Dialogue Volume 14 Issue 4 2018 | Page 28

MAID CANCER the biggest driver of MAID deaths Grievously ill people in Ontario are increasingly choosing to die with medical assistance to end their pain and suffering. 2,118 People chose to die with medical assistance between June 2016 and September 2018, according to statistics from the Chief Coroner of Ontario. Most of those who died with medical assistance had been diagnosed with: Cancer When is a report to Health Canada required? A report to Health Canada is required when a physician receives a written request for MAID, and that request does not result in a medically-assisted death. The writ- ten request must originate with the patient, explicitly request medical assistance in dying, and take any written form, including email or text message. Having received a written request for MAID, physicians must report any of the following outcomes directly to Health Canada:  he patient was found to be T ineligible for medical assistance in dying The patient withdrew their request for medical assistance in dying The patient has died from another cause The patient was referred to another practitioner or care coordination service The physician prescribed a substance for medical assistance in dying that to the physician’s knowledge did not result in a medically assisted death within the prescribed timeframe How long do I have to make a report to Health Canada? Generally, physicians must report to Health Canada within 30 days of the above outcomes. However, where the physician has prescribed a substance for the patient to self-administer, and death to the physician’s knowledge does not oc- cur, a report must be made between 90 and 120 days of the physician prescribing the substance. How do I make a report to Health Canada? All reports to Health Canada must be made directly by physicians through the Canadian MAID Data Collection Portal. The College's Medical Assistance in Dying policy has been updated to reflect the fed- eral reporting requirements. Please visit the policy web page to access additional resources on this topic. MD 64% Respiratory disease A neurodegenerative condition 12% 28 DIALOGUE ISSUE 4, 2018 16%