It is my honour to live, work & play in the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas.
Legislation
Common Legislation Topics
MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying)
MAID is often spoken of as the definitive intervention that ensures control over the alleviation of suffering. But, we have learned that MAID can also be chosen as the antidote to a system that fails in compassion or equitable palliative care access.
It may seem the perfect solution for rural and remote patients who want a home death but are unable to find sufficient palliative care in their context, or for patients who do not want to enter what they perceive to be the dehumanizing environments of residential care.
A patient should talk to a physician or nurse practitioner about options for treatment.
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The administering by a physician or nurse practitioner of a substance to a person, at their request, that causes their death OR
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The prescribing or providing by a physician or nurse practitioner of a substance to a person, at their request, so that they may self-administer
The Care Coordinator service information line is available 24 hrs/7 days a week, toll free at: 1-866-286-4023.
DWDC (Dying With Dignity Canada)
Dying With Dignity Canada is the national human-rights charity committed to improving the quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping Canadians avoid unwanted suffering.
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We defend human rights by advocating for assisted dying rules that respect the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
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We provide support to adults suffering greatly from a grievous and irremediable medical condition who wish to die on their own terms.
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We educate Canadians about all of their legal end-of-life options, including the constitutional right to medical assistance in dying (MAID), and the importance of advance care planning.
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We support health care practitioners who assess for and provide MAID.
Are funeral homes regulated?
The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) was established in January 2016 as a Delegated Administrative Authority (DAA) under the Safety & Consumer Statutes Administration Act, 1996. The Funeral, Burial & Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) is consumer protection legislation within the province of Ontario.
Legislation Updates
September 2019
The clause requiring patients’ natural death to be “reasonably foreseeable” was ruled unconstitutional. In response to the ruling, the federal government tabled Bill C-7 to amend the legislation. Despite the amendments proposed in Bill-C-7, Canada’s MAID law continues to exclude advance requests and access to MAID for mature minors and those with mental illness, a situation DWDC believes is unconstitutional.
May 10th, 2017
Ontario’s MAID Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017 came into force. It made amendments to various Ontario statutes to address areas relevant to MAID that fall under provincial jurisdiction.
June 17th, 2016
The federal government passed Bill-C14 which outlines requirements that patients must meet to be eligible to receive Medical Assistance in Dying ( MAID).