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Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
Guidelines Available for Manitoba Nurses
The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba (CLPNM), the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba (CRNM) and the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba (CRPNM) are pleased to provide guidelines for LPNs, RNs and RPNs for nursing care related to medical assistance in dying.
Click here to see the guidelines
The Medical Assistance in Dying: Guidelines for Manitoba Nurses were updated in April 2024 based on the Model MAiD Practice Standard completed by the government of Canada MAiD Practice Standard Task Group in 2023.
The Criminal Code of Canada was amended in 2016 to allow nurses to aid a physician or nurse practitioner who is providing medical assistance in dying.
It is vital that nurses recognize they can have a role in the provision of a medically assisted death. This may include providing information and support or participating in eligibility assessments as part of a team, such as aiding a physician or nurse practitioner including establishing intravenous access. The nursing role is limited because the Criminal Code permits only a physician or nurse practitioner to determine client eligibility, ensure the safeguards are met and administer the substance(s) to perform a medically assisted death.
The amendments to the Criminal Code do not mean nurses must participate in medical assistance in dying. If a nurse chooses not to participate in medical assistance in dying for moral or religious reasons, it remains important for the nurse to be aware of the resources his or her regulatory body and employer have available for consultation.
Nurse Practitioners or RN(NP)s
RN(NP)s are able to provide medical assistance in dying as long as they ensure they are providing this service in accordance with all the requirements contained in the Criminal Code to avoid criminal prosecution. Click here to see the RN(NP)s Medical Assistance in Dying Guidelines for Manitoba Nurses: RN(NP) Supplement.
Resources
- Medical Assistance in Dying Guidelines for Manitoba Nurses: RN(NP) Supplement
- Government of Canada: Medical Assistance in Dying
- Manitoba Provincial: Medical Assistance in Dying
- The Medical Assistance in Dying (Protection for Health Professionals and Others) Act
- The Provincial MAID Services Team out of Shared Health, in collaboration with Manitoba Health, has been supporting staff and patients with medical assistance in dying in Manitoba. For further questions they can be contacted at maid@sharedhealthmb.ca.
More Information
College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Manitoba
Telephone: 204-663-1212
Toll-free: 1-877-663-1212
practice@clpnm.ca
College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
Telephone: 204-774-3477 ext. 301
Toll-free: 1-800-665-2027 (Manitoba only)
practice@crnm.mb.ca
College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba
Ryan Shymko RPN
Telephone: 204-888-4041
rshymko@crpnm.mb.ca