MAID presentation- Ethics of Euthanasia
First, it is good to define what we are talking about. MAID stands for Medical Assistance in Dying. This is the practice of a doctor or nurse practitioner using a medication taken orally or intravenously to end a persons life. This was made legal in 2016 with the introduction of Bill C-14, then expanded in 2021 by Bill C-7. A further expansion was delayed in 2024 (Bill C-62) to 2027 which will expand MAID to include mental illnesses. MAID is a euphemism, like “euthanasia” ( eu =good, thanatos =death). Instead of using terms like 'suicide,' 'assisted suicide,' or 'ending a person’s life,' which are more explicit but can sound harsh, the term MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) is used as it sounds more gentle. Using this kind of euphemism can be somewhat dangerous, however. During this talk a chaplain at a long-term care facility mentioned that they have had people request MAID, but when investigated it turns out that they thought they were requesting “p...