On this page

-About medical assistance in dying
-Eligibility criteria
-Obtaining medical assistance in dying
-Roles of the provinces and territories
-Federal guidelines: reporting of deaths in cases of medical assistance in dying
-Independent reviews
-Monitoring and reporting on medical assistance in dying
-Consultations on proposed regulations for monitoring medical assistance in dying
-Supporting palliative care and other end-of-life care options

Changes to the Criminal Code

In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Carter v. Canada that parts of the Criminal Code would need to change to satisfy the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The parts that prohibited medical assistance in dying would no longer be valid. The Supreme Court gave the government until June 6, 2016, to create a new law.
Now, the federal government has passed legislation that allows eligible Canadian adults to request medical assistance in dying.
Who can provide medical assistance in dying and who can help :
Those who can provide medical assistance in dying services are:
-physicians
-nurse practitioners (in provinces where this is allowed)
Those who can help provide medical assistance in dying include:
-pharmacists
-family members or other people that you ask to help
-health care providers who help physicians or nurse practitioners.
These people can assist in the process without being charged under criminal law. However, physicians, nurse practitioners and other people who are directly involved must follow:
The rules set out in the Criminal Code
applicable provincial and territorial health-related laws, rules and policies:
Protecting the right of providers to act according to their beliefs and values
Not all health care providers will be comfortable with medical assistance in dying. The practice may not be consistent with a provider's beliefs and values.
The legislation does not force any person to provide or help to provide medical assistance in dying.