Why Advanced Requests for MAID should be approved by Parliament:
Absolutely, as caring humans, we are responsible to care for those with dementia and all who are vulnerable. However, society should not have the right to determine the fate of others who have looked ahead. Those of us who wish to complete very clear, carefully considered legal Advance Request for Medical Assistance in Dying should have that right.
All Canadian provinces have legally permitted wills which are ‘advance requests’ for disposing property after death. Sufficient guardrails are built around property wills to control manipulation by family members or others.
We have the legal right to determine what happens to our property after death. We should not be denied the ‘right’ to determine and specify that our life end when self care is no longer possible.
The new laws also need to allow Advance Requests for MAID even before diagnosis. If while healthy I legally prepared a witnessed Advance Request for MAID, I expect it should be honoured.
If experiencing a sudden, unanticipated, irrecoverable condition from accident, stroke, etc., there is no time to complete an Advance Request for MAID. Completed Advance Requests for MAID should be legal before diagnosis.
Bertha Taylor Day
St. Andrews
