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GlossaryAssisted suicide – The act of intentionally killing oneself with the assistance of another who provides the knowledge, means, or both. Common law – Law developed over the years by judges when making decisions in court. These decisions are relied upon by other judges in making decisions in later cases. This is to be distinguished from acts, legislation, or statute law. Competent – A person capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the decision to be made and capable of communicating this decision. Euthanasia – A deliberate act undertaken by one person with the intention of ending the life of another person to relieve that person’s suffering where that act is the cause of death. Guardian – An individual with the right and duty of protecting the person, property, or rights of someone who is not mentally capable or is otherwise unable to manage his or her own affairs. Incompetent – A person not capable of understanding the nature and consequences of the decision to be made and/or not capable of communicating this decision. Informed consent – The consent of a patient or a patient’s substitute decision-maker after being fully informed by the health care provider of the treatment options for the condition including known effects, material risks, discomforts, and side-effects of different methods of treatment and the likelihood of their occurrence; success and failure rates of different methods of treatment; alternative goals of treatment, and reasonably accessible alternative treatment means of pursing such goals; and the prognosis if the patient remains untreated. Injunction – A court order for the purpose of requiring a party to refrain from doing a particular act or thing. A preventive measure, an injunction guards against future injuries rather than affording a remedy for past injuries. Legislation – Law made by elected members of government. Also referred to as “statute” or “Act”. Mature minor – A person below the legal age of majority (usually 18 or 19) who can understand the nature and consequences of a proposed treatment decision. Official guardian – A government office that may be appointed to, among other matters, act as guardian of an adult who is found unable to manage his or her own affairs. Also referred to as “public trustee” in some jurisdictions or “curator” in Quebec. Palliative care – Care aimed at alleviating suffering—physical, emotional, psychosocial, or spiritual—rather than curing. It is concerned with the comfort of the suffering individual. Parens patriae – Literally “parent of the country”, parens patriae is the authority of the court to act on behalf of those people perceived to be unable to manage their own affairs. Proxy – A person appointed to make health care decisions on behalf of someone else. Also known as a “substitute decision-maker”. Public trustee – A government office that may be appointed to, among other matters, act as guardian of an adult who is found unable to manage his or her own affairs. Also referred to as “official guardian” in some jurisdictions or “curator” in Quebec. Reciprocity protocol – A system by which a province or territory recognizes legal documents made in other provinces and territories. Substitute decision-maker – A person appointed to make health care decisions on behalf of someone else. Also known as “proxy”. Can be appointed by “statute” or by an “advance directive”. Statute – Law made by elected members of government. Also referred to as “legislation” or “Act”. Total sedation – The practice of rendering a person totally unconscious through the administration of drugs without potentially shortening life. Withholding of life-sustaining treatment – Not starting treatment that has the potential to sustain the life of a patient. Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment – Stopping treatment that has the potential to sustain the life of a patient.
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