handle the situation at that time. For the moment, we too have no law. It is just a bill.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Mr. Chair, Madam Chair, vice-chairs, members of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, thank you for allowing me time to speak today. My name is Nancy Guillemette. I am a Coalition avenir Québec MNA and I represent the electoral district of Roberval. I chaired the proceedings of the Select Committee on the Evolution of the Act respecting end-of-life care.