Under Review: No
Issued by Council: June 2016
- A regulated member who receives, considers or fulfils a written request for medical assistance in dying must do so in accordance with legislation.
- A regulated member who provides medical assistance in dying must:
- discuss and agree on a plan with the patient that considers:
- the patient’s wishes regarding when, where and how the medical assistance in dying will be provided, including the presence of the regulated member and any additional support;
- an alternate plan to address potential complications; and
- the patient’s choice to rescind the request at any time, including immediately before the provision of medical assistance in dying;
- collaborate with the pharmacist dispensing the medication(s); and
- after the patient’s death, notifyi the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
- discuss and agree on a plan with the patient that considers:
- 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 medical assistance in dying care coordination service is provided to the patient, or to another person identified by the patient, without delay.
- 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 medical assistance in dying care coordination service is provided to the patient without delay.
- 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 medical assistance in dying care coordination service.
- 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.
- 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 clause 6.
- In these standards, “medical assistance in dying” means:
- the administering by a regulated member of a substance to a person, at their request, that causes their death; or
- the prescribing or providing by a regulated member of a substance to a person, at their request, so that they may self-administer the substance and in doing so cause their own death.
i. The regulated member will not sign the death certificate. The Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death.
Related Standards of Practice
All ResourcesOther resources related to this standard
All ResourcesOnline Module on Medical Assistance in Dying
Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Click to view filesMedical Assistance in Dying
CPSA Click to view filesGoals of Care (AHS)
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Click to view filesResponding to Requests for Medical Assistance in Dying
Click to view filesGuide to Capacity Assessment Under the Personal Directives Act
Government of Alberta Click to view filesPrinciples-Based Recommendations for a Canadian Approach to Assisted Dying
Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Click to view filesPalliative Care Matters
Click to view filesMedical Assistance in Dying Practice Resources
Click to view filesMAID Combined Assessor Provider Form Electronic
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Click to view filesMAID Provider Form Electronic
Alberta Health Services (AHS) Click to view filesInformed Consent
Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) Click to view filesMedication protocol
Please review “Additional Resources” in the Physician Portal (requires login credentials to access)
About the Standards of Practice
The CPSA Standards of Practice are the minimum standards of professional behaviour and ethical conduct expected of all physicians registered in Alberta. Standards of practice are enforceable under the Health Professions Act and will be referenced in the management of complaints and in discipline hearings.
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