Physician Assisted Suicide in B.C.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia
BC Coroners Service designated as oversight agency for MAiDDear registrant.
In follow-up to the email notification of June 24, 2016, we can now advise that the BC Coroners Service has been designated as the oversight agency for monitoring and reporting purposes for all instances of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in British Columbia. As of July 19, 2016, all instances of MAiD must be reported to the BC Coroners Service. The reporting is accomplished by submitting all relevant provincial forms as well as a new BC Coroners Service Report of MAiD Death form to the deputy chief coroner at the coordinates provided below. These forms must be submitted immediately after death. There is no need to phone the coroner's office.
The BC Coroners Service is respectful of the fact that these deaths are a result of a medical decision between a medical practitioner (and soon a nurse practitioner) and their patient. In these circumstances, the death is expected, the cause and manner of death known, and the BC Coroners Service's review is based on the documentation associated with MAiD. It is not the intent of the BC Coroners Service to attend the scene, view the body, contact family members or do an autopsy as they may do with unexpected, sudden, violent or other similar deaths. The BC Coroners Service's role in regards to MAiD is that of an oversight agency for monitoring and public reporting purposes to ensure compliance with federal and provincial laws and regulations. They will also be maintaining a database for aggregate reporting of deaths and to identify any trends and patterns. This oversight is essential to ensure public trust in the system, ensure safeguards and protocols are being followed and are working, and to support improvements and adaptations to the system if necessary.
Physicians who provide any aspect of this service involving health authority facilities, programs or personnel should submit a copy of all provincial forms except the BC Coroners Service Report of MAiD Death form to their health authority MAiD care coordination centre. The relevant provincial forms include: Record of Patient Request; Record of Assessment (Assessor); Record of Assessment (Prescriber); Consultant Assessment of Patient's Informed Consent Decision Capability; and Prescription. Copies of the relevant forms will be available with the Ministry of Health in due course. In the meantime, physicians may access these forms by contacting the College or their health authority.
Completed forms must be sent by fax to the deputy chief coroner's office at 604-660-7766.
To keep up to date with the news and events of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, follow the College onTwitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to the RSS feed.
BC Coroners Service designated as oversight agency for MAiDDear registrant.
In follow-up to the email notification of June 24, 2016, we can now advise that the BC Coroners Service has been designated as the oversight agency for monitoring and reporting purposes for all instances of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in British Columbia. As of July 19, 2016, all instances of MAiD must be reported to the BC Coroners Service. The reporting is accomplished by submitting all relevant provincial forms as well as a new BC Coroners Service Report of MAiD Death form to the deputy chief coroner at the coordinates provided below. These forms must be submitted immediately after death. There is no need to phone the coroner's office.
The BC Coroners Service is respectful of the fact that these deaths are a result of a medical decision between a medical practitioner (and soon a nurse practitioner) and their patient. In these circumstances, the death is expected, the cause and manner of death known, and the BC Coroners Service's review is based on the documentation associated with MAiD. It is not the intent of the BC Coroners Service to attend the scene, view the body, contact family members or do an autopsy as they may do with unexpected, sudden, violent or other similar deaths. The BC Coroners Service's role in regards to MAiD is that of an oversight agency for monitoring and public reporting purposes to ensure compliance with federal and provincial laws and regulations. They will also be maintaining a database for aggregate reporting of deaths and to identify any trends and patterns. This oversight is essential to ensure public trust in the system, ensure safeguards and protocols are being followed and are working, and to support improvements and adaptations to the system if necessary.
Physicians who provide any aspect of this service involving health authority facilities, programs or personnel should submit a copy of all provincial forms except the BC Coroners Service Report of MAiD Death form to their health authority MAiD care coordination centre. The relevant provincial forms include: Record of Patient Request; Record of Assessment (Assessor); Record of Assessment (Prescriber); Consultant Assessment of Patient's Informed Consent Decision Capability; and Prescription. Copies of the relevant forms will be available with the Ministry of Health in due course. In the meantime, physicians may access these forms by contacting the College or their health authority.
Completed forms must be sent by fax to the deputy chief coroner's office at 604-660-7766.
To keep up to date with the news and events of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, follow the College onTwitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to the RSS feed.