Health Canada Announces Consultation on Proposed Regulations for Monitoring Medical Assistance in Dying
The federal government recognizes that, for all Canadians, medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal issue. Public reporting in this area is critical to ensuring transparency and fostering public trust. In June 2016, legislation passed on medical assistance in dying authorized the Minister of Health to make regulations for the purposes of monitoring and reporting on the provision of assisted dying in Canada.
Today, the Government of Canada published draft regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I, a key step in creating a federal, pan-Canadian monitoring system on medical assistance in dying. Canadians and key stakeholders have an opportunity to review the regulations being proposed by the federal government and provide written comments.
The draft regulations set out reporting requirements for those who are authorized to provide medical assistance in dying—physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists who dispense medication for assisted dying. Any personal data collected will be protected under the federal Privacy Act. The information will be used to publish annual reports on medical assistance in dying in Canada, including the number of requests received, the number of medically assisted deaths, and the number of people found ineligible.
Health Canada invites Canadians and key stakeholders to review the proposed regulations and provide their feedback by participating in an online consultation until February 13, 2018.
The final regulations are expected to be in place by the summer of 2018 and Health Canada will begin producing annual reports for Canadians under this new monitoring system in 2019. Until then, Health Canada will continue to collaborate with the provinces and territories to produce interim reports every six months, based on data currently available.
Quotes
“I know that medical assistance in dying is a deeply personal issue for all Canadians. Our government recognizes that Canadians want access to end-of-life options that respect their personal preferences and values. We have worked with the provinces, territories and key stakeholders to develop a consistent approach to reporting on assisted dying, and we look forward to receiving thoughtful feedback from all Canadians on the proposed regulations.”
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
