B.C. ready for legalization of medically assisted dying, say ministers

The B.C. government says it is prepared for a Supreme Court ruling on medically assisted dying that takes effect tomorrow.

More than a year ago the Supreme Court ruled the law preventing doctor-assisted death was a violation of a patient's rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The court gave the federal government 12 months to put a law in place. When the federal Liberals won the October election the Supreme Court extended the deadline.

But it is expected to be weeks before any new federal law is in place, meaning starting tomorrow doctors can't be prosecuted under the Criminal Code if they help a patient suffering from a "grievousand irremediable" illness die.

On Monday morning B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake and Attorney General Suzanne Anton released a statement laying out the provincial government's preparations for the change.

"We are hopeful this legislation will be passed quickly so B.C. and other provinces and territories can move forward with a clear and consistent approach to delivering this new service for patients. In the meantime, we will be guided by the criteria in the Supreme Court's ruling," said the statement.

"Our ministries are working together, alongside the province's professional regulatory colleges and other partners, to ensure safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable patients. This work aims to make medical assistance in dying in B.C. appropriate, available, and well-monitored even before federal legislation is in place."

College strengthens guidelines

"As always, doctors in B.C. must abide by the standards set out by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC. In an effort to ensure strong safeguards to protect vulnerable patients, the college has strengthened direction to doctors by elevating advice on how best to care for patients seeking medical assistance in dying from guidelines to standards."

• Read the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons guidelines (pdf)

"To further strengthen safeguards, using the tools available to government, we have amended the regulations under B.C.'s Health Professions Act to give the college's recently released standards the weight of law as of June 6, 2016."

"We have also directed each health authority to appoint a coordinator for medical assistance in dying."

The statement notes the Supreme Court's decision only clearly refers to the role of physicians in providing medical assistance in dying.

"The College of Registered Nurses and the College of Pharmacists are working to support registrants in getting legal clarity on medical assistance in dying to further support patient access," it said.