Complaint filed to medical regulator over MP saying fentanyl ‘readily available’ in MAID report
TORONTO — Remarks made by a member of Parliament, who is also a doctor, suggesting illicit drugs such as fentanyl are a “painless” and “readily available” option to end one’s life are now the subject of a complaint filed to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
A member of Parliament, who is also a doctor, has sparked a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario after making claims about fentanyl and medical assistance in dying (MAID) in a report. Claire Brosseau, a 49-year-old woman seeking MAID for mental health issues, found Dr. Marcus Powlowski's opinions on the topic to be "irresponsible, thoughtless and dangerous."
Powlowski wrote that ending one's life is "readily available," called illicit fentanyl a "painless" option, and suggested it is easier for his teenage sons to access than a prescription drug. The complainant argues that Powlowski's statements normalize lethal means and create a foreseeable risk of harm to vulnerable readers. Powlowski's office has not responded to the complaint, and the regulatory college has not confirmed an investigation, citing the confidential nature of the complaints process.
The federal government plans to introduce legislation in the fall that would bar people with mental illness alone from accessing MAID.
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