Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying: One Component of Canada's Plan for Compassionate End-of-Life Care? - Online Course

This course is available for FREE to Sigma Members.

In June 2016, Canada's federal government passed legislation so eligible Canadian adults can request and receive medical assistance in dying. Previously, the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled that dying people have a constitutional right to assisted suicide. This legislation and the practice of MAID have placed Canada at the forefront of a possible worldwide assisted dying movement. This presentation focuses on why this law was passed, how MAID is done in Canada, and related outcomes and developments.

This course will retire after 1st February 2026.

Learning Outcomes:
After participating in this course, learners will be able to:

• Upon completion of the webinar, particpants will be able to describe why the MAID legislation was passed in Canada and how it affects the nursing profession.

Speaker Bio:

Donna M. Wilson, RN, PhD
Donna is a Registered Nurse, who has just retired after 35 years a full-time tenured position as a Professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. She has worked as a researcher, media commentator, staff nurse and nurse manager in large and small hospitals, as well as nursing homes. Her long-standing program of research and policy work is focused on health services and health policy, primarily in relation to aging, ageism, and end-of-life care, including bereavement and death hastening. Much of her work is oriented to myth busting to eliminate ageism and ensuring effective and accessible healthcare services for older and younger people. Her investigations often involve population data and mixed-methods research for both qualitative and quantitative understandings. She has over 400 published articles, books, book chapters, and other communications in print.