On Feb. 6, 2016 \u201d\u201c one year after the historic Supreme Court ruling in the case of Kathleen Carter and Gloria Taylor \u201d\u201c physician-assisted death will be legal in Canada. The Canadian Medical Association last week debated what life would be like for physicians and patients in this brave new world. One thing was clear: We are woefully unprepared for Feb. 7.<\/p>\n
The Court said the Criminal Code\u2019s prohibitions on assisted suicide will no longer apply \u201cto the extent that they prohibit physician-assisted death for a competent adult person who (1) clearly consents to the termination of life and (2) has a grievous and irremediable medical condition (including an illness, disease or disability) that causes enduring suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or her condition.\u201d\u009d It also stated that physicians cannot be compelled to hasten a person\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
In the yawning gap between this straightforward theory and the complexities of everyday practice lie many questions:<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a2 When a patient asks for a hastened death, who will they ask?<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a2 What do the terms \u201cgrievous and irremediable\u201d\u009d and \u201cenduring suffering that is intolerable\u201d\u009d mean?<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a2 Who will determine a patient\u2019s capacity to consent?<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a2 If a physician can\u2019t be compelled to perform the act, does he or she have an obligation to refer to a doctor who will?<\/p>\n
\u201d\u00a2 How long will the \u201ccooling off\u201d\u009d period be between a request and administration of a lethal drug?<\/p>\n