A Values-Based Analysis of Recovery-Oriented Practice in Mental Health Care and Medical Assistance in Dying
Abstract
The Criminal Code of Canada has been amended to allow medical assistance in dying (MAiD) under prescribed criteria. There has been considerable debate regarding whether people with mental illness as the sole underlying medical condition should be eligible. It is argued that access to MAiD is not compatible with recovery-oriented care. Based on a comprehensive analysis exploring the ethical principles guiding decision making around MAiD, this paper offers a discussion of the compatibility between MAiD and recovery-oriented care and demonstrates significant overlap of these principles. The discussion around MAiD as an option in recovery-oriented care is legitimate and needs to continue.
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Improving social support, reducing stigma, adapting work environments to mental health needs, and fostering a sense of community belonging are proposed as ways to help people live with their mental disorders before considering MAiD-MD.
“A critical need is to help people live with their mental disorders before considering helping them die, which requires improving social support [40], reducing stigma [41], adapting work environments to mental health needs, and fostering a sense of community belonging [42].”
From Medical assistance in dying for people living with mental disorders: a qualitative thematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [42]
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“A critical need is to help people live with their mental disorders before considering helping them die, which requires improving social support [40], reducing stigma [41], adapting work environments to mental health needs, and fostering a sense of community belonging [42].”
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- Authors
- Macri, R., Wagner, F., & Stuckey, M. I.
- Affiliations
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (CA)
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
- Published
- 2020-07-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 1-10
- ISSN
- 0713-3936 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3081861701
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 0.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics and bioethics in healthcare
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, Medicine and Society
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Keywords
- medical assistance in dying, recovery-oriented care, mental illness, ethical principles, Criminal Code of Canada, mental health services
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