The federal government is preparing to table legislation that would permit advance requests for medical assistance in dying. At the same time, two provinces have expressed different views on what counts as valid consent for individuals living with dementia.
The proposed bill would allow people to make a MAID request before losing decision‑making capacity, according to officials. Dementia doctors note the challenge of determining consent once cognitive decline progresses.
One province has indicated support for the advance‑request approach, while the other province has raised concerns about confirming informed consent for those with dementia. These contrasting positions illustrate the ongoing debate as Canada reviews its assisted‑dying framework.
The discussion takes place amid a broader national review of MAID laws, with the new proposals prompting disagreement among provincial authorities.