Question Period Note: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING (MAiD)

• Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is not a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) service. It is a deeply personal medical decision between a patient and their health care provider. VAC employees have no role or mandate to raise or recommend it.
• The Department’s focus remains on supporting Veterans and their families with dignity and respect.
• Employees are trained to refer Veterans who inquire about MAiD to their primary health care provider, and to focus on ensuring Veterans and their families are aware of the full range of benefits and supports available to them.
• VAC is aware of the court action related to Medical Assistance in Dying. It would be inappropriate for the Department to comment further on any details.

Concerns about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) and VAC first came to light in August 2022, when the Department learned of an incident in which an employee inappropriately raised the topic of MAiD with a Veteran. VAC immediately took action by apologizing to the Veteran, launching a comprehensive investigation, and putting safeguards in place to prevent this from happening again.

VAC reviewed over 402,000 unique client files across three systems, dating back to 2016. This review confirmed four cases of inappropriate MAiD discussions, all involving the same employee. This evidence showed this was not a systemic issue, but an isolated case. The employee is no longer with the Department.

Following the investigation, VAC strengthened its guidance and oversight. Mandatory training on MAiD was introduced for all staff, along with clear directives that employees must not raise or recommend MAiD under any circumstances. Regular reminders are also issued to front-line staff to reinforce these expectations.

MAiD is not a Veterans Affairs program or service. Decisions about MAiD fall within provincial and territorial health care systems and are administered by physicians or nurse practitioners under federal safeguards. VAC employees have no mandate to recommend or discuss MAiD. Their role is to support Veterans by ensuring they are aware of the full range of benefits, programs and community resources available, and to refer any inquiries about the Veteran’s primary care provider.

Orphan of a deceased Veteran or deceased CAF member (or the legal guardian if the orphan is under the age of 18).