Comments from Quebec College of Physicians about possible expansion of MAiD alarm disability advocates

Comments from a spokesperson for the Quebec College of Physicians about how some infants and mature minors may benefit from MAiD drew ire from disability advocacy groups. Dr. Louis Roy spoke as a witness at a meeting of the House of Commons Special Joint Committee of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) on Oct. 7. Dr. Roy's comments were based on findings from the college’s subcommittee studying MAiD and had the approval of the college’s board of directors. In his testimony, Dr. Roy said that mature minors could, with their parents or guardians, “make a request for MAiD based on the level of intolerable suffering they might experience.” He also noted that “the same for babies from zero to one year of age who are born with severe deformations and very grave and severe medical syndromes who’s level of suffering are such that it would make sense that they do not suffer, given that their possibility of surviving is basically nil.” The Netherlands has a protocol for providing MAiD to severely ill newborns, Dr. Roy said. This is the Groningen Protocol, which includes consent from both parents and confirmation from a physician that the infant is experiencing unbearable suffering. Dr. Roy acknowledged these were very sensitive topics, and added “we don’t have a clear answer for these cases but we would like to continue researching this with specialists and with Canadians in general.” Organizations that support disability rights and groups that are against MAiD were quick to speak out against Dr. Roy’s comments. “Most families of children born with disabilities are told from the start that their child will, in one way or another, not have a good quality of life,” Krista Carr, Inclusion Canada’s executive vice president told the National Post. “Canada cannot begin killing babies when doctors predict there is no hope for them. Predictions are far too often based on discriminatory assumptions about life with a disability,” she said. Infants are not able to provide consent, Carr said. Canadian Physicians for Life were also against the comments, telling the National Post that it was “frightening” that the college “suggested euthanizing infants.” The House of Commons joint committee is reviewing the MAiD provisions in the Criminal Code and examining issues related to mature minors, advance requests, mental illnesses, the state of palliative care in Canada and the protection of Canadians with disabilities. Dr. James Downar, Dr. Geneviève Dechêne and Dr. José Pereira, all palliative care physicians, were also witnesses at the meeting. They spoke as individuals and did represent any organization. The hearing can be viewed on the Parliament of Canada website. A report by the Quebec College of Physicians about expanding access to MAiD was released on Dec. 10, 2021. Read: Non-profit aiming to provide homey atmosphere for MAiD patients seeks permanent location

Comments from Quebec College of Physicians about possible expansion of MAiD alarm disability advocates

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