May 31, 2022

The Society testified before the House of Commons and Senate Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying on May 30, 2022. This testimony was part of the work to modernise the law on medical assistance in dying at the federal level.

The Society’s stance on MAiD

The Society is not opposed to medical aid in dying as such, but it calls for safeguards to protect vulnerable people.

In particular, the Society is against the use of substituted decision making for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as against the use of disability as the sole criterion for access to medical assistance in dying.

The Society recalled that all levels of government must provide universal, quality and sufficient services to those who need them.

Video of the testimony and the question period

You can watch the Society’s testimony and the question period below.

Written statement of the Society

For more information, you can also read the written statement that the Society has submitted to Committee members.

Read the Society’s statement