C-260 · Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying — protection against coercion)
- Amends the Criminal Code to prohibit unsolicited discussions about medical assistance in dying.
- Makes it an offence for certain government employees to initiate these discussions without a patient's request.
- Aims to protect individuals from coercion regarding their choices about medical assistance in dying.
This part of the bill makes it illegal for government employees, who are not medical practitioners, to initiate discussions about medical assistance in dying with individuals who have not asked for such information, particularly if those employees hold a position of trust or authority over the person.
This regulation aims to protect vulnerable individuals from feeling pressured into considering medical assistance in dying. It highlights the importance of choice and consent in sensitive healthcare discussions.
The provision addresses concerns that government employees could improperly influence individuals about medical assistance in dying without their explicit request.
Individuals who may be vulnerable or uncertain about pursuing medical assistance in dying benefit from this protection against unsolicited discussions.
Government employees may see a reduction in their capacity to engage in broader discussions about end-of-life options, which could limit awareness and access to information for those who might seek it.
Read the actual text (2)
1This Act may be cited as the Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act .
2The Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after section 241.3: 241.301 Every person who, being an officer or employee of the Government of Canada or of a province, other than a medical practitioner or a registered nurse, including a nurse practitioner, initiates a discussion with a person about the availability to that person of medical assistance in dying is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction if they (a) by virtue of their profession, are in a position of trust or authority towards that person; and (b) know that the person has not specifically requested to have such a discussion with them.
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment amends the Criminal Code to make it an offence for certain persons in certain circumstances to initiate a discussion with a person about the availability to them of medical assistance in dying, knowing that they have not specifically requested to have such a discussion. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 - 4 Charles III, 2025 - 2026 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-260 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying — protection against coercion) His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Preventing Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying Act . R.S., c. 46 Criminal Code 2 The Criminal Code is amended by adding the following after section 241.3 : Unsolicited discussion — government officer or employee Start of inserted block 241.301 Every person who, being an officer or employee of the Government of Canada or of a province, other than a medical practitioner or a registered nurse, including a nurse practitioner, initiates a discussion with a person about the availability to that person of medical assistance in dying is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction if they (a) by virtue of their profession, are in a position of trust or authority towards that person; and (b) know that the person has not specifically requested to have such a discussion with them. End of inserted block Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU Senate House of Commons Library of Parliament Employment at Parliament Important Notices $(function () { $('[data-toggle="tooltip"]').tooltip({ delay: { "show": 300, "hide": 50 }, placement: "top" }) }) $(document).ready(function () { var rawUrl = '/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/C-260/first-reading'; $("a[href$='#StartOfContent']").each(function() { var newHref = rawUrl + "#StartOfContent"; $(this).attr('href', newHref); }); })
- Disagreement over the prevalence of coercion in offering MAID to veterans
- Differing views on the adequacy of existing measures to protect against coercion
- Debate on whether the bill is a necessary response or a solution in search of a problem
CPC and BQ generally supportive of the bill; LPC shows skepticism towards its necessity and scope.
- First reading (House of Commons)Feb 5, 2026