{"id":18365,"date":"2026-06-16T14:36:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/?p=18365"},"modified":"2026-06-16T14:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:49:14","slug":"newsletter-june-16-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/newsletter-june-16-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"AMAD Committee Recommendations Tomorrow, When MAiD Goes Wrong, and Media Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our Living with Dignity Newsletter<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Dear\nAllies,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

We are\neagerly awaiting tomorrow\u2019s recommendations from the federal Special Joint\nCommittee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD). It will come exactly ten years\nafter the coming into force of the legislation legalizing Medical Assistance in\nDying (MAiD) in Canada.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Before\nresponding through a media statement, we have prepared a new edition of our\nnewsletter as developments related to the issues at the heart of our mission\ncontinue to make headlines.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Together,<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Jasmin\nLemieux-Lefebvre
\nCoordinator
\nLiving with Dignity citizen network<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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AMM pour trouble mental pr\u00e9vue en 2027<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Recommendation for an \u201cIndefinite Suspension\u201d<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The\nfront page of the National Post reported this morning<\/a> that the federal MAiD\ncommittee \u201cis expected to recommend the federal government halt the expansion\nof MAiD to those whose sole condition is a mental disorder, the latest\ndevelopment in a drawn-out and controversial chapter in the country\u2019s\nassisted-death regime.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

This is excellent news, but we anticipate\nstrong opposition to such a recommendation. The article continues:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe joint committee of senators and MPs struck\nto revisit Canada\u2019s preparedness for medical assistance in dying for those with\nmental illness alone is expected to recommend an \u201cindefinite pause\u201d on the\nexpansion, two sources told National Post. They spoke on the condition of\nanonymity as they are not authorized to speak on the committee\u2019s behalf. A\ntemporary exclusion is set to be lifted in March 2027\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

Once the recommendations are officially\nreleased tomorrow, our team will prepare and publish an official response. You\nwill receive it at the same time as federal parliamentarians and the media.\nAfter reading our statement, we encourage you to contact your Member of\nParliament and share your own reaction.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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ANESTH\u00c9SIA -\nA French Documentary on \u201cAssisted Dying\u201d\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A new\ndocumentary on end-of-life practices in several countries that have legalized\nassisted dying is on the horizon: ANESTH\u00c9SIA.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

We are very\neager to see this film and to discover its segment on Quebec, which focuses on\nIndigenous realities.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Trailer:
\n<\/span>https:\/\/youtu.be\/kamQBDdueCs?si=LFSxyEuJEoABU02h<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Interested\nas well? Excerpts from the press kit can be downloaded here:
\n<\/span>https:\/\/www.orawa-prod.com\/films\/anesthesia<\/a><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

There is little doubt that this documentary\nproject also hopes to contribute to a possible rejection in France of a form of\n\u201cassisted dying\u201d (euthanasia or assisted suicide), but it does not present\nitself as a polarizing work. We particularly appreciate the way the project is\ndescribed:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe end-of-life debate is often portrayed as a\nconfrontation between two irreconcilable camps. On one side, individual\nfreedom. On the other, the protection of the vulnerable. But reality is\ninfinitely more complex. ANESTH\u00c9SIA does not seek to impose an answer; it seeks\nto make visible the human consequences of decisions that engage an entire\nsociety. And it asks an existential question: What can we do, individually and\ncollectively, to make life preferable to death?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Best wishes to Damien Boyer and the entire Orawa Production<\/i> team as they prepare for the June 24th launch.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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AMM au Qu\u00e9bec dans le New York Times\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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How Quebec, in a Decade, Came to Lead the World in Assisted Dying<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yesterday, New York Times journalist Norimitsu Onishi published an article entitled How Quebec, in a Decade, Came to Lead the World in Assisted Dying<\/a><\/i>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

To explore the subject, the article focuses primarily on the new Lanaudi\u00e8re Palliative and End-of-Life Care Pavilion and features, among others, Dr. Louis Daigle, who argues that there is now in Quebec \u201ca belief that there are two good ways to die: suddenly, or through medical assistance in dying.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

The article also includes comments from Dr. Lucie Poitras of the Commission on End-of-Life Care, playwright Manuelle L\u00e9gar\u00e9 and her documentary theatre production Club sandwich mayonnaise<\/i>, as well as Isabelle Marcoux and Marie-Eve Bouthillier of the Interdisciplinary Research Consortium on Medical Assistance in Dying (CIRAMM).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

The article places significant emphasis on the idea that the rapid increase in MAiD cannot be separated from Quebec\u2019s modern history, the Quiet Revolution, and the rejection of Catholic teaching.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

It is worth noting, however, that CIRAMM\u2019s preliminary findings suggest that this dimension is only part of the equation. Other societal factors include the growing association between \u201cMAiD and dignity,\u201d fear of long-term care facilities, fear of being a burden, and broader social acceptability.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, it is an interesting piece of journalism, but one that leaves little room for critical perspectives on the evolution of MAiD \u2014 including concerns that MAiD is no longer the exceptional measure originally promised, controversies surrounding Track 2 MAiD, and the subtle or indirect pressures that some individuals may experience.

