PSYC*3570 - MAiD Program at UHN: Ethical and Legal Dimensions

This essay provides an analysis of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), particularly focusing on the program implemented at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto. It discusses the ethical and legal dimensions of MAiD following the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to legalize it under specific eligibility criteria. The essay reflects on personal comfort levels with MAiD, considering scenarios of incurable pain versus potentially treatable conditions, and examines the perspectives of healthcare professionals involved in the process. It also includes a response to a convincible post, agreeing with the author's insights while emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and patient-centered decision-making. The essay concludes by highlighting the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of legal and emotional vulnerabilities associated with providing MAiD, ensuring that patient autonomy and informed consent are paramount.

Running Head: MAiD
0
MAiD
student

MAiD
1
Part one
Euthanasia is the worldwide concern as it has been a debatable topic for many years
(Keown, 2018). MAiD or medical assistance in dying is actually the medical act which is
commenced by single individual with aim of putting a person to expiry or death either painlessly
or failing to prevent the death form usual causes in the scenario of disease of incurable coma (Li,
Watt, Escaf, Gardam, Heesters, O’Leary, & Rodin, 2017). It is legal in some countries and
illegal in others. According to me MAiD is beneficial and it is like a mercy for the patient who is
suffering from an unalterable pain and diseases, but I also think that the decisions should not be
taken until the situation is getting worse. The patients and their families should discuss about the
situation. My opinion about this particular topic is not one sided. I think the medical assistance
in dying is acceptable in some condition but I think it also prevents every chances of future
treatment of that particularly person. As everybody knows that medical science is developing day
by day and the scientist are continuously working on discovering new treatment options for
different diseases, but medical assistance in dying or euthanasia prevents every chances of cure
(Kastenbaum, 2015). The program started by UHN is in favour of patients as it relieves them from
pain and their family members who are not free from the distress they experience due the
patient’s condition (Goldberg, Nissim, An, & Hales, 2019).
On 6 February 2015 Supreme Court of Canada also removes the ban on the MAiD for the
diseased person meeting with particular eligibility needs (Fujioka, Mirza, McDonald, & Klinger,
2018). I would be comfortable in the programs like MAiD at UHN. However, I would also
refuse if the patient’s condition is curable. If you ask me to put myself in this situation and
delivering this assistance, my answer would be yes. As i can think that there are lots of people
who are suffering from pain which cannot be cured, it is hard to have such pain for lifetime. If I

MAiD
2
would be in such situation as I will say as it can also help my family who would be suffering
with me. However I would not ask for such assistance if I know that my condition is treatable but
not at the place I am getting treated. I am not in favour of euthanasia or MAiD in case of Coma
until it is unalterable. Although this decision is quite difficult for anyone who has to decide
whether they wants to live and suffer, or they wants to quit. Nobody can imagine the things
going on in patient’s mind (Li, et al., 2017). If I would be in such situation I want to know the
method for euthanasia or MAiD they will use, I would ask the professional if they searched for
every possibility of cure or not, will my family get the money from my medical insurance. I
would also ask the professional about who will be involved in MAiD, and whether they have the
authority or not to perform MAiD.
Part two
This post was quite convincible and I am agreed with the thoughts and comments of the
author. I think he mentioned all the personal and professional reasons to avoid and accept the
MAiD very well. I am also in favour of the Supreme Court’s decisions to implement right to die
in Canada as it can relive the person from incurable pain and unalterable diseases. However I am
not fully convinced with the emotional reason to avoid MAiD, according to me, as health
professional you need to be strong and take decision without any emotional impacts if it is in
favour of the patient. The health professional should know that their first priority is to provide
the best interventions to the patient, in the diseases that cannot be cured or altered, MAiD is the
best approach. I am agree with the author’s comments on the legal issues a health professional
may face while providing MAiD, but being conscious and aware about the ethical and illegal
aspects a health professional can avoid the issues. The health providers should asks for consent
form from family and the patient before applying the MAiD. Author also expressed his thought

MAiD
3
about being in a situation of patient very well, and i am fully convinced and agreed with the
comments he made. He also reported that people of MAiD providers are left vulnerable, both
legally and emotional. I think the points he made are applicable and right in some cases. They
need to change this in favour of the patients and their families and also for themselves.
I am very convinced with the comment that the social workers who are involved in the
process of MAiD should be careful while directing the patients seeking assistance in dying, as it
is actually a crime to suggest or counsel someone for dying by suicide. I think he clearly
suggested that the decisions of MAiD should be taken by the patients completely; the health
professional or social workers should only advise them if they ask for it (Kastenbaum, 2015). The
example provided by the author is also appropriate to express the necessity of MAiD in the
adverse situations. There are number of people who are in favour of the medical assisted death
and some are against this Approach (Kastenbaum, 2015). Author also mentioned about what he
would do if he have to make the decision to apply for MAiD. I think he expressed his side very
clearly and I am agreed with the comments. Having an understanding about the diagnosis and
prognosis is essential before receiving MAiD. He also reported that he would get the information
about the people with same health issues are in more progressed situation. And I am very
convinced with it. Prolong the death until the suffering of the person become intolerable is the
good ideas of the timeline as it increases the chances of being cured. This is because the
scientists inventing different treatments, and medicines that can be helpful in the patient’s
condition. In the end I am agreed with the author.

MAiD
4
References
Fujioka, J. K., Mirza, R. M., McDonald, P. L., & Klinger, C. A. (2018). Implementation of
Medical Assistance in Dying: A Scoping Review of Health Care Providers'
Perspectives. Journal of pain and symptom management, 55(6), 1564-1576.
Goldberg, R., Nissim, R., An, E., & Hales, S. (2019). Impact of medical assistance in dying
(MAiD) on family caregivers. BMJ supportive & palliative care, bmjspcare-2018.
Kastenbaum, R. (2015). Death, Society and Human Experience (1-download). Routledge.
Keown, J. (2018). Euthanasia, ethics and public policy: an argument against legalisation.
Cambridge University Press.
Li, M., Watt, S., Escaf, M., Gardam, M., Heesters, A., O’Leary, G., & Rodin, G. (2017).
Medical assistance in dying — Implementing a hospital-based program in Canada.
New England Journal of Medicine, 376(21), 2082-2088.