Québec Medical Group requires physicians and nurse practitioners to refer for euthanasia.
Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
A memorandum from a Québec medical group reminds healthcare professionals of the obligation to leave their conscience “at the door” by referring patients for death by euthanasia (MAiD). The subject line reads “General reminder regarding requests for medical assistance in dying (MAiD).”
Canada legalized MAiD in June 2016 by creating an exception in the Criminal Code for homicide (murder).
An association of healthcare professionals in Montreal Québec sent a memorandum as a “general reminder” regarding requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) to ensure that all healthcare professionals know that they are obligated to refer all patients who request death by euthanasia (MAiD), if the healthcare professional conscientiously object that the request must be sent to the Interdisciplinary Support Group (ISG). The memorandum states:
No healthcare professional can ignore a request for MAID. It is the responsibility of every professional to ensure that such a request is taken care of. As stipulated in sections 26 & 31 of the s-32.0001 – Act respecting end-of life care, any health or social services professional may complete the (contemporary) MAID request form when a person so requests.
Any physician or specialized nurse practitioner who receives a request for an MAID must notify the Interdisciplinary Support Group (ISG) and, if applicable, forward the request form to the ISG when he or she:
- refuses a request (based on the eligibility criteria recognized by the Act);
- refuses to assist a person in formulating an anticipated application (moral or religious conscientious objection) or in withdrawing such an application;
- refuses to carry out the required examination.
The ISG is to provide clinical, administrative and ethical support for end-of-life care. In particular, for the evaluation of a request or the administration of MAID, continuous palliative sedation and in the drafting of an anticipated MAID application (answering questions, coaching and mentoring by experts).
You can contact the MAID and ISG coordinator by e-mail: amm.comtl@ssss.gouv.qc.ca or at: 514-809-6174.
For more information, the CIUSSS intranet is regularly updated https://intranet.comtl.rtss.qc.ca/en/clinicalpractice/palliative-care-and-end-of-life-care/medical-assistance-in-dying-maid.
We remind you that no intimidation of anyone requesting information or an MAID, nor of the professionals involved, will be tolerated. Anyone witnessing such a situation should report it: employees should inform their superior, users and families should contact the Ombudsman.
Thank you for your cooperation,
For people outside of Canada, healthcare is a provincial jurisdiction, therefore each province will have different rules pertaining to referrals for euthanasia.
When reading this memorandum, it is sadly not surprising that Québec has the highest euthanasia rate in the world.
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