This presentation provides an overview of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada, including the legal framework, eligibility criteria, request process and safeguards, including considerations for individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable and where mental illness is the sole underlying medical condition.

Topics will include:

• What MAID is and how it fits within Canada’s health-care and legal systems
• Legal framework and legislative developments
• Eligibility criteria and what constitutes a “grievous and irremediable medical condition”
• Safeguards and protections: assessment process, informed consent and independent assessments
• The role of nurses and other health-care providers
• Access and equity considerations, within the broader context of palliative care, disability supports, mental health services, and community services
• Ethical, professional and personal reflections on MAiD in Canada