Doctors in Nova Scotia will not be prosecuted for aiding in assisted dying.
Director of Public Prosecutions Martin Herschorn issued the directive today after consulting with police.
Hershorn says health-care professionals were concerned about their involvement under the lack of a law.
“It clarifies for people when they can and cannot anticipate a prosecution and I think that in itself provides the necessary clarity.”
He says this directive isn’t just for doctors.
“Any member of a health-care team who is acting in aid of a physian assisted death. We’ve tried to be all-encompassing to ensure that those people have clarity as to what falls within the rule of law and what would be outside that.”
Any death must adhere to the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2015 Carter decision.
The directive will be in place until Parliament passes legislation.
The Supreme Court had given Parliament until June 6th to pass an assisted dying bill but they missed the deadline.
