Veterans Affairs Canada Closes Investigation, Confirms Four Incidents Where MAiD ‘Inappropriately Discussed’

Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAuley in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has closed an investigation into allegations that veterans were offered assisted suicide, stating it found only four incidents where medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was “inappropriately discussed,” according to a report.

“VAC has concluded these were four incidents completely isolated to a single employee” and that “this is not a widespread, systemic issue,” said the report on MAiD allegations, delivered on March 10 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

The report follows an investigation triggered by a July 21, 2022, complaint made by a veteran who said assisted suicide was raised during his phone call with a VAC case worker. The veteran was asking for treatment help for a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.

The veteran said the agent he talked to told him she had helped another veteran obtain MAiD and that former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member ultimately ended his life after those discussions.

Retired corporal and former Paralympian Christine Gauthier also said she was offered assisted suicide when she requested help from VAC to build a wheelchair ramp at her home. She testified before the House veterans affairs committee on Dec. 1, 2022, that the case worker even offered to supply the equipment.

By early December 2022, six veterans had come forward alleging they were offered unsolicited suggestions of assisted suicide.

According to the investigation report, VAC “reviewed all 402,000 files in its client databases dating back to June 2016 when MAiD legislation came into effect.”

The report said that while additional allegations were brought forward, “VAC thoroughly investigated each of the allegations which included a Veteran’s full name and was unable to validate any allegations that inappropriate discussions related to MAiD had taken place.”

“All additional allegations have been confirmed to be unfounded,” the report stated.

The employee who suggested military veterans consider assisted suicide was first suspended. A spokesperson for Veteran Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAuley said on Dec. 20 that privacy rules prevented the government from disclosing whether the female employee was fired or resigned.

‘Totally Unacceptable’

MacAulay issued a statement and an apology on March 10 when the report was released, stating, “At no time has Veterans Affairs Canada ever had a mandate to provide advice on MaiD.”

The report identified that improvements are needed in quality assurance, monitoring, reporting procedures, and staff training and guidance, and said the department planned an internal audit later this year. VAC states it plans to “deliver mandatory and clear employee training and materials” to staff on assisted suicide, and to enhance reporting procedures to “ensure that significant incidents” are raised to the assistant deputy minister and deputy minister levels.

Additionally, the report said the department would review the “escalation process” and consult with veterans and others on whether the recording of telephone calls with case managers and VAC service agents should be implemented in the future. VAC agents have been told they are not to raise the topic of MAiD and must refer to a supervisor if the client brings it up.

These calls are currently not recorded, as the department says it wanted to protect privacy and build a trusting relationship with the veterans, according to the report.

“Recording conversations would be a significant shift in practice for VAC, however the Department is open to hearing from Veterans on this approach,” the report said.

“The distress this situation has caused to those involved and the Veteran community as a whole cannot be underestimated. The Department deeply regrets what transpired and takes very seriously issues related to MAiD and Veterans’ well-being,” said the report.

“As I’ve said from the very beginning, what happened to these Veterans is totally unacceptable. The report clearly confirms that these four cases were isolated to a single employee and we have referred this matter to the RCMP. ... Veterans can trust that VAC is always available to support their needs in a respectful and compassionate manner,” said MacAulay in a March 10 news release.