Medical assistance in dying in Canada: one year later

By Melissa Perry (CA) on April 27, 2017 Posted in International

Since the Canadian federal government introduced legislation governing medical assistance in dying (“MAiD”), the provinces and territories, which are responsible for the delivery of health care services in Canada, have adopted a variety of processes and procedures to deal with requests for MAiD. However, some questions and issues which have arisen with the legalization of … Continue reading

Canadian Government looks to Supreme Court of Canada for opinion on the constitutionality of the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act

By on April 26, 2017 Posted in International

In March 2017, Parliament gave third reading to Bill S-201, also known as the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act. The Genetic Non-Discrimination Act was introduced as a Senate bill by now-retired Liberal Senator James Cowan in December 2015 to ensure that fear of genetic discrimination did not prevent Canadians from deciding to proceed with genetic testing which … Continue reading

Update on physician-assisted dying: A changing medical legal landscape

By Melissa Perry (CA) on March 7, 2016 Posted in General

On February 29, 2016, an Alberta woman suffering from amynotrophic lateral sclerolsis (“ALS”), became the first person in Canada to obtain a physician-assisted death. Four days prior to her death, Ms. S applied to the Alberta Court of the Queen’s Bench and successfully obtained an exemption from the Criminal Code prohibition on physician-assisted dying in … Continue reading