OTTAWA -- The Senate has passed an amendment to the Liberal government's assisted death bill that would bar a beneficiary of a person seeking the procedure from helping in the process.
Senators are reviewing a number of proposed changes to the controversial legislation introduced in response to the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark ruling on the issue.
The upper chamber today passed an amendment proposed by Conservative Sen. Don Plett by a vote of 49 to 20 with two abstentions.
The amendment would make it an offence for people to help another person self-administer a substance prescribed as part of medical assistance in dying if they know or believe they would materially benefit from the death.
It would also prevent a beneficiary from signing a request for a doctor-assisted death on behalf a patient who is unable to do so.
An earlier amendment passed in the Senate would extend the right to assisted death to those suffering from non-terminal conditions.
