PROPOSED TEXT FOR: DIRECTIVE
Directive:

----2016

Subject/Title:

Effective Date:
----, 2016

Medical Assistance in Dying Care Coordination
Service (June 2016).

Issuer:
Minister of Health

TO:

Alberta Health Services

Pursuant to Section 8 of the Regional Health Authorities Act, I, Sarah Hoffman, Minister
of Health and Minister of Seniors, direct as follows:
a) Alberta Health Services shall establish a medical assistance in dying care
coordination service to carry out the following functions:
(i) provide information to patients who seek information about or access to
medical assistance in dying, including information about all end of life
care options;
(ii) coordinate and facilitate patient access to health services relating to
medical assistance in dying and all end of life care options;
(iii) provide information and advice to Alberta Health Services health care
providers and other health care providers respecting medical assistance
in dying and all end of life care options,
(iv) coordinate and facilitate access to support services relating to medical
assistance in dying, including grief and bereavement services, for
families, support persons, Alberta Health Services health care providers
and other health care providers;
(v) in consultation with the Alberta College of Pharmacists, maintain a list of
drugs recommended to be prescribed for medical assistance in dying;
and
(vi) provide public education respecting medical assistance in dying, end of
life care options and support services; and
b) Alberta Health Services shall submit reports on its compliance with this Directive
as may be requested by the Minister.
Signed at the City of Edmonton, Alberta on the ______ day of _____________, 2016.

_______________________
SARAH HOFFMAN
Minister of Health
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
Regional Health Authorities Regulation, Alta. Reg.15/95: Section 1(a) and 9.

 PROPOSED TEXT FOR: MINISTERIAL ORDER
M.O. --/2016

WHEREAS the Supreme Court of Canada declared, in Carter v Canada
(Attorney General), that sections 241(b) and 14 of the Criminal Code are void insofar as
they prohibit physician-assisted death for a competent adult person who
(a) clearly consents to the termination of life, and
(b) has a grievous and irremediable medical condition that causes enduring
suffering that is intolerable to the individual in the circumstances of his or
her condition;
WHEREAS the suspension of the Supreme Court’s declaration expires on
June 6, 2016;
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta will implement measures to regulate
medical assistance in dying to ensure that
(a) Albertans may exercise their rights to access medical assistance in dying,
(b) appropriate safeguards will be in place to protect vulnerable Albertans,
and
(c) conscience rights are respected, while the rights of patients to access
medical assistance in dying is ensured;
WHEREAS section 7 of the Government Organization Act authorizes a Minister
to establish any boards, committees or councils that the Minister considers necessary or
desirable to act in an advisory or administrative capacity in connection with any matters
under the Minister’s administration;
WHEREAS it is desirable to establish a Medical Assistance in Dying Regulatory
Review Committee to review the regulation and practice of medical assistance in dying
in Alberta and make recommendations to the Minister for improvements;
THEREFORE, I, Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health, pursuant to section 7 of the
Government Organization Act, hereby establish the Medical Assistance in Dying
Regulatory Review Committee in accordance with the attached Appendix.
This Ministerial Order is effective upon signing.

DATED at Edmonton, Alberta this_________day of________________, 2016.

______________________
SARAH HOFFMAN
MINISTER

 PROPOSED TEXT FOR: MINISTERIAL ORDER
APPENDIX
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING REGULATORY REVIEW COMMITTEE
1. Terms of Reference
1.1
The functions of the Medical Assistance in Dying Regulatory Review Committee
(the “Committee”) are to, within one year or as required by the Minister, review and
report to the Minister with advice and recommendations respecting the following:
(a) the regulatory framework within Alberta with respect to medical assistance in
dying;
(b) the planning and delivery of health services related to medical assistance in
dying;
(c) any other matters relating to medical assistance in dying requested by the
Minister.
1.2
The Committee may, in a report, make recommendations to the Minister
respecting any matter under the Minister’s administration relating to medical assistance
in dying.
1.3
A report of the Committee must not disclose the name of, or any identifying
information about, a person to whom medical assistance in dying was provided or any
individual involved in providing or aiding in the provision of medical assistance in dying
to a person.
2. Membership q
2.1

The following persons are appointed as members of the Committee:
(a) the Chief Medical Examiner, or a medical examiner designated by the Chief
Medical Examiner;
(b) the registrar, or a designate of the registrar, of the following colleges:
(i) College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta;
(ii) College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta;
(iii) Alberta College of Pharmacists;
(c) a representative of Alberta Health Services.

2.2
The Minister may appoint additional members of the Committee, for the terms of
office determined by the Minister, as the Minister considers necessary to assist with the
work of the Committee.
2.2
The Minister may select the chair of the Committee from among the members of
the Committee.

