MAID in Canada: What If Your Future Self Wants to Live?
Summary
Host Archie Matlow explores two contentious aspects of Canada's medical assistance in dying (MAID) legislation: the exclusion of mental illness as a sole qualifying condition and the potential for advance requests. He interviews retired law professor Jocelyn Downey, who argues the mental illness ban is unconstitutional and supports advance requests, and family doctor Ramona Coelho, who warns that MAID for mental illness is scientifically unsound and dangerous.
Topics discussed
Introduction: MAID, advance requests, and mental illness
Sponsorships: Stamps.com, Fizz Mobile, and Douglas
Overview of Bill C-41 and the mental illness exclusion
Dr. Coelho on the legal and ethical arguments for inclusion
Case study: John Scully and the definition of incurability
Debate on clinical guidelines and the 'impossibility' argument
Suicide prevention concerns and the risk of encouraging death
Medical standards: Comparing MAID to other irreversible procedures
Sponsorships: Fizz Mobile, Douglas, and Stamps.com
Jocelyn Downey on authenticity, identity, and consent
The argument that MAID access can save lives
Dr. Coelho refutes the 'life-saving' argument with evidence
Case study: Thomas Dillon and the danger of misdiagnosis
Sponsorship: Opendoor
Disability rights perspective: Stigma and ableism in MAID policy
UN review and concerns about capacity in dementia cases
Personal anecdotes: Quality of life with advanced dementia
Ethical risks, provider bias, and the capital punishment analogy
Jocelyn Downey on advance requests and provincial patchwork
Conclusion, legal outlook, and podcast credits
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