LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Setting the record straight on MAID

There have been letters to the editor, regarding MAID, that are not factual.

Here are the facts. Eighty-five percent of people, according to a recent LPSOS poll, support MAID. Eighty-four percent support advance requests, with a diagnosis. Seventy-two percent support advance requests, without a diagnosis.

It’s obvious Canadians are in favour of MAID. But advance requests are not legal in Canada. Yet.

What is an advance request? “An advance request is a request for MAID made by an individual, who for example, has Parkinson’s or ALS etc. These people have the capacity to make decisions, before they are eligible or want to receive it. Their intent is that MAID be provided in the future, after they have lost the capacity to consent and when certain conditions that they specify in their request are met”. For example, when they are no longer able to have dignity in their day-to-day life, (eating, bathing, toileting for example).

It is not for anyone to make this decision for you. It is a personal decision. All we are asking for is the legal ability to make this decision for ourselves.

Please support advance requests. Please encourage your candidate in the upcoming election to support this important issue as well. Canadians should be able to leave this world with dignity in dying.