Doctors Push Back: New Survey Says Alberta's MAID Bill is "Unworkable" and Puts Patients at Risk

A major new survey of Alberta doctors contains a stark warning for the provincial government: slow down and listen to the people who actually care for the dying.

The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) released a "Pulse Survey" on Monday showing that physicians are deeply worried about the province's proposed assisted-dying law, known as Bill 18. The report argues that the government is adding strict new rules on top of existing federal law without properly consulting the medical experts who will have to make those rules work.

More than 1,300 practicing doctors responded to the survey. While they have different personal beliefs about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), they are nearly united on one point: Bill 18 needs major changes before it proceeds.

A Clear Warning: MAID Cannot Replace Palliative Care

Doctors were firm on one key principle throughout the survey: MAID must never be used as a substitute for good palliative care, mental health support, or social services.

Physicians say the government must understand that assisted dying is a "measure of last resort." It is not a routine option to be offered because other supports are missing. Before MAID is even considered, patients deserve access to quality end-of-life care that eases suffering without ending a life.

The survey found that doctors want the government to invest in palliative care, not just write new rules about who can die and when. Some physicians expressed concern that without proper supports in place, vulnerable patients might feel pressured toward MAID simply because they have no other options.

'You Can't Predict Death Like a Due Date'

One of the most controversial parts of Bill 18 would force doctors to decide that a patient's natural death will happen within 12 months before they can receive MAID.

Doctors say this is medically unrealistic.

Over half (56%) of the physicians who responded said this 12-month timeline is clinically inappropriate. Doctors who actually provide MAID were even more against it, with over 70% calling it inappropriate.

Unlike a pregnancy due date, it is often impossible to say exactly when a person with a serious illness like ALS or multiple sclerosis will die. Doctors warned that this rigid rule would not protect patients - it could restrict access for eligible patients and increase suffering while they wait.

The 'You Can't Talk First' Rule

The survey also found that doctors are seriously concerned about a section of Bill 18 that would make it illegal for them to bring up MAID with a patient. Under the proposed law, the patient must be the first to mention it.

Physicians argue this undermines informed consent. About 80% of doctors who provide MAID said this would significantly impact their ability to use clinical judgment in patient care.

The AMA warns that this blanket prohibition could leave medical professionals exposed and harm vulnerable patients, especially those facing language barriers or power imbalances that may stop them from raising the topic themselves.

Family in the Room? Not Always Safe

Bill 18 tries to force family members to be present during a MAID procedure, with very few exceptions.

However, doctors warn this could create serious problems. About two-thirds of physicians said that forcing family involvement would create moderate to significant barriers for patients. 

They pointed out that not every family is loving. In cases of abuse, estrangement, or family conflict, forcing a patient to have a relative in the room could harm patient safety and autonomy.

Doctors Threaten to Quit the Program

Perhaps the most serious finding in the report is the threat to the healthcare system itself. MAID is already a difficult service to provide, and there are not many doctors willing to do it.

But because of Bill 18, about half of the current MAID providers said they would be less willing to help dying patients. Even more concerning, 5% said they would stop providing MAID altogether if the bill passes. Critics of Bill 18 say this may be what the government intended all along.

The report also found that over 60% of doctors are highly concerned about the bill's introduction of mandatory sanctions. They fear disproportionate consequences for complex, good-faith clinical decisions.

Doctors Call for More Consultation

The AMA is clear: it is not endorsing or rejecting Bill 18. However, the association is formally requesting that the Alberta government undertake a brief pause to allow for meaningful consultation and clarification with Alberta's physicians.

"Feedback from our physicians indicates that further dialogue and refinements are necessary before Bill 18 proceeds," the report states.

The AMA argues that many concerns would be better addressed through clearer legislative language and greater reliance on clinical standards and professional regulation - not rigid eligibility rules alone. The group warns that diverging from federal law introduces risks of legal uncertainty and uneven access to care.

"Ultimately, MAID policy is not only a legal framework," the report concludes. "It reflects how society empowers people facing profound illness and suffering, the autonomy physicians should have to act with professional integrity, and what Albertans expect of the quality care delivered in our province."

The AMA would like to see the Government of Alberta hold space for genuine dialogue and formally engage with physicians across the entire spectrum of opinions on MAID before moving forward.