http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...ntent=20160618
The Canadian government introduced the bill in April and it passed a final Senate vote Friday. It includes strict criteria that patients must meet to obtain a doctor's help in dying. As we have reported, a patient must:
"Be eligible for government-funded health care (a requirement limiting assisted suicides to Canadians and permanent residents, to prevent suicide tourism)."
"Be a mentally competent adult 18 or older."
"Have a serious and incurable disease, illness or disability."
"Be in an 'advanced state of irreversible decline,' with enduring and intolerable suffering."
As a safeguard, the law also requires that two independent witnesses be present when the patient signs a request for a doctor-assisted death.