A MAP FOR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Guidelines for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) BY KARLA BOND, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE CHAIR
The anticipated decriminalization of medical assistance in dying led to the formation of a NSCSW Professional Standards Committee to develop guidelines for social workers in Nova Scotia. The College recognized the importance and highly polarized nature of this legislation would require social workers in the province to have guidance to work within the confines of MAiD. The committee was formed in June 2017, shortly after the passing of federal legislation in June 2016 allowing eligible adults to request medical assistance in dying. The aim of the committee was to create clear and comprehensive guidelines that reflected the standards of practice and code of ethics of social workers in Nova Scotia.
18 Connection | Spring 2019
Early in our initial research, committee members identified that both Alberta and Manitoba were leading the way for medical assistance in dying. We carefully reviewed other provinces’ information for their MAiD standards of practice and their guidelines, along with an examination of our own Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to examine whether and how MAiD fit within our guidelines of practice. Terms of reference were approved and the project plan slowly evolved. The committee was diverse and energetic. We had social workers working in various capacities — including adult protection and acute care - across the province from Eastern
