Important updates on personal services, MAID and vaccine eligibility

New COVID-19 restrictions: personal and wellness services

New, stronger public health measures came into force at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 9, 2021, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. Chief Medical Officer of Health Order 19-2021 prohibits the delivery of all personal and wellness services in regions with higher case counts. CPSA has been in touch with Alberta Health and confirmed the intent of this most recent public health order is to restrict all personal services, as defined in the Personal Services Regulation. Physicians and other regulated health professionals are not exempt from these restrictions and are expected to comply with direction from the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Physicians are able to continue to offer health, counseling and consultative services by appointment, provided infection prevention and control guidance is followed.

Recent legislative changes to Medical Assistance in Dying

On March 17, 2021, Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), took effect. This bill impacts the provision of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), particularly with regards to eligibility and safeguards.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has published a summary of the changes and who they impact. We encourage all physicians and physician assistants to review this information carefully.

AHS has also updated their existing MAID forms online and added a new one, Waive of Final Consent, along with an instruction sheet: find them here.

While this does not impact CPSA’s Medical Assistance in Dying standard of practice, the Advice to the Profession document has been updated to address the changes of Bill C-7.

Even if MAID is not part of your medical practice, it’s important healthcare professionals are familiar with the changes under Bill C-7 in the event a patient asks about MAID.

Questions about the legislative changes? Please contact AHS at maid.careteam@ahs.ca.

Questions about MAID under CPSA’s Standards of Practice? Please contact our Standards of Practice Advisor at chantelle.dick@cpsa.ab.ca.

COVID-19 vaccine eligibility

Immunization is an important way of protecting ourselves, our colleagues, loved ones and the greater community from COVID-19. Widespread immunization will help all Albertans return to a more normal way of life, sooner.

Please remind your patients that all Albertans over the age of 12 are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, including a link to the online booking tool and COVID-19 vaccine FAQs, please visit ahs.ca.