Interview - Justin Sanders on Medical Assistance in Dying

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Justin Sanders, the director of palliative care at McGill, on the topic of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). What are the arguments for and against MAiD? And what do we make of the thornier aspects of euthanasia, like its intersection with disability rights and the conflict of interest at the heart of a government that funds both assisted suicide and palliative care?

 

(2:30) What is palliative care?

(10:21) The history of MAiD in Canada

(15:34) Sedation vs. MAiD

(19:30) The need for control at the end of life

(21:15) The arguments for MAiD

(23:34) Feeling like a burden

(27:33) MAiD vs. disability rights

(36:20) The social safety net and the government’s conflict of interest

(41:55) Most people don’t want to die

(44:22) MAiD for mental illness

(49:25) Tenfold increase in Canadians receiving MAiD

 

 

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

 

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Links:

1) Carter v. Canada: https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14637/index.do

2) Information on medical assistance in dying in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html

3) CTV’s coverage of the expansion into mental illness: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/the-issue-of-expanding-assisted-dying-eligibility-has-already-been-decided-senator-1.6313740

4) The 2021 report on MAiD services in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying/annual-report-2021.html