Changing laws on medical assistance in dying: Implications for critical care nurses

In February 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) case, declaring section 241(b) and section 14 of the Criminal Code invalid, and granting a one-year suspension on that declaration to enable the Parliament of Canada to respond. In June 2016, Bill C-14: An Act to Amend the Criminal Code and Make Related Amendments to Other Acts (Medical Assistance in Dying) was passed after much debate in the House of Commons and Senate of Canada. Brief summaries of the Carter v. Canada case and the new federal law are provided and questions regarding medical assistance in dying are explored. The implications of the case and the new law for critical care nurses are also examined, including the need for nurses to attend to legislative changes, the need for education about the roles of nurses in medical assistance in dying, particularly what can be learned from other jurisdictions, and the importance of understanding the concept of conscientious objection.