QUEBEC SUSPENDS MEDICAL ASSISTED DYING FOR MENTALLY ILL, SEEKING CONSENSUS
Jan 27, 2020
By Bob Komsic
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The plan by Quebec to offer medical aid in dying to severely mentally ill patients is on hold.
(Getty Images)
Health Minister Danielle McCann says it won’t be allowed until wide public consultations are held.
The announcement was made at a one-day forum on the province’s medical aid in dying law.
McCann says she’s preoccupied by concerns raised since she announced last week that the procedure would be made available to the mentally ill as the province changes criteria for its legislation to abide by a Quebec Superior Court ruling that struck down the ”end-of-life requirement.”
Instead she says public consultation will take place next month and continue ”as long as it takes” to reach a real social consensus, so people feel confident and comfortable with the choices that’ll be made.