Statement on latest federal MAID report

On February 15, 2023, Parliament’s Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) released its second report on MAID, providing additional insight and recommendations on requests in complex circumstances, including for advance requests.  

After hearing from Canadians, the committee has recommended to the Government of Canada that advance requests be permitted following a diagnosis of a serious and incurable medical condition, disease or disorder leading to incapacity.

• The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories along with other members of the federation of Alzheimer Societies of Canada applaud the committee’s recommendation that advance requests be permitted as part of end-of-life care planning under certain circumstances.
• We believe and continue to support that people living with dementia should have the right to choice in their advance care planning, and we believe this committee recommendation will help support that.
• We recognize that planning for a medically assisted death must be a free and informed choice. Our federal, provincial and territorial governments must ensure access to high-quality community and home care, long-term care and palliative care, so that a person living with dementia has access to a full range of quality care options for end-of-life care planning.
• End-of-life and care-planning decisions are deeply personal, and reflect the unique perspectives, experiences and values of an individual. There are a diverse range of perspectives on advance requests and medically assisted death among people living with dementia. Each person living with dementia should be afforded the right to plan for what feels right for them.
• We support a person’s individual and unique values when it comes to their own care planning.
• We look forward to engaging with the federal government on the next steps in the availability of advance requests for MAID expansion in complex circumstances, including involvement with people living with dementia and caregivers.
• Any laws, policies or processes developed from these recommendations must be made with the involvement of people living with dementia. The current round of consultations did not include many of their voices, and that omission should not be repeated.
• Expansion of MAID to permit advance requests in complex circumstances will require greater clarity as to how such requests will be applied, including safeguards for vulnerable people. Diverse populations of people living with dementia must be engaged in the identification of such safeguards.
• We would welcome the federal government to develop a plan to support clinicians through education and training in the ethical and thoughtful application of MAID and end-of-life care planning; we believe this will help to support people living with dementia.
• We encourage the federal government to quickly move to legislate and implement the report’s recommendations on advance requests. We also encourage provinces and territories to work quickly and collaboratively to implement and enact the legislation.

Background: Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories and the federation of Alzheimer Societies’ from across Canada position on advance requests and MAID

• We have always believed that people living with dementia must have the same rights as other Canadians, including the right to high-quality health care and end-of-life options. At the end-of-life stage, people living with dementia must be afforded the same rights as all Canadians to a dignified death.
• Our position on advance requests has evolved over time, as we’ve continued to listen to and engage with people living with dementia, caregivers and subject matter experts, and as federal legislation has changed.
• We have heard from many people living with dementia that they think accessing MAID via an advance request should be a right for people living with dementia. 
• People living with dementia have the right to expect high-quality health care options which may include community care, long-term care and palliative care, among other forms of care. Advance requests for a medically assisted death represent one end-of-life treatment option within an advance care plan.
• End-of-life and care-planning decisions are deeply personal, and reflect the unique perspectives, experiences and values of an individual. There are a diverse range of perspectives on advance requests and medically assisted death among people living with dementia. Each person living with dementia should be afforded the right to plan for what feels right for them.
• Dementia should not be a condition that excludes people from end-of-life options.
• We encourage anyone living with dementia to plan make plans for their future through an advance care planning process. This includes making choices about a substitute decision-maker, arranging a Power of Attorney, making a will, and sharing your wishes for end-of-life care. Advance care planning resources are available on the Alzheimer Society website.
• We support the rights of people living with dementia, as reflected in the Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia.
• We must continue to address stigma and challenge misconceptions around dementia, so that decision-making around all aspects of dementia care planning can be truly informed.

Dementia in Canada: By the numbers

View the full report at alzheimer.ca/Landmark-Study

• In September 2022, the Alzheimer Society of Canada released The Landmark Study vol. 1 – a comprehensive look at the latest Canadian dementia numbers and projections.
• The Landmark Study projects that by the year 2050, more than 1.7 million Canadians will be living with dementia, with an average of 685 individuals being diagnosed each day.
• That translates into an estimated 6.3 million Canadians diagnosed, living with and eventually dying of dementia over the next 30 years.
• Women with dementia will continue to outnumber men diagnosed with this condition.

Media Inquiries:

Carrie Candy, Manager, Communications and Marketing

Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories

Email: ccandy@alzheimer.ab.ca

Phone: 780-540-7558