Senators approve amendment allowing advance requests for medical assistance in dying
by The Canadian Press
Last Updated Feb 10, 2021 at 6:44 pm EDT
OTTAWA — Senators have voted to expand Canada’s assisted dying regime to allow individuals who fear losing mental capacity to make advance requests for medical help to end their lives.
The amendment to Bill C-7 was approved by a vote of 47-28, with eight abstentions, and was proposed by Sen. Pamela Wallin, a member of the Canadian Senators Group.
She argues that people who have been diagnosed or fear being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive-impairing disorders should, while they’re still competent to give consent, be entitled to make advance directives spelling out when they want to receive an assisted death.