The group of experts mandated by the Minister for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, recommends that the concept of neuromotor disability be replaced by that of “serious physical impairment leading to significant and persistent disabilities” in the bill on the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
The information first reported by the QMI Agency has been confirmed by The Canadian Press
“That the equal rights, including the right to self-determination, of persons with severe physical disabilities be recognized,” reads the recommendations of the expert group.
The Minister’s office indicates that it is in favor of this recommendation.
Also, the group “believes that when it comes to severe physical impairment, the criterion of ”advanced and irreversible decline of one’s abilities” should be replaced by that of ”significant and persistent disabilities””.
At the beginning of April, the Minister announced the creation of a committee of experts to examine the concept of neuromotor disability.
“The concept of neuromotor disability is difficult to define and therefore it would mean, possibly, difficult to apply. And that would also mean that it could cause harm, ”said Minister Sonia Bélanger at the time.
During the consultations on the bill, groups, such as the College of Physicians, asked for the removal of the adjective “neuromotor” in order to encompass several types of disabilities, and thus to tie in with the federal government.
Former PQ MP Véronique Hivon – considered the “mother” of the current MAID law – called for caution and substantive debate, given that the definition of the word disability is “extremely broad” .
Minister Bélanger had acknowledged, after the first day of consultations, that the notion of neuromotor disability was far from reaching consensus.
Bill 11, tabled in February, aims to broaden the criteria for making a request for medical assistance in dying. It would open the door to advance requests for people with a serious and incurable disease.