Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain
Since the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada in 2016, volitional non-participation in MAiD on the part of some healthcare institutions has revealed ethical uncertainties, potential access problems, and policy gaps. The problem has remained much neglected in the literature b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/16/2305 |
| _version_ | 1797584589059784704 |
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| author | Michelle Knox Adrian Wagg |
| author_facet | Michelle Knox Adrian Wagg |
| author_sort | Michelle Knox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada in 2016, volitional non-participation in MAiD on the part of some healthcare institutions has revealed ethical uncertainties, potential access problems, and policy gaps. The problem has remained much neglected in the literature base, with no comprehensive studies on the subject so far. We analyzed print media articles and grey literature on institutional objections to and non-participation in MAiD. Thematic analyses were performed on all data to better understand the diverse stakeholder arguments and positions that characterize this important public health debate. Our search yielded 89 relevant media articles and 22 legislative, policy, and other relevant documents published since 2016 in the English language. We identified four main themes about institutional refusals to participate in MAiD, articulated as the following questions: (1) Who has the right to conscience? (2) Can MAiD be considered a palliative practice? (3) Are there imbalances across diverse stakeholder rights and burdens? and (4) Where are the gaps being felt in MAiD service implementation? Stakeholder views about institutional conscience with respect to MAiD are varied, complex, and evolving. In the absence of substantial systematic evidence, public domain materials constitute a key resource for understanding the implications for service access and determining the relevance of this contentious issue for future MAiD research and policy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:54:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dccd978d59e340a396e71584ab1549bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:54:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-dccd978d59e340a396e71584ab1549bd2023-11-19T01:18:59ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-08-011116230510.3390/healthcare11162305Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public DomainMichelle Knox0Adrian Wagg1Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P4, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P4, CanadaSince the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada in 2016, volitional non-participation in MAiD on the part of some healthcare institutions has revealed ethical uncertainties, potential access problems, and policy gaps. The problem has remained much neglected in the literature base, with no comprehensive studies on the subject so far. We analyzed print media articles and grey literature on institutional objections to and non-participation in MAiD. Thematic analyses were performed on all data to better understand the diverse stakeholder arguments and positions that characterize this important public health debate. Our search yielded 89 relevant media articles and 22 legislative, policy, and other relevant documents published since 2016 in the English language. We identified four main themes about institutional refusals to participate in MAiD, articulated as the following questions: (1) Who has the right to conscience? (2) Can MAiD be considered a palliative practice? (3) Are there imbalances across diverse stakeholder rights and burdens? and (4) Where are the gaps being felt in MAiD service implementation? Stakeholder views about institutional conscience with respect to MAiD are varied, complex, and evolving. In the absence of substantial systematic evidence, public domain materials constitute a key resource for understanding the implications for service access and determining the relevance of this contentious issue for future MAiD research and policy.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/16/2305medical assistance in dyingassisted dyingeuthanasiaright to dieconscientious objectionconscientious refusal to treat |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Knox Adrian Wagg Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain Healthcare medical assistance in dying assisted dying euthanasia right to die conscientious objection conscientious refusal to treat |
| title | Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain |
| title_full | Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain |
| title_fullStr | Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain |
| title_short | Institutional Resistance to Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada: Arguments and Realities Emerging in the Public Domain |
| title_sort | institutional resistance to medical assistance in dying in canada arguments and realities emerging in the public domain |
| topic | medical assistance in dying assisted dying euthanasia right to die conscientious objection conscientious refusal to treat |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/16/2305 |
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