 PROPOSED TEXT FOR: ORDER IN COUNCIL
Order in Council to amend the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
Standard of Practice: Medical Assistance in Dying

Proposed Order in Council: June 2016, under the authority of section 135.4 of the Health Professions
Act:

1. The Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, amends the standards
of practice entitled “Medical Assistance in Dying”, adopted by the council of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta on May 27, 2016 by adding the following after section (2):

(2.1) Before a regulated member provides a patient with medical assistance in dying, the regulated
member must
(a) be of the opinion that the patient
i. is eligible, or but for any applicable minimum period of residence or waiting
period, would be eligible for health services funded by a federal, provincial or
territorial government in Canada,
ii. is at least 18 years of age,
iii. is capable of making decisions with respect to their health,
iv. has a grievous and irremediable medical condition that causes enduring suffering
that is intolerable to the patient in the circumstances of their condition and that
cannot be relieved under conditions that the patient considers acceptable,
v. has made a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying that, in particular,
was not made as a result of external pressure, and
vi. gives informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying,
(b) ensure that the patient’s request for medical assistance in dying was made in writing and
was signed and dated by the patient or by another person on their behalf under section
2.2.
(c) be satisfied that the request was signed and dated by the patient or by another person on
the patient’s behalf before two independent witnesses who then also signed and dated
the request,
(d) ensure that the patient has been informed that they may, at any time and in any manner,
withdraw their request,
(e) ensure that another regulated member, or an individual who has a similar status under
similar legislation in another Canadian jurisdiction, has provided a written opinion
confirming that the patient meets all of the criteria set out in clause (a),

 PROPOSED TEXT FOR: ORDER IN COUNCIL
(f) be satisfied that they and the other individual referred to in clause (e) are independent,
(g) immediately before providing the medical assistance in dying, give the patient an
opportunity to withdraw their request and ensure that the patient gives express consent to
receive medical assistance in dying, and
(h) if the patient has difficulty communicating, take all necessary measures to provide a
reliable means by which the patient may understand the information that is provided to
them and communicate their decision.
(2.2) If the patient requesting medical assistance in dying is unable to sign and date the request,
another person who is at least 18 years of age and who understands the nature of the request for
medical assistance in dying may sign and date the request in the patient’s presence, on the
patient’s behalf and under the patient’s express direction.
(2.3) Any person who is at least 18 years of age and who understands the nature of the request for
medical assistance in dying may act as an independent witness, except if they
(a) know or believe that they are a beneficiary under the will of the patient making the
request, or a recipient, in any other way, of a financial or other material benefit resulting
from the patient’s death,
(b) are an owner or operator of any health care facility at which the patient making the
request is being treated or any facility in which the patient resides,
(c) are directly involved in providing health care services to the patient making the request,
or
(d) directly provide personal care to the patient making the request.
(2.4) The regulated member providing medical assistance in dying and the individual who provides the
opinion referred to in section 2.1(e) are independent if
(a) neither is a mentor to the other, or responsible for supervising the other’s work,
(b) they do not know or believe that they are a beneficiary under the will of the patient
making the request, or a recipient, in any other way, of a financial or other material
benefit resulting from the patient’s death, other than standard compensation for their
services relating to the request, or
(c) they do not know or believe that they are connected to the other, or to the patient making
the request, in any other way that would affect their objectivity.
(2.5) Medical assistance in dying must be provided with reasonable knowledge, care and skill and in
accordance with any applicable enactment, rules or standards.
(2.6) The regulated member who, in providing medical assistance in dying, prescribes or obtains a
drug for that purpose must, before any pharmacist dispenses the drug, inform the pharmacist that
the drug is intended for that purpose.
(3)

A regulated member who receives an inquiry from a patient with respect to medical assistance in
dying must ensure that contact information for the Alberta Health Services care coordination
service is provided to the patient, or to another person identified by the patient, without delay.

 PROPOSED TEXT FOR: ORDER IN COUNCIL
(4)

A regulated member who receives an oral or written request from a patient for medical assistance
in dying and who declines for reasons of conscience or religion to provide or to aid in providing
medical assistance in dying must ensure that reasonable access to the Alberta Health Services
care coordination service is provided to the patient without delay.

(5)

A regulated member may prescribe a drug for use in medical assistance in dying only if the drug
has been recommended for the use by the Alberta Health Services care coordination service.

(6)

A regulated member who provides medical assistance in dying must keep records in the form and
manner required by the Minister confirming that the requirements of these standards, and any
other standards or legislation applicable to medical assistance in dying, were met;

(7)

A regulated member who provides medical assistance in dying must, without delay, provide a
member of the Medical Assistance in Dying Regulatory Review Committee designated by the
Committee with copies of the records referred to in section 6.

Proposed Order in Council to be made when federal legislation respecting medical assistance in dying is
in force, under the authority of section 135.4 of the Health Professions Act:
1. The Lieutenant Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, amends the standards
of practice entitled “Medical Assistance in Dying”, adopted by the council of the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta on May 27, 2016 by striking out sections 2.1 to 2.6.