I will contact the patient directly
- After the request is received, the first assessor reviews the case, meets with the requestor, gathers all required information, and assesses whether or not the person meets the eligibility criteria.
- Under the new law (March 2021), an assessor must determine if the person’s death is reasonably foreseeable or not. This will determine which set of procedural safeguards must be followed.
- If death is reasonably foreseeable, a second, independent assessor must then do an assessment of eligibility. If the two assessors agree all criteria are met, the MAiD procedure can then be planned by the assessor/provider. Sometimes an independent assessment of capacity may also be required.
- Following BC College of Physician and Surgeon Guidelines regarding how this entire process is done and documented is mandatory.
- If death is NOT reasonably foreseeable, a second, independent assessor must still do an assessment of eligibility, but the assessment period must be a minimum of 90 days, and one of the assessors must have expertise in the condition that is causing the intolerable suffering. If not, an outside expert must be consulted, and their feedback must be shared between both MAiD assessors. As well, assessors must ensure the person has been informed of the other means available to relieve their suffering and offered consultations for those means and services. The assessor must also ensure they have discussed the reasonable and available means, and agree with the person that he/she/they has given serious consideration to those options.
- If a clinician is unable or unwilling to be an assessor for their patient, they are able to refer them either to Solace or to the VIHA MAiD office (tel 250-727-4382; email: maid@viha.ca; fax 250-519-3669) for possible care. All of us will work with your team to gather relevant information and keep you informed of developments throughout the process.
- If, as a clinician, you are willing to be an assessor for your patient but require a second assessor (or an assessor/provider), I am willing to accept referrals for either role.