Canadian Guidance on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID):
Evaluating the “Grievous and Irremediable” Eligibility Criterion in Persons with Mental Disorders who Request MAID and Managing Suicide Risk during the Process for All MAID Eligibility Requests

This document provides guidance for health care professionals regarding the assessment of MAID requests in two key areas:

1. establishing whether a person has a grievous and irremediable medical condition(s) where a mental disorder contributes significantly to forming the basis of the request or is the sole underlying medical condition, and
2. assessing and managing suicidality.

The guidance is intended to provide advice to promote adoption of a thorough and thoughtful approach to MAID assessments and psychiatric consultations in the context of MAID requests and to provide other health professionals with information regarding the assessment process of MAID requests.

It is also intended to provide Requesters and other important persons (e.g., family/caregivers, peers) with information regarding the assessment process for MAID requests. A multidisciplinary team of experts and persons with lived experience from across Canada were involved in the development process.