Physican-assisted deaths to be exempted from coroner's review

The provincial government is making it easier for families after a loved one chooses a medically assisted death.

In a release Tuesday, the government announced it will no longer require a coroner's investigation in cases of medically assisted dying.

"Thesemodernizations to the Coroners Act will avoid making a difficult time for families even more difficult with unnecessary investigations in the vast majority of cases," said Justice and Public Safety Minister Denis Landryin the release.

The proposed amendments will mean that medically assisted deaths don't have to be reported to the coroner unless there are irregularities or special circumstances, the release stated.

It was revealed earlier in November that so far, nine doctor-assisted dying cases have been approved by Horizon Health Network since Parliament passed assisted-dying legislation in June.

No cases have been approved or rejected by the Vitalit, which co-ordiates healthcare delivery in northern and southern New Brunswick.

The New Brunswick government has still not brought in its promised guidelines for assisted dying.

They are supposed to help clarify safeguards for vulnerable patients and protect the conscience rights of healthcare workers who may not want to be part of the procedure.

The province has said the directives have been drafted but have yet to be approved.