Dear Members,
This message is a reminder to complete the current AMA Pulse Survey regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and the proposed Bill 18, the Last Resort Termination of Life Act.
Bill 18 proposes changes that may affect eligibility for MAID and the way MAID is accessed and delivered in Alberta. Physicians may approach this issue from different professional, clinical and personal perspectives. The AMA recognizes this diversity of views, which is why it’s so important to understand where perspectives align and where they differ.
As a medical association, our role is to support and protect the patient–physician relationship and to identify potential unintended clinical consequences of legislative changes like this. A clear understanding of physician perspectives is necessary to carry out this role appropriately.
At this time, the AMA does not have a good understanding of how physicians view the proposed legislation or its implications. This Pulse Survey is intended to help address that gap. Survey results will inform the degree to which the AMA engages on Bill 18, and which specific issues may require further analysis or advocacy.
This is a complex and evolving topic. To ensure the survey was appropriate and non-leading, the questions underwent face validity testing with a panel of AMA Medical Directors. This review focused on whether the questions were acceptable for what they were intended to measure and whether they were framed in a neutral manner that allowed input from members with a range of views. The questions were developed to elicit feedback from members who may support, oppose or are uncertain about MAID and the proposed Bill 18 changes. The survey is intended to capture physician perspectives on proposed changes and potential impacts, including how those changes might be understood by physicians with different roles and levels of involvement in MAID.
Some members have noted that the survey does not include an open text field for extended written comments. While the survey is designed to support consistent analysis, members are always welcome to provide additional written feedback directly to the AMA President ([email protected]) at any time, including on this issue.
The survey will close on Wednesday, April 1 at 11:59 p.m. The survey is open to practicing and retired physicians, will take approximately five minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous. Please remember that the survey link that was emailed previously is unique to you – do not share it.
Thank you in advance for helping us understand the breadth of physician perspectives in Alberta.
Regards,
Brian Wirzba, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association