Development of a Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying Curriculum for Healthcare Providers

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in 2016, necessitating greater education and training in MAiD for physicians and nurse practitioners. To meet this need, the Canadian MAiD Curriculum (CMC) was developed to offer a nationally accredited, comprehensive, bilingual, hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) educational program to support and enhance the practice of MAiD in Canada.

This work describes the process of developing the CMC, including its guiding principles and framework. The CMC was guided by constructivism and adult learning theory, preliminary literature review, 5 key principles based on a needs assessment survey, as well as consultation with diverse partners.

Seven modules were developed: (1) foundations of MAiD in Canada, (2) clinical conversations that includes MAiD, (3) how to do an MAiD assessment, (4) capacity and vulnerability, (5) providing MAiD, (6) navigating complex cases with confidence, and (7) MAiD and mental disorders. An eighth topic on clinician resilience and reflection was woven into each of the 7 modules.

This curriculum ensures that consistent information is available to healthcare providers concerning the practice of MAiD in Canada. To ensure sustainability, the CMC will continue to be updated alongside the evolution of MAiD policy and services in Canada.