COOPERATIVE MEMORIAL SOCIETY
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Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)

Written for CMS by Dianna Eaid, BSW and Retired Medical Social Worker
Dying from natural causes or because of disease progression, is recognized as the expected path to pass away. Some people decide to take their own lives because of unbearable pain and suffering. Although suicide, is a person’s right to chose, it presents ethical challenges and is very controversial for most.

In 2015, the families of Kay Carter, a woman suffering from degenerative spinal stenosis, and Gloria Taylor, a woman suffering from ALS, requested the Supreme Court of Canada to support their decisions for assisted suicide. The court rendered a unanimous decision, giving mentally competent Canadian adults, “suffering intolerably and endurably,” the right to physician assistance in dying. The Criminal Code of Canada underwent revisions to enable healthcare practitioners to legally provide information and participate in assisted death. The legislation became known as, Medical Assistance in Dying: MAID. 

​As you can imagine, MAID was controversial, but its core value is quality vs. quantity of life and a person’s right to choose. There are clear guidelines and criteria: 
Eligibility: 
  • Person is eligible for Canadian and provincial healthcare 
  • Person is 18 years of age and mentally competent (able to make own decision and give informed consent at time of MAID assessment) 
  • Person has a grievous and irremediable medical condition, causing pain and suffering that cannot be relieved 
  • Person can make a voluntary request for MAID, without outside influence 
Process: 
  • Person makes request to physician or healthcare team for MAID assessment 
  • Person must sign written consent with an independent witness 
  • Person undergoes an assessment by 2 independent practitioners to assess eligibility 
  • If approved, the person selects the date to receive MAID (usually takes 2 weeks) 
  • At time of MAID is administered, person gives final consent 
MAID options: 
  • A provider, physician or nurse practitioner, administers a substance to cause death 
  • The person is provided with the substance to self administer 
    ​
In my experience as a medical Social Worker (recently retired), I assisted several patients with MAID information. The concept of MAID supports a person’s right to determine when disease/disability becomes unbearable. However, many families struggle with MAID, as do some healthcare providers. MAID excludes patients who lack capacity and suffer mental health disorders. The later will be included in 2023. I have met with many people who feel patients with Personal Directives, indicating request for MAID in the future and later deemed to lack capacity should be able to receive MAID. The legislation had a recent revision, introducing Waiver to Final Consent. For final consent to be waived at time of MAID, the person had to have capacity when approved for MAID. If final consent is waived, MAID will be cancelled if the person demonstrates refusal or resistance to administration of the substance. As MAID process can take several weeks to complete, patients who are terminal and actively dying will not benefit from MAID. This has caused many families to express anger and frustration as they feel lack of intervention to end life is inhumane for the patient. Many families feel euthanasia of family pets is more dignified than what is offered their loved one. 

MAID is an individual choice and not for everyone. There are many levels of ethical controversy. For those I have assisted, most participants felt it was a dignified experience. Anyone making this choice, the process ensures that all consideration is given to alternatives. I have heard many beautiful stories of opportunity to plan and say goodbyes. If you want more information, ask your physician or healthcare team. 

Canada's Criminal Code allows for an adult to choose a medically assisted death in some situations. The Federal Government first allowed medical assistance in dying (MAID) in 2016. The law changed again on March 17, 2021. Learn more about MAID in this booklet from the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA).

More information

medicalassistanceindying.pdf
File Size: 297 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Resources from the Dying with Dignity organization
dwdc-resources_whatismaid_en_online.pdf
File Size: 673 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

medical-assistance-in-dying-resource-list.pdf
File Size: 123 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

protect-your-rights-and-wishes-as-a-patient.pdf
File Size: 132 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

myths-and-facts-medical-assistance-in-dying-in-canada-2023.pdf
File Size: 154 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS)
Suite 204A, 223-12th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Ab. T2R 0G9 Canada (Appointments required)
1-403-248-2044 
​Toll free: 1-800-566-9959
admin@calgarymemorial.com

​
​The Cooperative Memorial Society of Alberta would like to acknowledge that what we refer to as Alberta is the traditional ancestral territory of a diversity of Indigenous peoples and home to Treaty 6, 7, and 8. We honor the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika, the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. This includes the Métis Settlements and the Six Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We recognize and give thanks to the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations, all who continue to grace these lands, and all future generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
  • Home
  • About
    • Mandate and Action Plan >
      • Request Presentation
    • Testimonials
    • History
    • We're a co-op >
      • Business Case: Funeral Co-op in Calgary
    • Governance >
      • Board of Directors >
        • Join Board
      • Bylaws
      • AGM Materials
      • Become a Volunteer
    • Memorial Societies & Funeral Co-ops
    • Legislation
  • Membership
    • Purchase Online
    • Purchase by Cheque
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Hard copy forms
    • Terms & Conditions and Privacy policy
  • Partners & Funeral Plans
  • Registry
    • About the Registry >
      • Troubleshooting Login >
        • Dealing with 3rd party cookies
    • Member Login
  • Plan Your Future
    • Must-Have Decisional Documents
    • Talk about Death
    • Plan now for unexpected health issues >
      • Personal Directive >
        • Being an Agent
      • The Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act in Alberta
      • Palliative & End-of-Life Care >
        • Hospice Care
        • Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
    • Body, Organ & Tissue Donation
    • Advanced Financial Planning >
      • Enduring Power of Attorney
    • Estate Planning >
      • Common Terms
      • Will >
        • Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta
      • Selecting an Personal Representative (Executor)
      • Being the Executor >
        • Grant of Probate
        • Executor's Checklist
      • Dealing with your belongings
    • End-of-Life / Funeral Plans >
      • Family-Led Death Care
      • Funeral Home Death Care
      • Religious Traditions & Funerals
      • Body Disposition Options >
        • Cremation & Aquamation
        • Burial
        • Green Burials
      • Alberta Municipal Cemeteries
  • Dealing with a Death
    • Funeral homes with our plans
    • Steps to Take
    • After-death Documentation
    • Writing the Obituary
    • Death Benefits
    • Grief Support
    • Useful links
  • Contact us