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1. CAMH has reservations about expanding access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for people whose only medical condition is mental illness. https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/pdfs---public-policy-submissions/camh-response-to-maid-consultations-jan2020-final-pdf.pdf #assistedsuicide
2. They recommend: #1: The federal government temporarily prohibit MAiD for people with mental illness as
their only medical condition until mental health experts develop standards of care that determinewhen a
person’s mental illness has become irremediable. ; and,
their only medical condition until mental health experts develop standards of care that determinewhen a
person’s mental illness has become irremediable. ; and,
3. #2: The federal government require additional legislative safeguards for all cases of nonterminal MAiD. The following safeguards should be required:
• Additional assessment(s)
• A two-track process
• Eligibility assessments conducted by specialists
• Additional assessment(s)
• A two-track process
• Eligibility assessments conducted by specialists
4. #2 continued
• A vulnerability assessment
• Review by roundtable or committee
• Extended waiting period
• Extensive data collection
• A vulnerability assessment
• Review by roundtable or committee
• Extended waiting period
• Extensive data collection
5. I respect @CAMH greatly, but disagree with their recommendations here primarily because it forces some people, who wish to die, to jump through an increased number of hoops, to receive the medically assisted death that they have avowed they desire.
6. @CAMH says "CAMH remains concerned, however, that even with additional safeguards, some people with mental illness will still be able to obtain MAiD in circumstances that are not contemplated by the legislative process (i.e. situations where a person is ‘tired of living’)."
7. We do not ask to be born, that happens without our consent. Are we not allowed either to ask that we may die? Must we be graded by outsiders even in this most intimate of requests? #assistedsuicide
8. I understand some of the ethical conundrums... I agree that no one should be forced to assist in another's suicide if it is contrary to their norms, but this is rather different from doing what CAMH recommends here, to make MAiD almost unattainable for mental health sufferers
9. For those 'tired of living', one is cast out to resolve their issues through other means... those old chestnuts like, buckle down and get on with, quit whining, tomorrow will be better, etc. Or through therapy with professionals.
10. But even therapy sometimes doesn't work regardless of effort expended in the process. And what is the alternative to #assistedsuicide? Well, unassisted, obviously. And that has impact on other people as well. Perhaps not the same set of people, but others impacted by the act.
11. I would ask @CAMH and others to ponder more deeply. 'Tired of living' in my view shouldn't be a life sentence. #assistedsuicide ((Done this thread))
