Crown prosecutors in New Brunswick have been issued a directive outlining the circumstances where a physician-assisted death would be legally allowed.
The New Brunswick Public Prosecution Services directive is effective immediately and comes one week after a Supreme Court deadline for new federal legislation on medically assisted dying expired – with a new bill still before the Senate.
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The directive says health professionals will not be prosecuted if they follow the criteria established by the Supreme Court that a patient be a clearly consenting, competent adult with an irremediable medical condition causing intolerable suffering.
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The RCMP and municipal police forces will also be asked to consult with prosecution services prior to starting any investigation of health professionals taking part in a physician-assisted death.
READ MORE: Assisted dying in Canada: The clock has run out but what does that mean?
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