Reject MAID advance requests
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to oppose allowing MAID advance requests (rec.21) and instead fund palliative, hospice and suicide‑prevention care. The government responds it consulted and will continue parliamentary review while supporting palliative care.
Why we would sign this petition
- It prevents acting on old directives when a person may have changed their wishes, protecting present autonomy and reducing the risk of non‑voluntary MAID.
- It reduces the chance that older adults or people with disabilities will face coercion or pressure to choose MAID to avoid burdening others.
- It redirects government priority and funds toward palliative, hospice and suicide‑prevention services that support life and comfort.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Opposing advance requests may deny respect for prior, competent treatment choices made by people who want their earlier wishes followed if they lose capacity.
- A regulated framework with strict safeguards and oversight could allow advance requests while protecting vulnerable people; an absolute ban blocks that compromise.
- Prioritizing palliative funding alone may be slow or insufficient to meet some patients' needs; some argue both options should be available with safeguards.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas: The inclusion of advanced requests for people following a diagnosis of a serious and incurable medical condition, disease or disorder leading to incapacity, as outlined in recommendation 21 of the 2023 report by the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. There are several ethical, legal and practical challenges with Recommendation 21: Persons who have made an advanced request for MAID might no longer be able to confirm their wishes at the time of death, especially if they have changed. Advanced requests rely on written documents describing a person's future condition and suffering. Doctors and family members might interpret the request differently from what the patient would have wanted. There is concern that advanced requests could lead to coercion or undue pressure for older adults or those with disabilities to request MAID to avoid burdening families or the healthcare system. There are ethical concerns among some healthcare professionals that acting on an old request for MAiD without current confirmation could be seen as involuntary. There is a risk that death could be seen as a "benefit" contrary to what a patient might have desired. Predicting suffering in situations such as dementia risks treating cognitively impaired individuals as objects of past instructions rather than persons who merit a fresh assessment of their present well-being. Some may reach the point they previously feared but still enjoy life. Canada should increase funding for palliative and hospice care and suicide prevention. Offering euthanasia rather than providing support services devalues those living with chronic conditions. Persons who have made an advanced request for MAID might no longer be able to confirm their wishes at the time of death, especially if they have changed. Advanced requests rely on written documents describing a person's future condition and suffering. Doctors and family members might interpret the request differently from what the patient would have wanted. There is concern that advanced requests could lead to coercion or undue pressure for older adults or those with disabilities to request MAID to avoid burdening families or the healthcare system. There are ethical concerns among some healthcare professionals that acting on an old request for MAiD without current confirmation could be seen as involuntary. There is a risk that death could be seen as a "benefit" contrary to what a patient might have desired. Predicting suffering in situations such as dementia risks treating cognitively impaired individuals as objects of past instructions rather than persons who merit a fresh assessment of their present well-being. Some may reach the point they previously feared but still enjoy life. Canada should increase funding for palliative and hospice care and suicide prevention. Offering euthanasia rather than providing support services devalues those living with chronic conditions. Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to: Do not support any legislation related to the expansion of MAiD, especially Recommendation 21 and the inclusion of advanced requests. Support an increased government focus on advancing compassionate, life-affirming palliative and hospice care.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is a complex, deeply personal issue for many people. While provinces and territories are responsible for the organization, management and delivery of health services in their jurisdiction, including end-of-life care services like MAID, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring our laws reflect Canadians’ needs, protect those who may be vulnerable, and support autonomy and compassion. A Special Joint Parliamentary Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying considered the issue of advance requests in 2022, hearing from many witnesses expressing a range of perspectives, including personal experiences of individuals caring for loved ones who had lost capacity and concerns from health care providers on how to safely provide MAID when the individual is unable to consent at the time it is to be provided. In its 2023 report, the Committee recommended that the Criminal Code be amended to allow advance requests and that the Government of Canada engage with provinces and territories. In its response, which is available is online, the Government noted the complexity of the issues involved in advance requests. Subsequently, between late November 2024 to mid-February 2025, the Government of Canada undertook a national conversation on advance requests to hear from the Canadian public, patients, provincial and territorial health officials, health care providers, experts, stakeholders, Indigenous representatives and others on this complex issue. More than 47,000 people from across the country participated in these consultations on advance requests for MAID through an online public questionnaire, regional and national virtual roundtables, and public opinion research. The results were recently published in a “What We Heard Report” summarizing the key themes from that consultation. While the report does not include any recommendations, it reflects the range of perspectives expressed during the national conversation. It is available online: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/programs/consultation-advance-requests-medical-assistance-dying/what-we-heard.html. As the report notes, the issue of advance requests for MAID is complex and further work and consultation is needed before consideration could be given to advance requests. The information in the “What We Heard Report” will inform the work of a new Special Joint Parliamentary Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying in Winter 2026. Our Government believes that all Canadians deserve to live in comfort and dignity, with access to services, supports and care that are appropriate to their needs and that respect their wishes. The Working Together bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories included measures to help Canadians with dignity by supporting efforts to improve access to home and community care, including palliative care, and safe long-term care. These agreements are enabling provinces and territories to implement a number of initiatives to improve access to palliative and hospice care, including expanding community-based services and strengthening supports that help people receive care at home or in community. The Working Together agreements build on investments made under the Action Plan on Palliative Care, on which more information is available at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/palliative-care/action-plan-palliative-care.html.