Procedure to recommend a potential donor under assessment for medical assistance in dying (MAID)

Based on their health condition, Quebecers in end-of-life care can now choose medical assistance in dying (MAID). In recent years, this care has grown significantly. It has therefore become necessary to make caregivers aware of the importance of bringing up this topic in each situation. Human tissue donating can play a significant role in providing patients with the opportunity to leave a legacy after their death. You play a key role in this process because your intervention will enable the patient to express his/her own wishes.

Supporting your patient's wish to donate tissue

The process of donating tissues in a MAID context is greatly simplified for the families because eligibility is determined before death. The potential donor him/herself will be able to answer the various questions about the eligibility criteria with Héma-Québec’s staff. For the families and loved ones, this aspect is reassuring.

See the standard procedure for MAID donor referrals.

Supporting your patient in his/her desire to become a donor

Check for exclusion criteria:

• Age 86 or older; 
• HIV – HCV – HBV;  
• Active and untreated systemic infection;  
• Blood cancer (lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma);  
• Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia of unknown etiology;  
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis.  

If there are no exclusion criteria, fill out the form «Identification of potential donor undergoing MAID assessment» and email or fax it to Héma-Québec:

• Email : coordonnateurs.th@hema-quebec.qc.ca 
• Fax : 418 780-2097 

In all cases, a medical and social assessment is conducted to validate potential donors’ eligibility. For example, solid cancer is not an absolute reason for being refused for tissue donating.

Based on the donor’s age, the following human tissues can be collected:

• Cardiovascular tissues: from birth to age 60; 
• Skin and musculoskeletal tissues: age 15 to 70; 
• Eye tissues: age 2 to 85, inclusive.  

The following tools, designed by Héma-Québec, can help you support patients as well as their families and loved ones in deciding whether to consent to donating human tissues.