WorldCBCOttawa tables new MAID legislation, excluding people suffering solely from mental illness
Canada's federal government has tabled new laws that exclude people with mental illness as the sole condition from accessing medically assisted death.
Legislation tabled on Tuesday also sets criteria for people to make what's known as an "advance request" for medically assisted death, before losing the capacity to consent due to their health condition.
Ottawa tabled legislation to amend the Criminal Code, clarifying that mental illness alone cannot be the basis for medically assisted death.
The bill also allows advance requests for MAID before a person loses capacity, but only if they are in an advanced state of irreversible decline with intolerable suffering.
Advocacy groups are divided, with Dying with Dignity Canada calling it unconstitutional and Inclusion Canada welcoming the mental illness exclusion.
The legislation also introduces advance requests for MAID, allowing people to consent before losing capacity, but only if they meet strict criteria including irreversible decline.
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