Statement from Dr. Chris Simpson - President, Canadian Medical Association - On the launch of the Government of Canada's consultation on physician-assisted dying

OTTAWA, July 17, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomes the Government of Canada's first steps towards legislative action in follow up to the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark Feb. 6 decision on physician-assisted dying.

Today, Ministers Ambrose and MacKay announced the establishment of an external panel to conduct consultations and ultimately report options for a legislative response by the federal government.

Despite their well-established views on these issues, the CMA is confident that the Panel, chaired by renowned Canadian palliative care physician Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, will undertake a balanced and comprehensive consultation that will build on the efforts already undertaken by the CMA. As an initial step, the CMA encourages the panel to review the findings of its cross-country consultations with the public and members in 2014.

The CMA looks forward to contributing to the report of the Panel, including providing a briefing on its most recent consultation and the Principles-based Approach to Assisted Dying in Canada which addresses most of the key issues identified by the Panel.

Link to CMA's initiatives: https://www.cma.ca/En/Pages/eol-cma-activities-gc.aspx

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, the CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing more than 80,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 60 national medical organizations. CMA's mission is helping physicians care for patients. The CMA will be the leader in engaging and serving physicians and be the national voice for the highest standards for health and health care. 

SOURCE Canadian Medical Association

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