MAiD in Canada: Ethical Considerations in Medical Assistance in Dying

Authors

  • William Robert Nielsen Cowichan District Hospital, Duncan, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7202/1084456ar

Keywords:

assisted suicide, ethics of suicide, Hippocratic oath, medical assistance in dying, thanatics

Language(s):

English

Abstract

Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is unique among the arsenal of medical therapeutics though it does return us to a dilemma Hippocrates addressed 2400 years ago. It provides welcome relief for suffering patients and their families, but MAiD is not suicide – it is invited homicide. It is more like a death ritual than a therapeutic procedure. Unlike medical interventions, MAiD cures no diseases and true informed consent cannot be obtained. It separates the body from the soul and perceived doctors’ errors are punishable through criminal prosecution. If badly administered, it could undermine trust in the medical profession. The providers are also at risk for delayed remorse. As the inclusion criteria for MAiD become more relaxed, doctors who currently decide on candidates for MAiD should have access to established panels for guidance. The panels should include legal and ethical specialists.

@ Han Han Li

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

[1]
Nielsen WR. MAiD in Canada: Ethical Considerations in Medical Assistance in Dying. Can. J. Bioeth 2021;4:93-8. https://doi.org/10.7202/1084456ar.

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2021): MAiD Ethics

Section

Perspectives

License

Copyright (c) 2021 William Robert Nielsen

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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