Post by @globeandmail

Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the government will table legislation this fall that will indefinitely bar medical assistance in dying for patients whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Fraser also announced that the government’s bill will include measures on advance requests for patients who have conditions that will cause them to lose the cognitive capacity to consent to the procedure later. Fraser, who did not specify a date for tabling the legislation, said on Wednesday that Ottawa believes this is the correct approach to take at this particular time. Regarding MAID for patients with mental illness, he cited continuing concerns about inadequate access to mental health services. After the federal government twice delayed implementation, patients whose sole underlying condition is mental illness are scheduled to be able to access MAID on March 17, 2027. However, the new government legislation will seek to change this timeline and shut down access indefinitely. The advocacy group Dying With Dignity Canada – which has spent more than two years suing Ottawa for barring MAID access to patients whose sole underlying condition is mental illness – called the announcement a “profoundly disappointing day for medical assistance in dying legislation” in a statement. The case remains before the courts. #canada #cdnpoli #maid