EXPERT: NO NEED FOR OTTAWA TO DELAY 'MAID' EXPANSION
Dec 16, 2022
By Bob Komsic
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The head of a federal expert panel on medically-assisted dying questions what the Trudeau government’s looking to accomplish by delaying its expansion.
Dr. Mona Gupta says Ottawa’s already followed through on its promise to study the expansion, that will allow those whose only underlying condition is a mental disorder, to seek a medically-assisted death.
The panel determined the proper safeguards are in place for the change to happen March 17.
”I cannot tell you what will be accomplished in this time,” says Gupta.
”I have not seen a list generated by anyone; either those expressing concerns or by the government of the activities that they believe still need to be undertaken or new activities that they have thought of over the last two years that need to be undertaken.”
Justice Minister David Lametti has announced that the government is listening to concerns that the health care system may not be ready to handle complex cases involving mental disorders.
The government intends to introduce new legislation when Parliament resumes in late January.