Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying — protection against coercion)
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to make it an offence for certain persons in certain circumstances to initiate a discussion with a person about the availability to them of medical assistance in dying, knowing that they have not specifically requested to have such a discussion.
Bill C-260, also known as the Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act, aims to protect vulnerable individuals from being pressured into medical assistance in dying (MAID). It makes it a criminal offence for certain government officials or employees (excluding medical practitioners and nurses) to initiate a conversation about MAID with someone, if that person has not explicitly asked for such a discussion and the official is in a position of trust or authority over them. This law specifically targets situations where individuals might be susceptible to coercion, ensuring they are not proactively pushed towards MAID by those in power.