C-2181453Charles III2025An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying)20256

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Ms. Jansen451041

SUMMARYThis enactment amends the Criminal Code to provide that a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition for which a person could receive medical assistance in dying.

PreambleWhereas Parliament considers it a priority to ensure that adequate supports are in place for the mental health of Canadians;Whereas Parliament considers that vulnerable Canadians should receive suicide prevention counselling rather than access to medical assistance in dying;Whereas Parliament considers that Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime risks normalizing assisted dying as a solution for those suffering from a mental disorder;Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:R.S., c. 46Criminal Code

1Subsection 241.2(2.1) of the Criminal Code is replaced by the following:Exclusion(2.1)For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

Coordinating Amendments

2(1)In this section, other Act means An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), chapter 2 of the Statutes of Canada, 2021.(2)If section 1 of this Act comes into force before subsection 1(2.1) of the other Act, then that subsection 1(2.1) is repealed. (3)If subsection 1(2.1) of the other Act comes into force before section 1 of this Act, then section 241.2 of the Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):Exclusion(2.1)For the purposes of subsection (2), a mental disorder is not a grievous and irremediable medical condition.(4)If subsection 1(2.1) of the other Act comes into force on the same day as section 1 of this Act, then that subsection 1(2.1) is deemed to have come into force before that section 1 and subsection (3) applies as a consequence.