Author Interviews, CMAJ, End of Life Care / 12.01.2026
Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Assessors Discuss Eligibility Decision Making
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_71968" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Thorne[/caption]
Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CM
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing
Co-Principal Investigator with :
[caption id="attachment_71969" align="alignleft" width="133"]
Dr. Pesut[/caption]
Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RN
Professor in the School of Nursing
Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care
University of British Columbia
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in June of 2016 for Canadians who were facing a reasonably foreseeable natural death and met an explicit set of eligibility criteria as determined by qualified health care providers (physicians or nurse practitioners). In 2021, the legislation was extended to include the possibility of MAiD for persons who were suffering from a ‘grievous and irremediable’ medical condition but for whom natural death was not immediately foreseeable. As assisted dying represented a significant change in available options for Canadians with terminal or chronic conditions, requiring significant practice adaptations and including numerous legal, social, ethical, moral implications, the health research community has been working in consultation with clinicians, service providers and governments to generate knowledge that ensures safe, ethical and equitable practice in this regard.
Dr. Thorne[/caption]
Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CM
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing
Co-Principal Investigator with :
[caption id="attachment_71969" align="alignleft" width="133"] Dr. Pesut[/caption]
Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RN
Professor in the School of Nursing
Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care
University of British Columbia
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in June of 2016 for Canadians who were facing a reasonably foreseeable natural death and met an explicit set of eligibility criteria as determined by qualified health care providers (physicians or nurse practitioners). In 2021, the legislation was extended to include the possibility of MAiD for persons who were suffering from a ‘grievous and irremediable’ medical condition but for whom natural death was not immediately foreseeable. As assisted dying represented a significant change in available options for Canadians with terminal or chronic conditions, requiring significant practice adaptations and including numerous legal, social, ethical, moral implications, the health research community has been working in consultation with clinicians, service providers and governments to generate knowledge that ensures safe, ethical and equitable practice in this regard.