Should Canadians Be Able to Request Medical Assistance in Dying in Advance?
Official title: Share your thoughts: Advance requests and medical assistance in dying
Why This Matters
Have you ever worried about losing control over end-of-life decisions? This affects anyone who might face dementia, ALS, or other conditions that could take away their ability to communicate. It's also deeply personal for families who've watched loved ones suffer. Whether you support expanding MAID or have concerns about protecting vulnerable people, this shapes how Canada handles one of life's most difficult moments.
What Could Change
Parliament could amend the Criminal Code to allow advance MAID requests. That would let people specify conditions under which they'd want MAID—like severe dementia—while they're still capable of deciding. New safeguards would likely be required to prevent misuse and protect vulnerable individuals.
Key Issues
- Should Canadians be able to make advance requests for MAID before losing capacity to consent?
- What safeguards are needed to protect vulnerable people while respecting autonomy?
- How should advance requests work for conditions like dementia where capacity changes gradually?
How to Participate
- The consultation included a questionnaire, discussions with provinces and territories, and virtual roundtables with stakeholders including Indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experiences.
- Read the What We Heard report to see the key findings from this consultation.
What Happened
Health Canada conducted this national consultation through a questionnaire, discussions with all provinces and territories, and virtual roundtables with stakeholders including Indigenous groups, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experiences. A What We Heard report has been published with key findings, and Health Canada will publish a full report on key findings in Fall 2025.