It’s time to legalize advance requests for MAID
The lack of access to advance requests is a critical gap in our country’s assisted dying legislation — and must be corrected.
In 2021, the Criminal Code was amended to allow medical assistance in dying (MAID) for those whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable.
This was a positive step forward for end-of-life rights in Canada, but people in the early stages of a capacity-eroding condition — such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s disease — still cannot put in place an advance request for MAID.
An advance request is a written document that specifies in what circumstance an individual would want to be provided with MAID if they lose decision-making capacity due to a medical condition. It is an important way for an individual to decide and articulate their end-of-life choices that can be respected later.
Without the option of drafting an advance request, many people across Canada are forced to make an impossible choice: die earlier than they want to in order to ensure they have capacity to consent — giving up time with their loved ones; or risk losing capacity and be forced to live in a situation they would find intolerable.
An advance request could save a person from having to endure years — perhaps even decades — of unwanted suffering and better ensure that their end-of-life wishes are respected.
82% of Canadians support advance requests for MAID for a person that has a diagnosis of a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
Take action today
Advance requests for MAID should be a legal end-of-life option in Canada.
The best way to take action is to send a personal email or letter to your Member of Parliament (MP) and the Ministers of Justice and Health. To find your MP’s email, you can visit the House of Commons webpage and enter your postal code. Then click on the MP’s name and select contact to see their email and mailing addresses. To copy the Ministers of Justice and Health, add (mcu@justice.gc.ca) and (hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca) to your email. And remember, if you’re sending a letter, no postage is required.
If you’re not able to send an email or letter, you can also use our letter-writing tool. Add your name and tell your Member of Parliament and the Ministers of Justice and Health to respect people’s end-of-life rights by supporting advance requests for assisted dying.
The letter is fully customizable. If you have a personal experience with the issue of advance requests, we encourage you to include that in your letter.
NOTE: The Province of Quebec has become the first jurisdiction in Canada to allow advance requests, effective October 30, 2024. This means there is a discrepancy between Quebec and federal MAID laws, and the options that people in Quebec have at the end of life vs the rest of Canada.
Empower. Inform. Protect your rights.