🍁 civid v1

Status and purpose

• Bill S-231 was introduced in the Senate and given first reading on June 12, 2025.
• It would amend the Criminal Code’s rules on medical assistance in dying (MAID) to expand circumstances in which a person may waive final consent before losing capacity.

Main changes

• Specified-day arrangement: The bill would allow a person whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable to enter a written arrangement with the practitioner who will administer MAID. The arrangement must specify a day and provide consent for administration on or before that day if the person loses capacity beforehand. The practitioner must have informed the person of that risk.
• Declaration for specified conditions: A person diagnosed by a medical practitioner with a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability could make a written declaration consenting to MAID if they later lose capacity and experience related conditions clearly identified in the declaration and observable by a medical or nurse practitioner.
• The declaration could be used only if no more than five years have elapsed since it was made. Two independent witnesses must sign and date it, confirming it was voluntary and free from external pressure. A medical practitioner must certify that the conditions are clearly identified and observable, and that the witnesses are independent.

Safeguards and effects

• Before losing capacity, the person must have met the Criminal Code’s MAID eligibility criteria and all other applicable safeguards. Administration must follow the arrangement or declaration.
• If the person demonstrates refusal or resistance through words, sounds or gestures, MAID cannot be administered under the waiver. Once this occurs, the advance consent can no longer be used.
• The bill affects people seeking MAID and the medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and witnesses involved. It permits practitioners to administer MAID under these arrangements or declarations; the provided text does not state costs or a coming-into-force date.