Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Two of them come to mind. First, currently, an assessment by two physicians is generally requested for medical assistance in dying. We should perhaps be able to request a third opinion from a physician with specialized knowledge of the person's medical condition. I'm not thinking of family physicians, although I don't doubt their competence.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Yes, I absolutely agree on that principle. What I'd like to tell you is that, if you, as federal legislators, decide to make it legal to use advance directives respecting medical assistance in dying, you must consider the situation of the individual who, when the time comes, will ask us to apply or not to apply those directives.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. To respond to Dr. Fry, I'll repeat what I said in my remarks that Canadian laws at both federal and provincial levels are evolving toward a recognition and acceptance of advance requests for medical assistance in dying. The problem or challenge Parliament faces is to ensure that people who request assistance in dying get it at the right time, when they are in a vulnerable position.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Federal and provincial statutes should ideally be harmonized, if that were to prove necessary. In conclusion, developments in Canadian legislation on medical assistance in dying are consistent with the perspective of long-term recognition of the fundamental right of every human being to choose when and how to die with the assistance of a third party, that is, a physician or other health professional.

Medical Assistance in Dying committee  Good evening, everyone. Thank you for inviting me to testify. This evening I will be discussing advance requests for medical assistance in dying. Advance requests for medical assistance in dying make it possible for capable persons to consent in advance to the provision of medical assistance in dying where they are in a state of life or health incompatible with their values, such as a state of advanced dementia preventing them from recognizing family members or from performing their activities of everyday life.