Perhaps these perspectives will appear in a future article. We intend to help make that happen.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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When Medical Assistance in Dying Goes Wrong<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cThe\nnarrative that MAiD provides a peaceful, beautiful death every time is false. (\u2026)\nInformed consent requires disclosure of complications and adverse outcomes, not\njust promises of a beautiful death.\u201d
\n
\nWe support this response by Dr. Ramona Coelho to the front-page National Post\narticle of June 3, 2026 (<\/span>available on her X account<\/a>).<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

Excerpts of\nthe article \u2018Help Me\u2019: When MAiD Goes Wrong<\/i> are available here:
\nhttps:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/when-medical-assistance-in-dying-goes-wrong<\/a>
\n
\nWe have also included links to the two studies cited in the article:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    \n
  1. Medications and Dosages Used in\n Medical Assistance in Dying:
    A Cross-Sectional Study<\/i> (2022)<\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    \n\n\n\n\n\n2. Narratives of Dignity in Complex MAiD\nBereavement Stories<\/span><\/i>\n(2025)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Club sandwich mayonnaise Coming to Quebec City and 13 Other Communities in 2027<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Club sandwich mayonnaise<\/i>, Manuelle L\u00e9gar\u00e9\u2019s documentary theatre production presented by Porte Parole, will arrive in Quebec City on May 24, 2027.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

    According to theatre magazine JEU<\/i>, the production dares to \u201ccrack the consensus on medical assistance in dying.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

    Tickets have been available since last Thursday through Salle Albert-Rousseau.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

    As of today, the 2027 tour is also scheduled to visit Terrebonne, Laval, Granby, Sainte-Th\u00e9r\u00e8se, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Hyacinthe, Shawinigan, Sherbrooke, Joliette, Drummondville, Saint-Eustache, Brossard, and Gatineau.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

    Purchase your tickets today and experience this remarkable theatrical phenomenon:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/porteparole.org\/fr\/2026\/06\/11\/club-sandwich-mayonnaise-en-tournee-au-printemps-2027<\/a>

    Our review and thematic page<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Media Review<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    – How\nQuebec Influenced the Rest of Canada on MAiD \u2014 La Presse canadienne (in French)
    \n<\/span>https:\/\/www.lapresse.ca\/actualites\/sante\/2026-06-15\/aide-medicale-a-mourir\/comment-le-quebec-a-influence-le-reste-du-canada.php<\/a> Also published on page B8 of Le\nDevoir<\/i> this morning. We wrote to the journalist to respectfully point out\nthe absence of critical voices.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    – 10-year\nanniversary of MAID in Canada invites love, pain and shame \u2014 The Canadian Press
    \n    https:\/\/toronto.citynews.ca\/2026\/06\/15\/10-year-anniversary-of-maid-in-canada-invites-love-pain-and-shame<\/a>
    \nFour personal testimonies are presented; only one, that of Isabel Grant, raises\nconcerns about Track 2 MAiD.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    – Quebec\nConstitution Project \u2014 Simon Jolin-Barrette Abandons the Initiative \u2014 La Presse\n(in French)
    \n<\/span>    https:\/\/www.lapresse.ca\/actualites\/politique\/2026-06-11\/projet-de-constitution-du-quebec\/simon-jolin-barrette-jette-l-eponge.php<\/a>
    \nOur citizen network had criticized the proposal to entrench in a\nconstitution \u201cthe protection of the right to die with dignity and to receive\nmedical assistance in dying.\u201d We welcome the abandonment of this constitutional\nbill.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    – Home Care\nServices Disappearing \u2014 Le Devoir (in French)
    \n<\/span>    https:\/\/www.ledevoir.com\/actualites\/sante\/983399\/reduction-heures-soins-domicile-nouvelle-epreuve-benjamin-leclair<\/a>
    \nThank you to Benjamin Leclair, Moelle \u00e9pini\u00e8re et motricit\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec, and Ex\naequo for speaking out.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

    – \u201cAging\nwith Dignity\u201d Video Capsule (4 min., in French)
    \n<\/span>    https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/998546666404528<\/a>
    \nCongratulations to the Projet ReVie initiative, led by a steering committee\ncomposed of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise de l\u2019autisme, Proche aidance Qu\u00e9bec, the\nSoci\u00e9t\u00e9 qu\u00e9b\u00e9coise de la d\u00e9ficience intellectuelle, and Universit\u00e9 Laval,\ntogether with many partners.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    – Viral\nVideo by End-of-Life Companion Genevi\u00e8ve L\u00e9ger (in French)
    \n<\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1715806642779566<\/a>
    \nA heartfelt appeal to visit loved ones who are nearing the end of life or\nsimply aging alone.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>

    \n\n<\/p>

    – Have You\nSpoken to an Elder Today? – Annick Maugile Flavien, Le Devoir (in French)
    \n    https:\/\/www.ledevoir.com\/opinion\/idees\/987773\/avez-vous-parle-personne-agee-aujourd-hui<\/a>\nAn important reminder of the need to report elder abuse and of our\ncollective responsibility to combat ageism.<\/i><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Our Living with Dignity Newsletter
    \nDear
    \nAllies,
    \nWe are
    \neagerly awaiting tomorrow\u2019s recommendations from the federal Special Joint
    \nCommittee on Medical Assistance in Dying (AMAD). It will come exactly ten …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[607],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-qui-vive-living-with-dignity-newsletter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18365"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18375,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18365\/revisions\/18375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vivredignite.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}