MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Colleagues:
B
Joel Kirsh, MD
College President
photo: D.W. Dorken
We will work as
necessary to ensure
that the College
continues to provide
accurate guidance to
the profession and
public
y virtue of the Supreme
Court’s decision in Carter
v. Canada, physician-assisted death (PAD) is now
legal across the country. As I write
this piece, it remains unclear when
the federal government’s proposed
legislation (Bill C-14) will be finalized into law.
Regardless of the federal government’s activities in the coming weeks
and months, I want to assure you
that the College is doing all it can
to continue to provide you with
guidance on the complicated issue
of physician-assisted death (or what
the federal government has termed
medical assistance in dying, or
MAiD).
As many of you are aware, between February 6, 2016 and June 6,
2016, individuals suffering intolerably from grievous and irremediable
medical conditions could apply to
the Superior Court in their jurisdiction for a judicial authorization to
receive physician-assisted death.
During this interim period, the
College felt it important to ensure
that its members had accurate and
effective guidance.
For that reason, the College’s
Interim Guidance on PhysicianAssisted Death was approved at a
special meeting of Council on January 26, 2016.
And, in the absence of federal
legislation, physicians can continue
to rely on our guidance. We have
developed a policy – called Physician-Assisted Death – based on the
guidance that we developed earlier
this year. This policy is substantively
consistent with the College’s Interim
Guidance, with minor amendments
made to reflect the close of the
interim period.
In the event that the proposed
federal legislation is indeed approved
before the current session of the
House of Commons rises, we have
been working ahead to develop a
draft Medical Assistance in Dying
policy, which will reflect the federal
legislation.
Either way, you and your patients
will not be left to consider PAD (or
MAiD) in a vacuum. We will work
as necessary to ensure that the College continues to provide accurate
guidance to the profession and
public on this important and challenging topic.
I had the opportunity, along
with Dr. Rocco Gerace, the College
Registrar, to appear before the Senate to present our perspective on the
proposed legislation, Bill C-14.
Issue 2, 2016 Dialogue
Issue2_16.indd 5
5
2016-06-16 12:26 PM