Canada’s top psychiatrists are calling on the federal government to delay its planned eligibility expansion of medical assistance in dying, or MAiD, to include patients whose sole medical condition is mental illness, which is set to come into effect in March 2023.
The Canadian Association of Chairs of Psychiatry (CPA), which represents the leading psychiatrists at Canada’s 17 medical schools, released a statement on Dec. 1 saying more time is needed to ensure certain standards are put in place before the government expands MAiD eligibility criteria.
“Further time is required to increase awareness of this change and establish guidelines and standards to which clinicians, patients and the public can turn to for more education and information,” said the head of the CPA, Dr. Valerie Taylor, in the statement….